Apparatus and method for managing number sources

• US 6,298,352 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1998
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Parkins, Dan M., Kannan, Sivaramakrishna
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/121,393
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/104, 379/201
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A number resource management system for automatically managing number resources implements a Web-based client-server application for accessing and updating information pertaining to a number resource in a stored repository of number resources. Each number resource has an associated unique customer identifier and an associated status attribute. A Web/browser-based interface device enables communication between a business client and an accessing server, the interface device directing the server to retrieve and update information relating to a number resource according to a unique customer identifier and/or a status attribute input.

Claims

1. A system for automatically managing number resources associated with a service provider, said service provider applying workflow procedures relating to one or more number resources for use by a customer of said service provider, said system comprising:

means for providing a customer identifier corresponding to said customer having number resources to be managed;

memory storage means having a repository of number resources associated with a customer identifier, each number resource having an associated status indicator;

means for updating the status indicator of a number resource in said memory storage means for a customer according to an implemented workflow procedure, wherein a workflow procedure includes reserving one or more number resources for a customer and provisioning one or more network switches to enable customer use of one or more number resources, said updating means updating said status indicator from a first status to a reserved status;

interface means enabling input of user directives relating to number resource management for a customer;

means responsive to said user directives for automatically accessing one or more number resources and their corresponding status indicators from said memory storage means, said interface means displaying said one or more number resources and their corresponding status indicators for said user; and

means for validating a status indicator against said customer identifier for each said one or more number resources prior to said provisioning procedure.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said number resource has a first default status indicator before applying a workflow procedure.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said validation means includes verifying that said number resources to be provisioned have a reserved status.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein prior to provisioning said network switches, said updating means updates said status indicator for said number resources from reserved status to assigned status.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, whereby after provisioning said network switches, said updating means updates said status indicator for said number resources from assigned status to working status.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, whereby a workflow procedure includes discontinuing use of one or more said number resources, said updating means updating said status indicator for said number resources from working status to discontinued status.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, further including means for automatically applying business rules to said number resources when implementing said workflow procedures.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a business rule includes placing said one or more number resources in said reserved status for a predetermined amount of time, said updating means automatically reverting said status indicator for each said number resources back to said first status when said predetermined amount of time expires.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a business rule includes implementing an aging process for said one or more number resources in said discontinued status, said status indicator for each said aging one or more number resources being maintained at said discontinued status for a predetermined time interval.

10. The system as claimed in claim 5, whereby a workflow procedure includes suspending one or more number resources having a working status, said updating means updating said status indicator for said number resources from said working status to a suspended status.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said service provider is a first telecommunications service provider, said system including means for reserving number resources associated with a second telecommunications provider for a customer, said memory storage means including a porting status indicator for each number resource of said second telecommunications provider.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said porting status indicator for each number resource of said second telecommunications provider indicates porting in status, a workflow procedure including reserving one or more number resources having said ported in status, said updating means updating said status indicator to indicate a reserved status for said ported in numbers.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first telecommunications service provider releases one or more number resources associated with said first telecommunications service provider to a customer retaining services of a second telecommunications service provider, said updating means updating a status of said porting indicator for each said released one or more number resources to a porting out status.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a customer ports one or more number resources associated with said first telecommunications service provider from a first predetermined geographic location to a second geographic location, said updating means updating a status of said porting indicator for each said one or more number resources to a porting out status.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a user directive includes a request for accessing those number resources having a specified status indicator.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a user directive includes a request for accessing those number resources having a specified porting status indicator.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a user directive includes a request for changing a status of a number resource.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said interface means includes a web/Internet browser, said user enabled to access said number resources from a remote computer terminal via a world wide web connection.

19. A method for automatically managing number resources associated with a service provider, said service provider applying workflow procedures relating to one or more number resources for use by a customer of said service provider, said method comprising:

providing a customer identifier corresponding to said customer having number resources to be managed;

storing one or more number resources associated with a customer identifier, each number resource having one or more associated status attributes;

updating a status attribute of a stored number resource for a customer according to an implemented workflow procedure wherein a workflow procedure includes reserving one or more number resources for a customer and provisioning one or more network switchers to enable customer use of corresponding one or more number resources, said method including updating a status attribute from said first status to a reserved status;

automatically accessing those stored number resources and associated status attributes for display at a user display terminal in response to a user directive; and

validating a status indicator for each said one or more number resources against said customer identifier prior to applying said provisioning procedure.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further providing a default first status for number resources before applying a workflow procedure.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said validating step includes verifying that said number resources to be provisioned has a reserved status.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein prior to provisioning said network switches, the step of updating said status attributes for said corresponding number resources from reserved status to assigned status.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, whereby after provisioning said network switches, the step of updating said status attributes for said corresponding number resources from assigned status to working status.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, whereby a workflow procedure includes discontinuing use of one or more said number resources, said method including updating said status attributes for said number resources from working status to discontinued status.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further including the step of automatically applying business rules said number resources when implementing workflow procedures.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein a business rule includes placing said one or more number resources in said reserved status for a predetermined amount of time, said method including automatically reverting said status attributes for each of said number resources back to said first status when said predetermined amount of time expires.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein a business rule includes implementing an aging process for said one or more number resources in said discontinued status, said method including maintaining said status attributes at said discontinued status for a predetermined time interval for each said one or more number resources being aged.

28. The method as claimed in claim 23, whereby a workflow procedure includes suspending one or more number resources having a working status, said method including updating said status indicator for said number resources from said working status to a suspended status.

29. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said service provider is a first telecommunications service provider, said method including reserving number resources associated with a second telecommunications provider for a customer, said method including the step of updating status attributes to indicate a porting in status for each number resource of said second telecommunications provider reserved.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein a workflow procedure includes reserving one or more number resources having said ported in status, the method further including updating said status attributes to indicate a reserved status for said ported in numbers.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first telecommunications service provider releases one or more number resources associated with said first telecommunications service provider to a customer retaining services of a second telecommunications service provider, the method including the step of updating a status attribute to indicate a porting out status for each said released one or more number resources.

32. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein a customer ports one or more number resources associated with said first telecommunications service provider from a first predetermined geographic location to a second geographic location, said method further including updating a status attribute to indicate of said porting indicator for each said one or more number resources to a porting out status.

33. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein a user directive includes a request for accessing those number resources having a specified status attribute.

34. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein a user directive includes a request for changing a status attribute of a number resource.

35. The method as claimed in claim 19, including implementing a web/Internet based browser enabling access to said stored number resources from a remote computer terminal via a world wide web connection.