Information entry for network optimization

• US 20070263543A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brinkley, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A telecommunications network model receives data regarding a telecommunications network and a customer'"'"'s use of that network. The data includes information about nodes, link between nodes, tariffs, and customer usage. The received data is utilized to create a model of the telecommunications network. The model may then be utilized to optimize a customer'"'"'s use of the network, optimizing for a lowest cost solution.

Claims

1. A method for modeling use of a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

receiving a first collection of data items, wherein each data item of the first collection includes information about a node on the telecommunications network;

receiving a second collection of data items, wherein each data item of the second collection includes information about a link between nodes on the telecommunications network;

receiving a third collection of data items, wherein each data item of the third collection includes information about a tariff associated with an element of the telecommunications network;

receiving a fourth collection of data items, wherein each data item of the fourth collection includes information about a customer'"'"'s use of a network system in the telecommunications network; and

generating a model of the telecommunications network utilizing the first, second, third, and fourth collections.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third collection includes information about a Universal Service Order Code (USOC).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

optimizing the customer'"'"'s use of the telecommunications network using the model, wherein optimizing includes determining a lowest cost use of the telecommunications network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second collection includes information about geographic distance between nodes on the telecommunications network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a data item of the fourth collection comprises information about a customer'"'"'s use of a ring-type system.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface with which the model may be accessed by a user; and

providing a graphical view of the ring-type system, wherein the user may modify the ring-type system using the graphical view.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth collection is derived, at least in part, from billing records of the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first collection comprises both a central office and a customer premise.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a fifth collection of data items, wherein each data item of the fifth collection includes information about channels in the telecommunications network.

10. A system for modeling a telecommunications network, the system comprising:

a processor;

a display, in communication with the processor;

a memory, in communication with the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions comprising;

receiving a first collection of data items, wherein each data item of the first collection includes location information about a node in the telecommunications network;

receiving a second collection of data items, wherein each data item of the second collection includes information about a link between nodes of the telecommunications network;

receiving a third collection of data items, wherein each data item of the third collection includes information about a tariff associated with an element of the telecommunications network;

receiving a fourth collection of data items, wherein each data item of the fourth collection includes information about a customer'"'"'s use of a network system in the telecommunications network;

generating a model of the telecommunications network utilizing the first, second, third, and fourth collections; and

providing a graphical user interface on the display allowing a user access to the model.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the third collection includes information about a Universal Service Order Code (USOC).

12. The system of claim 10, the instructions further comprising:

optimizing the customer'"'"'s use of the telecommunications network using the model, wherein optimizing includes determining a lowest cost use of the telecommunications network.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second collection includes information about geographic distance between nodes on the telecommunications network.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the fourth collection comprises information about a customer'"'"'s use of a ring-type system.

15. The system of claim 14, the instructions further comprising:

providing a graphical view of the ring-type system, wherein the user may modify the ring-type system using the graphical view.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the fourth collection is derived, at least in part, from billing records of the customer.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the first collection comprises both a central office and a customer premise.

18. The system of claim 10, the instructions further comprising:

receiving a fifth collection of data items, wherein each data item of the fifth collection includes information about channels in the telecommunications network.

19. A computer-readable medium for storing instructions for use in a method for modeling a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

receiving a first collection of data items, wherein each data item of the first collection includes information about a node on the telecommunications network;

receiving a second collection of data items, wherein each data item of the second collection includes information about a link between nodes on the telecommunications network;

receiving a third collection of data items, wherein each data item of the third collection includes information about a tariff associated with an element of the telecommunications network;

receiving a fourth collection of data items, wherein each data item of the fourth collection includes information about a customer'"'"'s use of a network system in the telecommunications network, and wherein the fourth collection includes information about the customer'"'"'s use of a ring-type system;

generating a model of the telecommunications network utilizing the first, second, third, and fourth collections;

providing a graphical user interface allowing a user access to the model;

providing a graphical view of the ring-type system, wherein the user may modify the ring-type system using the graphical view; and

optimizing the customer'"'"'s use of the telecommunications network using the model, wherein optimizing includes determining a lowest cost use of the telecommunications network.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the first collection comprises both a central office and a customer premise.