Order processing and reporting system for telecommunications carrier services

• US 6,104,798 A
• Filed: 02/12/1998
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoyt, Daniel Mark, Lickiss, Alan Lee, Zollmann, George Gregg, Szabo, Christian Attila
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/023,056
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/93.12, 379/93.17, 379/207, 379/219, 379/220, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/201.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5064 Customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/46 Real-time negotiation between users and providers or operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/56 On line or real-time flexible agreements between service providers and telecoms operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2263 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42289 with carrierprovider selection by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/645 Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An automated order processing system for a telecommunications services carrier is capable of activating customer orders and provisioning telecommunications services for customers. The system includes a client application including a graphical user interface for receiving one or more customer orders from a remote location, each customer order having at least one unique identifier, the client application further up-front validating the format of customer orders received. A server application is provided for entering the validated customer orders in a database storage device, prior to initiating customer order activation and provisioning. In addition to controlling the order entry, activation, provisioning and installation processes, the server application tracks the status of each customer order by receiving status information updates for each customer order throughout the entry, activation, provisioning and installation process, and accordingly updates the database storage device. The system additionally provides a report generating function providing customers with up to date information about their accounts via the client application'"'"'s graphical user interface.

Claims

1. An automated order processing system for a telecommunications services carrier that is capable of activating customer orders and provisioning telecommunications services via a local exchange entity, said system comprising:

means for receiving one or more customer orders from a remote location, each said customer order having at least one unique identifier, said receiving means validating a format of each of said one or more customer orders received;

means for providing front-end editing of said customer orders to validate format of said customer orders;

a database means for containing validated customer order information; and

processing means for entering said validated customer orders into said database means prior to said customer order activation and provisioning, and for receiving updated status information of successfully activated customer orders, wherein means for receiving said customer orders includes graphical user interface means in communication with said processing means for enabling direst input of data records containing plurality of customer orders;

wherein said processing means updates the status of each activated customer order in said database means.

2. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein customer orders are imported as a batch file for input to said graphical user interface means.

3. The automated system of claim 1, wherein said unique identifier unique to said customer order includes an automatic number identifier corresponding to a working telephone number.

4. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more customer orders are entered by a representative entity providing services for customers.

5. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a said customer order comprising a data record having said at least one unique identifier corresponding to said customer order in addition to other informational data, said identifier and informational data being provided in said record in a predefined format, said means for receiving said orders providing real-time editing function to ensure that said record is in a correct format.

6. The automated system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for receiving further generates an error batch file containing those customer orders that have been incorrectly formatted.

7. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is organized as a client-server architecture having a client application including said graphical user interface means for receiving and validating said customer entered orders, and a server application including said processing means for processing said customer orders.

8. The automated system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said client application processes said received customer orders and formats them as a file suitable for automatic downloading into said server application.

9. The automated system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said graphical user interface means and said client application communicate via a transport media supporting TCP/IP communications protocol with said processing means.

10. The automated system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transport media is one of an analog or digital communication system.

11. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said customer orders are submitted by a representative entity of telecommunications services, said system further including means for determining whether said telecommunications service carrier is to provision said customer orders via said local exchange carrier entity.

12. The automated system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said processing means includes first validating means for further validating the content of said unique identifier contained in said customer order, and receiving corresponding validation that said unique identifier is valid.

13. The automated system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first validating means includes means for comparing said customer orders against predefined tables containing valid unique identifier information contained in a calling area database.

14. The automated system as claimed in claim 12, further including a means for providing real-time access to information relating to customers of said representative entity having orders to be provisioned through said local exchange carrier entity, said processing means further including second validating means for further validating the content of said unique identifier contained in said customer order against those customer orders to be provisioned, and receiving corresponding validation that said customer order will successfully install at said local exchange carrier entity.

15. The automated system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said processing means converts said customer order information that have been successfully validated by said first validating means and said second validating means into a format suitable for provisioning at said local exchange carrier entity.

16. The automated system as claimed in claim 15, further including an interface means for routing said converted customer order information from said processing means to a corresponding local exchange carrier entity, said interface means further receiving confirmation from said local exchange carrier entity that a customer order has been successfully activated.

17. The automated system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said interface means further includes means for generating a status report of activated customer orders for downloading to said processing means.

18. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing means includes means for generating reports containing updated status information of customer orders, said system enabling representative entity access to said customer reports through said graphical user interface.

19. The automated system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said representative entity is capable of provisioning telecommunications services for said customer, said means for providing real-time access to information relating to customers of said representative entity further including means for directly activating customer orders received from said processing means.

20. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, further including means for deactivating prior activated unique identification data.

21. The automated system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes means for enabling said customer order to provide real-time correction of those orders that could not be validated through said graphical user interface means.

22. The automated system as claimed in claim 6, further including means for storing said error batch file for subsequent correction.

23. An automated order processing and report generating system for an inter-exchange carrier providing telecommunications services for a representative entity and customers thereof, said system comprising:

graphical user interface means for enabling batch order entry of customer orders by said representative entity;

means for providing front-end editing of said customer orders to validate format of said customer orders;

processing means in communication with said graphical user interface means for initiating activation, installation and provisioning of services corresponding to a unique customer identifier associated with each customer order, said provisiorung of services being performed for said representative entity via an on-line customer information system through a local exchange carrier, said processing means further comprising;

(i) means for automatically generating customer records corresponding to received, front-end validated customer orders for entry into a database memory prior to activation, each said record including said unique customer identifier and a status indicator;

(ii) means for receiving confirmation of successfull customer order installations, from one of said local exchange carrier and said on-line customer information system; and

(iii) means for updating the status indicator of each activated customer order in said database memory;

whereby the status of all customer orders is tracked through the entry, order activation, installation and provisioning processes and provided for real-time reporting purposes via said graphical user interface means.

24. The automated order processing and reporting generating system means as claimed in claim 23, wherein said activation, installation and provisioning of services corresponding to said unique customer identifier is performed via said inter-exchange carrier, said processing means further including:

first validating means for further validating the content of said unique customer identifier contained in said customer order, and receiving corresponding validation that said unique identifier is valid; and

second validating means for further validating the content of said unique identifier contained in said customer order against records of those customer orders contained in said on-line customer information system, and receiving corresponding validation that said customer order will successfully install at said local exchange carrier.

25. The automated order processing and report generating system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said first validating means includes means for comparing said customer orders against predefined tables containing valid unique customer identifier information contained in a calling area database.

26. The automated order processing and report generating system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said processing means converts said customer order information that have been successfully validated by said first validating means and said second validating means into a format suitable for provisioning at said local exchange carrier entity.

27. The automated order processing and report generating system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said an on-line customer information system further includes means for directly activating and installing unique customer identifiers of orders received from said processing means.

28. A method of processing orders for customers of a telecommunications service entity capable of activating customer orders and provisioning telecommunications services via a local exchange carrier entity, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving customer orders containing identifying data and information data associated with each of said customer orders via a client application;

validating the format of each customer order received by front-end editing said customer order, said customer order comprising a data record having at least one unique identifier corresponding to said customer order in addition to other informational data, said identifier and information data being provided in said record in a predefined format, wherein validating said customer order includes real-time editing to ensure said data record is in a correct format;

automatically communicating new customer orders to a server application, said server storing validated new orders in a database memory;

activating said valid customer orders by provisioning telecommunications services for said customers through a local exchange carrier entity;

receiving updated status information of successfully activated customer orders; and

updating the status of each activated customer order in said database memory.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprises the step of entering a batch of customer orders in a pre-defined format through a graphical user interface prior to receivinig said customer orders, said graphical user interface located remotely from said telecommunications service entity.

30. The method according to claim 28, further comprises the step of importing a batch file containing said customer orders for input to a graphical user interface means prior to receiving said customer orders.

31. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said step of validating the format of each customer order received includes generating an error batch file containing those customer orders that have been incorrectly formatted.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, further including the step of providing on-line correction of customer orders that have been incorrectly formatted.

33. The method as claimed in claim 31, further including the step of storing said error batch file for subsequent correction.

34. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said customer orders are submitted by a representative entity of telecommunications services, said method further including the step of determining whether said telecommunications service entity is to provision said customer orders via said local exchange carrier entity.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein said activating step includes the steps of:

validating content of said unique identifier contained in said customer order, and

receiving corresponding validation that said unique identifier is valid.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said validating content step includes the step of comparing said customer orders against predefined tables containing valid unique identifier information contained in a calling area database.

37. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein an on-line customer information system provides real-time access to information relating to customers of said representative entity having orders to be provisioned through said local exchange carrier entity, said activating step further including the steps of:

validating the content of said unique identifier contained in said customer order against those customer orders to be provisioned, and

receiving corresponding validation that said customer order will successfully install at said local exchange carrier entity.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said activating step further includes the steps of:

converting said customer order information that have been successfully validated into a format suitable for provisioning at said local exchange carrier entity.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein said provisioning step further includes the steps of:

routing converted customer order information to a said local exchange carrier entity; and

receiving confirmation from said local exchange carrier entity that a customer order has been successfully activated.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39, further including the step of generating a status report of activated customer orders prior to said updating step.

41. The method as claimed in claim 28, further including the steps of:

generating reports containing updated status information of customer orders, and

enabling representative entity access to said customer reports in real-time through a graphical user interface.

42. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein an on-line customer information system provides real-time access to information relating to customers of said representative entity that is to provision customer orders via said local exchange carrier entity, said activating step further including the steps of:

directly activating customer orders received from a processing means at said on-line customer information system; and

receiving confirmation of customer order activation.

43. The method as claimed in claim 28, further including the step of deactivating unique identification data associated with prior activated customer orders.