Analysis and validation system for provisioning a public switched telephone network

• US 5,644,619 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• 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: Farris, Robert D., Harper, Myron E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/467,646
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/16, 379/15, 379/22, 379/25, 379/29, 379/31, 379/32, 379/201, 379/265, 379/266, 379/309, 379/207, 379/230, 379/197, 379/67, 379/211, 379/27, 379/221
• US Class Current: 379/29.01
• 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 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 public switched telephone network (PSTN) includes a service order processing system receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location, and determining whether the service request is provisionable responsive to the service request and predetermined criteria. When the service order processing system determines that the service request is provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service request based upon information stored by the service order processing system. The information includes customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information is maintained by the service order processing system without substantially altering the customer facility data. The administration system also includes a verification system responsively connected to the service order processing system and verifying that the customer facilities provisioned by the service order processing system are correct.

Claims

1. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), comprising:

a service order processing system receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location, and determining whether the service request is provisionable, wherein

when said service order processing system determines that the service request is provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service request based upon information stored by said service order processing system, the information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information maintained by said service order processing system without substantially altering the customer facility data, and

when the service request is determined by said service order processing system not to be provisionable, said service order processing system generating a manual provisioning request;

an auxiliary database storing auxiliary data associated with the information stored by said service order processing system; and

a work center interface system operatively connected to said service order processing system and said auxiliary database, said work center interface system receiving the manual provisioning request from said service order processing system and retrieving the auxiliary data from said auxiliary database, said work center interface system provisioning other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction with said work center interface system.

2. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanized test system responsively connected to said service order processing system with respect to data inputs received therefrom, wherein when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable, said mechanized test system automatically tests the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative.

3. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 1, wherein said work center interface system optimizes the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request.

4. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 1, wherein said service order processing system generates a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

5. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 1, further comprising a telephone number selection database, and said service order processing system selects a telephone number from said telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

6. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 1, further comprising a Work Force Administration (WFA) system, and a Memory Administration System (MAS), and

wherein when said work center interface system determines that WFA action is necessary, said work center interface system generates and dispatches a message to said WFA system;

wherein when said work center interface system determines that memory administration action is necessary, said work center interface system creates a Translation Packet (TP) and sends said TP to said MAS.

7. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location;

(b) determining whether the service request is provisionable;

(c) when the service request is determined to be provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service request based upon information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information being maintained without substantially altering the customer facility data; and

(d) when the service request is determined not to be provisionable, performing the following steps;

(d1) generating a manual provisioning request;

(d2) retrieving auxiliary data associated with the information being maintained without substantially altering the customer facility data;

(d3) receiving the manual provisioning request;

(d4) retrieving the auxiliary data from said auxiliary database; and

(d5) provisioning other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of automatically testing the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said provisioning step (d5) further comprises the step of optimizing the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of generating a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting a telephone number from a telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

12. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

generating and dispatching a message to a Work Force Administration (WFA) system when WFA action is necessary;

generating and dispatching a translation packet to a Memory Administration System (MAS) when memory administration action is necessary.

13. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), comprising:

an auxiliary database storing auxiliary data;

a service order processing system receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location, and determining whether the service request is provisionable, wherein

when said service order processing system determines that the service request is provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service request based upon information stored by said service order processing system, the information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information maintained by said service order processing system without substantially altering the customer facility data, and

when the service request is determined by said service order processing system not to be provisionable, said service order processing system generating a status request for retrieving the auxiliary data associated with the information stored by said service order processing system, said service order processing system again determining whether the service request is provisionable responsive to the service request and the predetermined criteria and the auxiliary data, and provisioning other facilities to execute the service request when the service request is determined to be provisionable.

14. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 13, further comprising a mechanized test system responsively connected to said service order processing system with respect to data inputs received therefrom, wherein when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable, said mechanized test system automatically testing the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative.

15. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 13, further comprising a mechanized test system responsively connected to said service order processing system with respect to data inputs received therefrom, wherein when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable, said mechanized test system automatically tests the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative.

16. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 13, wherein said work center interface system optimizes the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request.

17. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 13, wherein said service order processing system generates a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

18. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 13, further comprising a telephone number selection database, and said service order processing system selects a telephone number from said telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

19. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 13, further comprising a Work Force Administration (WFA) system, and a Memory Administration System (MAS), and

wherein when said work center interface system determines that WFA action is necessary, said work center interface system generates and dispatches a message to said WFA system;

wherein when said work center interface system determines that memory administration action is necessary, said work center interface system creates a Translation Packet (TP) and sends said TP to said MAS.

20. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing auxiliary data;

(b) receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location;

(c) determining whether the service request is provisionable;

(d) when the service request is determined to be provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service request based upon information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information being maintained without substantially altering the customer facility data; and

(e) when the service request is determined not to be provisionable, performing the following steps;

(e1) generating a status request for retrieving the auxiliary data associated with the information;

(e2) determining again whether the service request is provisionable responsive to the service request, predetermined criteria and the auxiliary data; and

(e3) provisioning other facilities to execute the service request when the service request is determined to be provisionable.

21. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a method according to claim 20, wherein when the service request is determined not provisionable, said method further comprising the step of automatically testing the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative.

22. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of automatically testing the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein said provisioning step (e3) further comprises the step of optimizing the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction.

24. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of generating a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

25. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of selecting a telephone number from a telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

26. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

generating and dispatching a message to a Work Force Administration (WFA) system when WFA action is necessary;

generating and dispatching a translation packet to a Memory Administration System (MAS) when memory administration action is necessary.

27. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), comprising:

a service order processing system receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location, and determining whether the service request is provisionable,

when said service order processing system determines that the service request is provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service request based upon information stored by said service order processing system, the information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information maintained by said service order processing system without substantially altering the customer facility data; and

a verification system responsively connected to said service order processing system with respect to data inputs received therefrom, and verifying that the customer facilities provisioned by said service order processing system are correct.

28. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 27, further comprising a mechanized test system responsively connected to said service order processing system with respect to data inputs received therefrom, wherein when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable, said mechanized test system automatically tests the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative.

29. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 27, further comprising a work center interface system operatively connected to said service order processing system and said auxiliary database, said work center interface system receiving the manual provisioning request from said service order processing system and retrieving the auxiliary data from said auxiliary database, said work center interface system provisioning other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction with said work center interface system.

30. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 29, wherein said work center interface system optimizes the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request.

31. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 29, further comprising a Work Force Administration (WFA) system, and a Memory Administration System (MAS), and

wherein when said work center interface system determines that WFA action is necessary, said work center interface system generates and dispatches a message to said WFA system;

wherein when said work center interface system determines that memory administration action is necessary, said work center interface system creates a Translation Packet (TP) and sends said TP to said MAS.

32. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 27, wherein said service order processing system generates a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

33. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 27, further comprising a telephone number selection database, and said service order processing system selects a telephone number from said telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

34. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a service request from a customer requesting service for a customer location;

(b) determining whether the service request is provisionable;

(c) when the service request is determined to be provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service request based upon information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information being maintained without substantially altering the customer facility data; and

(d) verifying that the customer facilities provisioned by said service order processing system are correct.

35. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of automatically testing the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein said provisioning step (d5) further comprises the step of optimizing the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction.

37. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of generating a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

38. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of selecting a telephone number from a telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

39. A method according to claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

generating and dispatching a message to a Work Force Administration (WFA) system when WFA action is necessary;

generating and dispatching a translation packet to a Memory Administration System (MAS) when memory administration action is necessary.

40. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), comprising:

a soft-dial order system providing limited telephone service to customer facilities that have previously been requested to be disconnected, the limited telephone service permitting the customer facilities to initiate a service connect request; and

a service order processing system responsively connected to said soft-dial order system with respect to data inputs received therefrom, said service order processing system receiving the service connect request from a customer requesting service for a customer location, and determining whether the service connect request is provisionable, when said service order processing system determines that the service connect request is provisionable, automatically provisioning the customer facilities to execute the service connect request based upon information stored by said service order processing system, the information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information maintained by said service order processing system without substantially altering the customer facility data.

41. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 40, further comprising a mechanized test system responsively connected to said service order processing system with respect to data inputs received therefrom, wherein when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable, said mechanized test system automatically tests the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative.

42. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 40, further comprising a work center interface system operatively connected to said service order processing system and said auxiliary database, said work center interface system receiving the manual provisioning request from said service order processing system and retrieving the auxiliary data from said auxiliary database, said work center interface system provisioning other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction with said work center interface system.

43. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 42, wherein said work center interface system optimizes the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request.

44. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 42, further comprising a Work Force Administration (WFA) system, and a Memory Administration System (MAS), and

wherein when said work center interface system determines that WFA action is necessary, said work center interface system generates and dispatches a message to said WFA system;

wherein when said work center interface system determines that memory administration action is necessary, said work center interface system creates a Translation Packet (TP) and sends said TP to said MAS.

45. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 40, wherein said service order processing system generates a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

46. An administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN) according to claim 40, further comprising a telephone number selection database, and said service order processing system selects a telephone number from said telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

47. In an administration system for a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing limited telephone service to customer facilities that have previously been requested to be disconnected, the limited telephone service permitting the customer facilities to initiate a service connect request;

(b) receiving a service connect request from a customer requesting service for a customer location;

(c) determining whether the service connect request is provisionable;

(d) when the service connect request is determined to be provisionable, automatically provisioning customer facilities to execute the service connect request based upon information including customer identification data and customer facility data, and the information being maintained without substantially altering the customer facility data.

48. A method according to claim 47, further comprising the step of automatically testing the customer facilities to determine whether the customer facilities are operative when said service order processing system again determines that the service request is not provisionable.

49. A method according to claim 47, wherein when the service request is determined not to be provisionable, said method further comprises the steps of optimizing the provisioning of the other facilities to execute the service request responsive to the auxiliary data and user interaction.

50. A method according to claim 47, further comprising the step of generating a completed service order for distribution to downstream systems in the administration system after said service request has been automatically provisioned.

51. A method according to claim 47, further comprising the step of selecting a telephone number from a telephone number selection database when the service request is not eligible for processing by said service order processing system.

52. A method according to claim 47, further comprising the steps of:

generating and dispatching a message to a Work Force Administration (WFA) system when WFA action is necessary;

generating and dispatching a translation packet to a Memory Administration System (MAS) when memory administration action is necessary.