Method and system for correcting customer service orders

• US 6,493,694 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nassif, Rodolphe Jean, Swinney, Joan Marie, Winston, Connie Dell, Xu, Jiyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US09/283,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 706/47, 706/11, 379/9.02, 379/9.03, 379/9.04, 705/8, 707/500, 707/530
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation

Abstract

A method and system for correcting a text service order from a customer is provided. The method includes converting the service order into a linked data structure, and applying a plurality of rules to the linked data structure. The linked data structure is modified, as demanded, based on the plurality of rules. The method further includes converting the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules.

Claims

1. A method for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the method comprising:

converting the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

applying a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules;

converting the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules; and

recording modifications made to the service order in a log.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein applying further comprises:

establishing a rule set including the plurality of rules;

parsing the plurality of rules into an internal form compatible with a rule interpreter; and

applying the plurality of rules in the internal form with the rule interpreter to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the service order further comprises:

fetching the service order from a service order processor; and

parsing the service order into the linked data structure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein converting the linked data structure further comprises:

formatting the linked data structure to form the corrected service order; and

updating a service order processor with the corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each rule of the plurality of rules comprises:

a label; and

a rule body including a condition part and an action part.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one rule of the plurality of rules comprises:

a label; and

a rule body including a loop specification part, a condition part, and an action part.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one rule of the plurality of rules comprises:

a label; and

a rule body including a condition part, an action part, and an else action part.

8. A method for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the method comprising:

converting the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

applying a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules;

converting the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules;

receiving a correction request at a control module; and

upon receiving the correction request, instructing a service order reader to convert the service order by fetching the service order from a service order processor and parsing the service order into the linked data structure.

9. A method for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the method comprising:

converting the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

applying a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

converting the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein the service order has a plurality of sections with each section having a plurality of fields, and wherein each field has a type selected from the group consisting of;

left hand, universal service offering code, and floated.

10. A method for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the method comprising:

converting the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

applying a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

converting the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein the service order has a plurality of sections with each section having a plurality of fields, and wherein the linked data structure is a tree-like data structure having a root representing the service order, having a plurality of first-level children with each first level child representing a section of the plurality of sections, and having a plurality of second-level children with each second-level child representing a field of the plurality of fields.

11. A method for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the method comprising:

converting the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

applying a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

converting the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein the service order is represented as free-flow data lines.

12. A method for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the method comprising:

converting the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

applying a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

converting the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein converting the service order, applying the plurality of rules, and converting the linked data structure are performed at least partially on a UNIX based platform.

13. A system for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the system comprising:

a service order reader configured to convert the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

a rule interpreter configured to apply a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules;

a service order formatter configured to convert the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules; and

a log for recording modifications made to the service order.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a rule set including the plurality of rules; and

a rule parser configured to parse the plurality of rules into an internal form compatible with the rule interpreter, wherein the rule interpreter applies the plurality of rules in the internal form to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the service order reader is further configured to fetch the service order from a service order processor, and to parse the service order into the linked data structure.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the service order formatter is further configured to format the linked data structure to form the corrected service order, and to update a service order processor with the corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein each rule of the plurality of rules comprises:

a label; and

a rule body including a condition part and an action part.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one rule of the plurality of rules comprises:

a label; and

a rule body including a loop specification part, a condition part, and an action part.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one rule of the plurality of rules comprises:

a label; and

a rule body including a condition part, an action part, and an else action part.

20. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a service order access module configured to bridge communication between the service order reader and a service order processor, and to bridge communication between the service order formatter and the service order processor.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the service order reader, the rule interpreter, and the service order formatter are implemented as software in a single executable file.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the single executable file is programmed to support a plurality of different processing modes that are selectable with command line options.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein the service order reader, the rule interpreter, and the service order formatter are further configured to issue service orders.

24. A system for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the system comprising:

a service order reader configured to convert the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

a rule interpreter configured to apply a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules;

a service order formatter configured to convert the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules; and

a control module for receiving a correction request, the control module being configure to, upon receiving the correction request, instruct the service order reader to convert the service order by fetching the service order from a service order processor and parsing the service order into the linked data structure.

25. A system for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the system comprising:

a service order reader configured to convert the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

a rule interpreter configured to apply a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

a service order formatter configured to convert the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein the service order has a plurality of sections with each section having a plurality of fields, and wherein each field has a type selected from the group consisting of;

left hand, universal service offering code, and floated.

26. A system for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the system comprising:

a service order reader configured to convert the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

a rule interpreter configured to apply a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

a service order formatter configured to convert the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein the service order has a plurality of sections with each section having a plurality of fields, and wherein the linked data structure is a tree-like data structure having a root representing the service order, having a plurality of first-level children with each first level child representing a section of the plurality of sections, and having a plurality of second-level children with each second-level child representing a field of the plurality of fields.

27. A system for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the system comprising:

a service order reader configured to convert the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

a rule interpreter configured to apply a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

a service order formatter configured to convert the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein the service order is represented as free-flow data lines.

28. A system for correcting a text service order from a customer, the service order having a plurality of text fields, the system comprising:

a service order reader configured to convert the service order into a linked data structure representing the plurality of text fields;

a rule interpreter configured to apply a plurality of rules to the linked data structure to modify the linked data structure as demanded based on the plurality of rules; and

a service order formatter configured to convert the linked data structure into a corrected service order when the linked data structure has been modified based on the plurality of rules wherein the service order reader, the rule interpreter, and the service order formatter are implemented at least partially in software on a UNIX based platform.