Method and apparatus for integrating disparate telecommunication operational support systems (OSS) and streamlining business processes using a software platform
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for operating a telecommunication system network comprising at least first resources and second resources, comprising:
- providing a resource consumption monitor;
using the resource consumption monitor to query the first resources and the second resources to obtain, for a particular customer, an integrated record descriptive of the consumption of the first and second resources by the customer; and
based on the integrated record and a rules set, communicating an appropriate rate schedule to a first resources billing system and to a second resources billing system.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for the integration of Telecommunication System Operator Support Systems, providing for increased efficiency, data integrity and other benefits. The teachings herein provide for a software based solution that includes, but is not limited to, a graphical user interface engine for defining rules-based processes, a process management module, and a back-end services integration engine.
126 Citations
74 Claims
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1. A method for operating a telecommunication system network comprising at least first resources and second resources, comprising:
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providing a resource consumption monitor;
using the resource consumption monitor to query the first resources and the second resources to obtain, for a particular customer, an integrated record descriptive of the consumption of the first and second resources by the customer; and
based on the integrated record and a rules set, communicating an appropriate rate schedule to a first resources billing system and to a second resources billing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A telecommunication system network comprising at least first resources and a first resources billing system, and second resources and a second resources billing system, the telecommunication system network further comprising:
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a rules set; and
a resource consumption monitor operable to query the first resources and the second resources to obtain, for a particular customer, an integrated record descriptive of the consumption of the first and second resources by the customer;
said resource consumption monitor being coupled to the first resources billing system and to the second resources billing system, and responsive to the integrated record and to the rules set, for communicating an appropriate rate schedule to the first resources billing system and to the second resources billing system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a telecommunication system network comprising at least first resources and second resources the use of which is pre-paid by a customer, comprising:
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providing a resource consumption monitor;
using the resource consumption monitor to monitor usage of the first resources and the second resources during at least one connection to obtain, for a particular customer, customer usage information;
comparing the customer usage information to a customer pre-paid usage limits profile for terminating the at least one connection if usage limits for at least one of the first or second resources are equaled; and
updating the customer pre-paid usage limits profile. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A telecommunication system network comprising at least first resources and second resources the use of which is pre-paid by a customer, the telecommunication system network further comprising:
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a network element storing a customer pre-paid usage limits profile; and
a resource consumption monitor for monitoring usage of the first resources and the second resources during at least one connection to obtain, for a particular customer, customer usage information, for comparing the customer usage information to the customer pre-paid usage limits profile for terminating the at least one connection if usage limits for at least one of the first or second resources are equaled, and for updating the customer pre-paid usage limits profile. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for operating a telecommunication system network comprising at least first customer services associated with a first customer configuration system and second customer services associated with a second customer configuration system, comprising:
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providing an integrated configuration engine;
storing in a database of the integrated configuration engine, for each customer, customer parameters used by each of the first and second customer configuration systems; and
bidirectionally communicating between the database and the first and second customer configuration systems, via the integrated configuration engine, customer parameters and modified customer parameters for enabling configuration processes to be executed by said first and second customer configuration systems. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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- 42. A telecommunication system network comprising at least first customer services associated with a first customer configuration system and second customer services associated with a second customer configuration system, further comprising an integrated configuration engine comprising a database for storing, for each customer, customer parameters used by each of the first and second customer configuration systems, and means for bidirectionally communicating between the database and the first and second customer configuration systems, via the integrated configuration engine, customer parameters and modified customer parameters for enabling configuration processes to be executed by said first and second customer configuration systems.
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51. A method for operating a telecommunication system network comprising at least first resources and second resources the use of which is specified by a policy database, comprising:
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providing a unified policy controller;
using the unified policy controller to monitor usage of the first resources and the second resources to obtain, for a particular customer, combined customer usage information; and
comparing the combined customer usage information to information stored in the policy database and dynamically modifying a customer service profile, if needed, based on the combined customer usage information and the information stored in the policy database. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A telecommunication system network comprising at least first resources and second resources for use by a customer, the telecommunication system network further comprising:
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a first network element storing a policy database;
a second network element storing a customer service profile; and
a unified policy controller for monitoring usage of the first resources and the second resources to obtain, for a particular customer, combined customer usage information and for comparing the combined customer usage information to information stored in the policy database, the unified policy controller dynamically modifying the customer service profile, if needed, based on the combined customer usage information and the information stored in the policy database. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for operating a telecommunication system network comprising a plurality of business processes, comprising:
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providing a meta process engine; and
tracking information concerning business processes and, based on information derived from the tracking, identifying properties of and creating rules concerning business processes;
the meta process engine including domain specific primary rules augmented by user and system generated rules, where process combinations that comprise a rule are validated at the time of creation of the rule. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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69. A platform for integrating operational support systems within a telecommunications system, comprising:
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a framework portion comprising a graphical user interface having a drag and drop capability for enabling a user to define rules-based processes;
a mapping portion comprising a rules engine providing data mapping for the defined processes and linking for interfacing processes to front-end and back-end services of the telecommunications system; and
an integration engine portion comprising adapters for bidirectionally coupling to the front-end and back-end services for enabling execution of the defined processes. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification