Method and apparatus for provisioning a public switched telephone network

• US 5,416,833 A
• Filed: 11/16/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Harper, Myron E., Combs, Connie W., Robson, Sharon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/152,360
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/205, 379/206, 379/207, 379/208, 379/209, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/213, 379/214, 379/215, 379/265, 379/266, 379/309, 379/112 , 379/218, 379/61, 379/198, 379/14, 379/196, 379/333, 379/334, 379/243, 379/244, 379/10, 379/121, 379/122
• US Class Current: 379/201.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2876 Handling of subscriber policies group policies management H04L41/0893
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1316 Service observation, testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13504 client/server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13515 authentication, authorisation - fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13521 fault management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13526 resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

An administration system for a switched telephone network which includes an attendant station for receiving service requests, a Service Order Processing (SOP) system for creating and distributing service orders for processing by downstream processing systems, and Adjunct Processor (AP) having storage for storing data including Living Unit (LU) data, network facility data and Telephone Number (TN) data, the foregoing system being used to perform the steps of receiving a request for service at the attendant station, determining the reason for the request and customer information, using the customer information to determine from the AP the facility and services available, selecting a TN from the AP, determining if the service request is eligible for handling by the AP, if not eligible issuing a service order and processing it in the current fashion, if eligible initiating processing by the AP, determining in the AP whether Work and Force Administration (WFA) action is necessary, and if so, preparing and dispatching a message to WFA, determining in the AP whether a Memory Administration System (MAS) is involved and, if so, creating a Translation Packet (TP) and sending the TP to the MAS, creating a Recent Change (RC) message in response to the TP and dispatching the message to the switch, updating the data in the AP in response to confirmation of completion of the WFA action and the switch translation, generating and dispatching a completion message from the AP to the SOP, and preparing a completed service order for distribution and distributing the same.

Claims

1. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) including an attendant station for receiving service requests and collecting customer information, credit verification means, Service Order Processing (SOP) means for creating and distributing service orders for processing by downstream processing systems including Service Order Analysis and Control (SOAC) means, Computer System for MainFrame Operations (COSMOS) means, switch means (SWITCH), Loop Facility Assignment and Control System (LFACS) means, an improved method of providing service implementation comprising the steps of:

providing Adjunct Processor (AP) means having storage means for storing data including Living Unit (LU) data, network facility data and Telephone Number (TN) data;

storing in said AP means the LU data corresponding to the network facility data as provisioned data;

maintaining the provisioned data in said AP means without altering the network facility data when a disconnect request is received by the attendant station;

receiving at said attendant station a request for service;

determining the reason for said request and customer information including customer name and service address;

checking credit worthiness of the customer;

using said customer information to determine from said AP means the facility and services available;

selecting a TN from said AP means;

recapping service request with customer;

determining whether the service request is eligible for handling by said AP means;

if not eligible, issuing a Service Order for processing by the downstream processing systems;

if eligible, preforming the following steps;

initiating processing by said AP means, wherein a new service request for a LU is assigned the provisioned data which has been maintained by said AP means for the LU even when the disconnect request has been previously initiated by the LU;

determining in said AP means whether Work and Force Administration (WFA) action is necessary, and when the WFA action is necessary, preparing and dispatching a message to the WFA;

determining in said AP means whether a Memory Administration System (MAS) is involved and, when the MAS is involved, creating a Translation Packet (TP) and sending said TP to said MAS;

creating a Recent Change (RC) message in response to said TP and dispatching said RC message to said switch means;

updating said data in said AP means in response to confirmation of completion of said WFA action and the switch translation;

generating and dispatching a completion message from said AP means to said SOP means; and

preparing a completed service order for distribution and distributing same.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said administration system for said PSTN includes Premise Information System (PREMIS) processor means and said method includes the steps of selecting a Telephone Number (TN) from said PREMIS means in the case of service requests not eligible for processing by said AP means.

3. A method according to claim 2 including the steps of, in the case of a service request wherein a Telephone Number (TN) has been selected from said PREMIS means:

releasing said Service Order to said SOP to determine distribution thereof;

distributing said Service Order to the systems and centers determined;

receiving said Service Order at said SOAC means and validating same;

determining in said SOP means if loop facilities are required responsive to said Service Order and, if so, sending an assignment request to said LFACS means.

4. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) including an attendant station for receiving service requests and collecting customer information, Service Order Processing (SOP) means for creating and distributing service orders for processing by downstream processing systems, and Stored Program Control (SPC) switch means, an improved method of providing service implementation comprising the steps of:

providing Adjunct Processor (AP) means having storage means for storing data including Living Unit (LU) data, network facility data and Telephone Number (TN) data;

storing in said AP means the LU data corresponding to the network facility data as provisioned data;

maintaining the provisioned data in said AP means without altering the network facility data when a disconnect request is received by the attendant station;

receiving at said attendant station a request for service;

determining the reason for said request and customer information including customer name and service address;

using said customer information to determine from said AP means the facility and services available;

selecting a TN from said AP means;

determining whether the service request is eligible for handling by said AP means;

if not eligible, issuing a Service Order for processing by the downstream processing systems;

if eligible, performing the following steps;

initiating processing by said AP means, wherein a new service request for a LU is assigned the provisioned data which has been maintained by said AP means for the LU even when the disconnect request has been previously initiated by the LU;

determining in said AP means whether Work and Force Administration (WFA) action is necessary, and when the WFA action is necessary, preparing and dispatching a message to the WFA;

determining in said AP means whether a Memory Administration System (MAS) is involved and, when the MAS is involved, creating a Translation Packet (TP) and sending said TP to said MAS; and

creating a Recent Change (RC) message in response to said TP and dispatching said RC message to said switch means.

5. A method according to claim 4 including the steps of:

updating said data in said AP means in response to confirmation of completion of said WFA action and the switch translation;

generating and dispatching a completion message from said AP means to said SOP means.

6. A method according to claim 5 including the steps of preparing a completed service order for distribution and following receipt of said completion message at said SOP means.

7. A method according to claim 4 wherein said administration system for said PSTN includes Premise Information System (PREMIS) processor means and said method includes the steps of:

in the case of a service request not eligible for processing by said AP means selecting a telephone number (TN) from said PREMIS means;

releasing said service order to said SOP means to determine distribution of said service order;

distributing said service order to the systems and centers determined;

receiving said service order at said SOAC means and validating same;

determining in said SOC means if loop facilities are required and, if so, sending an assignment request to said LFACS means.

8. A method according to claim 4 wherein said administration system for said PSTN includes Premise Information System (PREMIS) processor means and said method includes the step of selecting a Telephone Number (TN) from said PREMIS means in the case of service requests not eligible for processing by said AP means.

9. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) including an attendant station for receiving service requests and collecting customer information, Service Order Processing (SOP) means for creating and distributing service orders for processing by downstream processing systems, and Stored Program Control (SPC) switch means, aN improved method of providing service implementation comprising the steps of:

providing Adjunct Processor (AP) means having storage means for storing data including Living Unit (LU) data, network facility data and Telephone Number (TN) data;

storing in said AP means the LU data corresponding to the network facility data as provisioned data;

maintaining the provisioned data in said AP means without altering the network facility data when a disconnect request is received by the attendant station;

receiving at said attendant station a request for service;

determining the reason for said request and customer information including customer name and service address;

determining whether the service request is eligible for handling by said AP means;

if not eligible, issuing a Service Order for processing by the downstream processing systems;

if eligible, initiating processing by said AP means, wherein a new service request for a LU is assigned the provisioned data which has been maintained by said AP means for the LU even when the disconnect request has been previously initiated by the LU;

determining in said AP means whether Work and Force Administration (WFA) action is necessary, and when the WFA action is necessary, preparing and dispatching a message to the WFA;

determining in said AP means whether a Memory Administration System (MAS) is involved and, when the MAS is involved, creating a Translation Packet (TP) and sending said TP to said MAS; and

creating a Recent Change (RC) message in response to said TP and dispatching said message to said switch means.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said administration system for said PSTN includes Premise Information System (PREMIS) processor means and said method includes the step of selecting a Telephone Number (TN) from said PREMIS means in the case of service requests not eligible for processing by said AP means.

11. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising an attendant station for receiving service requests and collecting customer information;

Service Order Analysis and Control (SOAC) means;

Computer System for Mainframe Operations (COSMOS) means;

switch means (SWITCH);

Loop Facility Assignment and Control System (LFACS) means;

Service Order Processing (SOP) means for creating and distributing service orders for processing by said SOAC, COSMOS, SWITCH and LFACS means;

Premise Information System (PREMIS) means; and

Adjunct Processor (AP) means having storage means for storing data including Living Unit (LU) data, network facility data and Telephone Number (TN) data, for storing in said AP means the LU data corresponding to the network facility data as provisioned data for an LU, and for maintaining the provisioned data in said AP means without altering the network facility data when a disconnect request is received by the attendant station;

said AP means receiving data from said attendant station for determining if the service request is eligible for processing by said AP means and, if so, processing said service request by assigning the provisioned data maintained by said AP means to the LU when a new service request is initiated by the LU even when the disconnect request has been previously requested by the LU, and, if not, issuing a Service Order (SO), said service order being processed by said SOP means and said PREMIS means.

12. An administration system according to claim 11 wherein said AP means, upon determining a service request is eligible for handling thereby:

determines in said AP means whether Work and Force Administration (WFA) action is necessary, and if so, prepares and dispatches a message to WFA;

determines whether a Memory Administration System (MAS) is involved and, if so, creates a Translation Packet (TP) and sends said TP to said MAS;

said MAS, upon receiving said TP, creating a Recent Change (RC) message in response to said TP and dispatching said message to said switch means.

13. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) comprising an attendant station for receiving service requests and collecting customer information;

Service Order Analysis and Control (SOAC) means;

Computer System for Mainframe Operations (COSMOS) means;

switch means (SWITCH);

Loop Facility Assignment and Control System (LFACS) means;

Service Order Processing (SOP) means for creating and distributing service orders for processing by said SOAC, COSMOS, SWITCH and LFACS means;

Premise Information System (PREMIS) means; and

Adjunct Processor (AP) means having storage means for storing data including Living Unit (LU) data, network facility data and Telephone Number (TN) data, for storing in said AP means the LU data corresponding to the network facility data as provisioned data for an LU, and for maintaining the provisioned data in said AP means without altering the network facility data when a disconnect request is received by the attendant station;

said AP means receiving data from said attendant station for determining whether the service request is eligible for processing by said AP means and, if so performing the following;

selecting a TN from said AP means and processing the service request by assigning the provisioned data maintained by said AP means to the LU when a new service request is initiated by the LU even when the disconnect request has been previously requested by the LU;

determining whether Work and Force Administration (WFA) action is necessary, and when the WFA action is necessary, preparing and dispatching a message to the WFA;

determining whether Memory Administration System (MAS) is involved, and when the MAS is involved, creating a Translation Packet (TP) and sending said TP to said MAS;

updating the data therein in response to confirmation of completion of said WFA action; and

generating and dispatching a completion message to said SOP means.

14. An administration system according to claim 13 wherein said SOP means prepares a completed service order for distribution and distributes same upon receiving said completion message from said AP means.