GPS for telephone line records

• US 20040212532A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Steven G., Reddick, Charles E., Ingman, Robert M., Hamrick, Marvin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,102,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/085 Fault locating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for enhancing telephone line records with Global Positioning System coordinates. One embodiment acquires Global Positioning System information and provides the Global Positioning System information to assemble a telephone line record.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

acquiring Global Positioning System information; and

providing the Global Positioning System information to assemble a telephone line record.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the Global Positioning System information comprises acquiring a latitude and a longitude associated with a telephone number.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the Global Positioning System information comprises acquiring a latitude and a longitude for a service address.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the Global Positioning System information comprises providing a database of Global Positioning System information.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the Global Positioning System information comprises providing a computer program product storing the Global Positioning System information.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the Global Positioning System information comprises acquiring a latitude and a longitude for a cross-connect box.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the Global Positioning System information comprises acquiring a latitude and a longitude for a service terminal.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the Global Positioning System information comprises acquiring a latitude and a longitude for a central office.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the Global Positioning System information comprises acquiring a latitude and a longitude for a wire center.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving updated Global Positioning System information.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of using updated Global Positioning System information to correct the telephone line record.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving updated Global Positioning System information from a Global Positioning System unit installed in a vehicle.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the Global Positioning System information comprises acquiring an elevation measurement.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of acquiring customer service information.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of acquiring facility information.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of acquiring telephone equipment information.

17. A method, comprising:

dispatching a work order for a telecommunications network, the work order comprising Global Positioning System information for a telephone line record; and

receiving updated Global Positioning System information describing an actual location of at least one of i) a service address and ii) a telephone plant facility.

18. A computer program product, comprising:

Global Positioning System information stored on a computer-readable medium, the Global Positioning System information for assembling a telephone line record.