Testing an operational support system (OSS) of an incumbent provider for compliance with a regulatory scheme

• US 20030202638A1
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Pricewaterhousecoopers International Limited)
• Original Assignee: KPMG Consulting LLC (KPMG International Cooperative)
• Inventors: Eringis, John E., Minnig, Stephen C., Weeks, Michael W., Schwartz, Sheryl R., Spoley, Susan E., Walters, Ava J., Sears, Raymond W. III
• Granted Patent: US 6,678,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/15.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/82 Criteria or parameters used for performing billing operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/78 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2263 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/242 Software testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for testing one or more OSSs of an ILEC includes performing one or more actions associated with preparation of a test plan for testing one or more elements of the ILEC OSSs, performing one or more actions associated with implementation of a test plan in testing one or more of the ILEC OSS elements, evaluating the performance of the one or more ILEC OSS elements according to the testing, and generating one or more test results according to the evaluation, each test result corresponding to a particular ILEC OSS element tested.

Claims

1. A method for testing one or more operational support systems (OSSs) of an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC), comprising:

performing one or more actions associated with preparation of a test plan for testing one or more elements of the ILEC OSSs;

performing one or more actions associated with implementation of a test plan in testing one or more of the ILEC OSS elements;

evaluating the performance of the one or more ILEC OSS elements according to the testing; and

generating one or more test results according to the evaluation, each test result corresponding to a particular ILEC OSS element tested.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an element tested lies within a test domain selected from the group consisting of:

a pre-order, order, and provisioning (POP) domain;

a maintenance and repair (M&

R) domain;

a billing domain; and

a relationship management and infrastructure (RMI) domain.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the element involves a plurality of test domains.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the element involves a plurality of tests within a single test domain.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the element involves a plurality of test process areas associated with a single test.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the element involves a plurality of test sub-process areas within a single test process area associated with a test.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the element involves a plurality of evaluation measures.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the element involves a plurality of evaluation criteria each applicable to one or more evaluation measure.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the element involves a plurality of considerations each relevant to one or more evaluation criteria.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the element tested is selected from the group consisting of a system, a process, a capability, and a practice of the ILEC.