METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PROCESS NETWORK ACCESS SERVICE ORDERS

• US 20100145760A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cambre, William, Heffington, Sidney
• Application Number:
  US12/332,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145760A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to process network access service orders are disclosed herein. An example apparatus to enable an entity to automatically process a network access service order associated with a subscriber includes a database to store information related to a plurality of access providers, the information including estimated periods of time for respective ones of the access providers to process access service requests (ASRs); and a service order coordinator to schedule creation and conveyance of a first ASR based on an estimated due date of a second ASR and at least one of the estimated periods of time in the database

Claims

1. An apparatus to enable an entity to automatically process a network access service order associated with a subscriber, comprising:

a database to store information related to a plurality of access providers, the information including estimated periods of time for respective ones of the access providers to process access service requests (ASRs); and

a service order coordinator to schedule creation and conveyance of a first ASR based on an estimated due date of a second ASR and at least one of the estimated periods of time in the database.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first ASR comprises a logical connection ASR and the second ASR comprises a physical connection ASR.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first ASR comprises a virtual local area network ASR to enable the selected access provider to configure an access network element to transfer Ethernet frames associated with a communication device of the subscriber.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a configuration detector to detect a configuration of an access network to be used to provide network connectivity to the subscriber.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the configuration detector is to determine an amount of ASRs and one or more types of ASRs to be conveyed to the selected access provider by the entity.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the estimated periods of time in the database have respective durations which depend on a type of the service order.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a record database to store an entry having a plurality of fields corresponding to a set of critical dates associated with the first ASR.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the critical dates are determined by referencing the database.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising a critical date adjuster to alter one or more of the critical dates in response to determining that a scheduled due date will be missed.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a jeopardy detector to determine if at least one of the scheduled creation or conveyance of the first ASR will be delayed.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the conveyance comprises sending information to at least one of the access providers.

12. A method to enable an entity to automatically process a network access service order associated with a subscriber, comprising:

storing a first database of information related to a plurality of access providers, the information including estimated periods of time for respective ones of the access providers to process access service requests (ASRs); and

scheduling a conveyance of a first ASR based on an estimated due date of a second ASR and at least one of the estimated periods of time.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the first ASR comprises a logical connection ASR and the second ASR comprises a physical connection ASR.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising detecting a configuration of an access network to be used to provide network connectivity to the subscriber.

15. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the estimated periods of time in the first database depend on a type of the service order.

16. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising creating an entry in a record database, the entry having a plurality of fields corresponding to a set of critical dates associated with the first ASR.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the critical dates are determined by referencing the first database.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising adjusting one or more of the critical dates in response to determining that a scheduled due date will be missed.

19. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising determining if the scheduled conveyance of the first ASR will be delayed.

20-27. -27. (canceled)

28. An apparatus to enable an entity to automatically process a network access service order for network connectivity, comprising:

a service order coordinator to identify an access network element capable of providing the network connectivity, the service order coordinator to identify the access network element by referencing a vendor database using a geographic location of a subscriber premises to obtain an identifier associated with the access network element; and

an access service request (ASR) creator to create a physical connection ASR by populating fields of the ASR using the identifier and information related to a subscriber.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein the vendor database is to store information related to a plurality of access providers, the information including identifiers corresponding to access network elements of one or more access networks, wherein the access networks are managed by access providers.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein the service order coordinator is to schedule conveyance of a logical connection ASR based on an estimated due date of the physical connection ASR and an estimated period of time associated with an access provider servicing the physical connection ASR.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the service order coordinator uses an offset and a provisioning time associated with the access provider servicing the physical connection ASR.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, further comprising a configuration detector to detect a configuration of an access network to be used to provide the network connectivity.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the configuration detector is to determine an amount of ASRs and one or more types of ASRs to be conveyed to the selected access provider by the entity.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, further comprising a record database to store an entry having a plurality of fields corresponding to a set of critical dates associated with the physical connection ASR.

35-48. -48. (canceled)