System and method for network and customer device provisioning

• US 10,645,171 B1
• Filed: 06/10/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSG Systems Incorporated (CSG Systems International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CSG Systems Incorporated (CSG Systems International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Thomas, Polley, Daniel, Vandemark, Lisa, Kannan, Sridhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US16/435,702
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

A desired end-state profile of an electronic media and services customer is received. At the control circuit, the desired end-state profile is applied to the data structure having the current in-state profile according to the set of electronic rules. The data structure is transformed to include the desired state. A network and/or devices are physically transformed to implement the desired end-state.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning electronic elements, the method comprising:

receiving at an electronic interface, a desired end-state profile of an electronic media and services customer comprising a set of electronic services desired to be utilized by the electronic media and services customer;

transmitting the desired end-state profile to a control circuit that is disposed at a central location via a first electronic communication network;

at the control circuit, retrieving from a database a data structure that includes a current in-state profile of the customer identifying the current electronic services utilized by the customer;

at the control circuit, retrieving, from the database, a set of electronic rules, the set of electronic rules effective to reconcile the current in-state profile with the desired end-state profile;

at the control circuit, applying the desired end-state profile to the data structure to produce a modified data structure according to the set of electronic rules to transform the current in-state profile in the data structure, such that the modified data structure conforms to the desired end-state profile;

at the control circuit and using the modified data structure, forming one or more electronic instructions, the electronic instructions being effective within a provisioning system to alter one or more elements in a second electronic communication network that is used to provide services to the consumer and to conform the operation of electronic elements in the second electronic communication network to implement the desired set of electronic services;

such that the electronic rules are applied without involvement, knowledge, or interfacing with the customer;

wherein the data structure comprises a first list of the current electronic services, and each of the current electronic services on the first list are defined by key fields, and wherein the key fields are ranked according to a ranking by order of importance;

wherein the end-state profile includes a second list of the electronic services desired to be utilized by the customer, and each of the desired electronic services on the second list are defined by the key fields;

wherein applying the end state profile comprises comparing the key fields of the second list of the desired electronic services to the key fields of the first list of current electronic services to yield a comparison, the comparison producing a number of matches between the desired electronic services and the current electronic services;

when the comparison yields no matches between a selected current electronic service and any of the desired electronic services indicating that the selected current electronic service is no longer desired by the customer, the first selected current electronic service is removed from the data structure;

when the comparison yields no matches between a first selected desired electronic service and any of the current electronic services indicating that the first selected desired electronic service is a new service desired by the customer, the first selected desired electronic service is added to the data structure;

wherein the comparison identifies all possible matches in consideration of the ranking between a second selected desired electronic service and the current electronic services, and the matches are ordered by a level of match, the level of match determined by the number of key fields that match between the second selected desired electronic service and current electronic services, and wherein a matching current electronic service is determined from all the possible based upon the level of match, the matching current electronic service being retained or modified in the data structure;

wherein when a selected current electronic service is indicated to be dropped, and the selected current electronic service is a parent of a child service that has not been indicated to be dropped, the selected current electronic service is maintained;

wherein the same key fields are used in both a billing system to generate customer bills and in the provisioning system to alter the one or more elements in a second electronic communication network, usage of the same key fields being effective so as to both maximize accuracy of customer bills and provisioning the second network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering is effective to activate an electronic node, deactivate an electronic node, alter a speed of data service provided by an electronic node, or alter bandwidth of data transmission provided by an electronic node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the services include cable services, DVR services, telephone services, internet services, bandwidth settings, and data speed settings.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic interface is disposed at an internet service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the customer provides the desired end-state information to the internet service provider.

6. A system that is configured to provision electronic elements, the system comprising:

a first electronic communication network;

a second electronic communication network that is configured to provide electronic services according to electronic settings to an electronic media and services customer;

a control circuit disposed at a central location and coupled to the first electronic communication network and the second electronic communication network;

a database coupled to the control circuit;

an electronic interface coupled to the first electronic communication network, the electronic interface configured to receive a desired end-state profile of an electronic media and services customer, the desired end-state profile comprising a set of electronic services desired to be utilized by the electronic media and services customer, wherein the interface is configured to transmit the desired end-state profile to the control circuit via a first electronic communication network;

wherein the control circuit is configured to;

retrieve from the database a data structure that includes a current in-state profile of the customer identifying the current electronic services utilized by the customer;

retrieve, from the database, a set of electronic rules, the set of electronic rules effective to reconcile the current in-state profile with the desired end-state profile;

apply the desired end-state profile to the data structure to produce a modified data structure according to the set of electronic rules to transform the current in-state profile in the data structure, such that the modified data structure conforms to the desired end-state profile;

using the modified data structure, form one or more electronic instructions, the electronic instructions being effective within a provisioning system to alter one or more elements in a second electronic communication network that is used to provide services to the consumer and to conform the operation of electronic elements in the second electronic communication network to implement the desired set of electronic services;

such that the electronic rules are applied without involvement, knowledge, or interfacing with the customer;

wherein the data structure comprises a first list of the current electronic services, and each of the current electronic services on the first list are defined by key fields, and wherein the key fields are ranked according to a ranking by order of importance;

wherein the end-state profile includes a second list of the electronic services desired to be utilized by the customer, and each of the desired electronic services on the second list are defined by the key fields;

wherein applying the end state profile comprises comparing the key fields of the second list of the desired electronic services to the key fields of the first list of current electronic services to yield a comparison, the comparison producing a number of matches between the desired electronic services and the current electronic services;

when the comparison yields no matches between a selected current electronic service and any of the desired electronic services indicating that the selected current electronic service is no longer desired by the customer, the first selected current electronic service is removed from the data structure;

when the comparison yields no matches between a first selected desired electronic service and any of the current electronic services indicating that the first selected desired electronic service is a new service desired by the customer, the first selected desired electronic service is added to the data structure;

wherein the comparison identifies all possible matches in consideration of the ranking between a second selected desired electronic service and the current electronic services, and the matches are ordered by a level of match, the level of match determined by the number of key fields that match between the second selected desired electronic service and current electronic services, and wherein a matching current electronic service is determined from all the possible based upon the level of match, the matching current electronic service being retained or modified in the data structure;

wherein when a selected current electronic service is indicated to be dropped, and the selected current electronic service is a parent of a child service that has not been indicated to be dropped, the selected current electronic service is maintained;

wherein the same key fields are used in both a billing system to generate customer bills and in the provisioning system to alter the one or more elements in a second electronic communication network, usage of the same key fields being effective so as to both maximize accuracy of customer bills and provisioning the second network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transformation of the data structure is effective to activate an electronic node, deactivate an electronic node, alter a speed of data service provided by an electronic node, or alter bandwidth of data transmission provided by an electronic node.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the services include cable services, DVR services, telephone services, internet services, bandwidth settings, and data speed settings.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the electronic interface is disposed at an internet service provider.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the customer provides the desired end-state information to the internet service provider.