Management interface between a core telecommunication system and a local service provider

• US 6,961,778 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Murphy, Christopher John, Bakshi, Anil R., Baeth, Kevin Ronald, Swartz, Stephen J
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US10/194,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/230, 709/220, 709/231, 709/233, 709/237, 455/406, 455/432, 705/4
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5074 Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0805 by checking availability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider. First, a core telecommunication system is interfaced for handling core telecommunication system requests and responses received from the core telecommunication system and translated to a predetermined protocol. Similarly, a local service provider is interfaced for handling local service provider requests and responses received from the local service provider. The local service provider requests and responses are also translated to the predetermined protocol. In use, the core telecommunication system requests and responses are communicated with the local service provider and the local service provider requests and responses are communicated with the core telecommunication system for management purposes.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider, the method comprising the steps of:

interfacing with a core telecommunication system for handling core telecommunication service request data received from the core telecommunication system, wherein the core telecommunication system is configured to provide telecommunication services outside of a service area that is local to customers;

translating the core telecommunication service request data to a predetermined protocol;

interfacing with a local service provider for handling local service provider service request data received from the local service provider, wherein the local service provider provides local telephone service to the customers;

translating the local service provider data to the predetermined protocol;

communicating the core telecommunication system data with the local service provider;

communicating the local service provider service request data with the core telecommunication system; and

automatically managing a transfer of service request data between at least one core telecommunication system and at least one local service provider wherein the management is accomplished using a knowledge base, wherein the managing the transfer of service request data between the core telecommunication system and local service provider further comprises the step of logging the service request data upon receipt.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the managing the transfer of service request data between the core telecommunication system and local service provider further comprises the step of managing system requests and responses.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the managing system requests and responses further comprises the step of verifying the completeness of the requests and responses upon receipt.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of generating an error message upon at least one of the requests not being complete.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of managing pre-ordering duties wherein the pre-ordering duties are selected from the group of pre-ordering duties including address validation, feature verification, due-date reservation, telephone number reservation, and customer service record retrieval.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of handling errors in real-time.

26. The method for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider of claim 1,

wherein the step of managing the transfer of service request data between the core telecommunication system and the local service provider further comprises:

validating content, format, and completeness of the service request data using predetermined rules,

generating modified service request data that governs execution of a request in the service request data, wherein the modified service request data includes elements from a plurality of predetermined communication services, wherein the modified service request data specifies an ordering to perform the elements from the predetermined communication services according to predefined business rules and

transferring of modified service request data between the core telecommunication system and the local service provider; and

wherein the step of translating the local service provider data comprising translating from a plurality of protocols comprising at least one of EDI, CORBA, EDI, customized SMTP, CMIP;

ASCII/TLV, mechanized specification, HTTP/HTML, and terminals specifications.

7. A communications interface for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider, comprising:

a request processor for interfacing with a core telecommunication system for handling core telecommunication service request data received from the core telecommunication system, wherein the core telecommunication system is configured to provide telecommunication services outside of a service area that is local to customers;

a first translator, connected to the request processor, for translating the core telecommunication service request data to a predetermined protocol;

a command processor interfacing with a local service provider for handling local service provider service request data received from the local service provider wherein the local service provider provides local telephone service to the customers;

a second translator, connected to the command processor, translating the local service provider service request data to the predetermined protocol; and

a controller, interconnecting the request and the command processor, for automatically managing a transfer of service request data between at least one core telecommunication system and at least one local service provider wherein the management is accomplished using a knowledge base, wherein the controller further comprises a storage medium for logging the service request data upon receipt.

8. The communications interface of claim 7, wherein the controller further comprises a transaction processor for managing system requests and responses.

9. The communications interface of claim 8, wherein the transaction processor further comprises a message handler for verifying the completeness of the requests and responses upon receipt.

10. The communications interface of claim 8, wherein the transaction processor further comprises a transaction controller for generating an error message upon at least one of the requests not being complete.

11. The communications interface of claim 7 wherein the controller further manages pre-ordering duties wherein the pre-ordering duties are selected from the group of pre-ordering duties including address validation, feature verification, due-date reservation, telephone number reservation, and customer service record retrieval.

12. The communications interface of claim 11 further comprising an error handler for handling errors in real-time.

13. The communications interface of claim 7 further comprising a satellite interface for transmitting and receiving satellite information.

14. The communications interface of claim 13, wherein the satellite interface provides a plurality of communication services for relaying information to fixed and mobile stations.

27. The communications interface for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider of claim 7,

wherein the controller:

validates content, format, and completeness of the service request data using predetermined rules,

generates modified service request data that governs execution of a request in the service request data, wherein the modified service request data includes elements from a plurality of predetermined communication services, wherein the modified service request data specifies an ordering to perform the elements from the predetermined communication services according to predefined business rules and

transfers modified service request data between the core telecommunication

system and the local service provider; and

wherein the second translator translates from a plurality of protocols comprising at least one of EDI, CORBA, EDI, customized SMTP, CMIP;

ASCII/TLV, mechanized specification, HTTP/HTML, and terminals specifications.

15. A system for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider comprising:

logic that interfaces with a core telecommunication system for handling core telecommunication system requests and responses received from the core telecommunication system, wherein the core telecommunication system is configured to provide telecommunication services outside of a service area that is local to customers;

logic that translates the core telecommunication system requests and responses to a predetermined protocol;

logic that interfaces with a local service provider for handling local service provider requests and responses received from the local service provider, wherein the local service provider provides local telephone service to the customers;

logic that translates the local service provider requests and responses to the predetermined protocol;

logic that communicates the core telecommunication system requests and responses with the local service provider;

logic that communicates the local service provider requests and responses with the core telecommunication system; and

logic that automatically managing a transfer of service request data between at least one core telecommunication system and at least one local service provider wherein the management is accomplished using a knowledge base,

wherein the requests and responses are logged upon receipt.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the requests and responses are verified for completeness upon receipt.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising logic that generates an error message upon one of the requests not being complete.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising logic that handles pre-ordering duties selected from the group of pre-ordering duties consisting of address validation, feature verification, due-date reservation, telephone number reservation, and customer service record retrieval.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising logic that manages errors in real-time.

28. The system for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider of claim 15,

wherein the logic for managing the transfer of service request data between the core telecommunication system and the local service provider further comprises:

validating content, format, and completeness of the service request data using predetermined rules,

generating modified service request data that governs execution of a request in the service request data, wherein the modified service request data includes elements from a plurality of predetermined communication services, wherein the modified service request data specifies an ordering to perform the elements from the predetermined communication services according to predefined business rules, and

transferring the modified service request data between the core telecommunication system and the local service provider; and

wherein the logic for translating the local service provider requests comprising translating from a plurality of protocols comprising at least one of EDI, CORBA, EDI, customized SMTP, CMIP;

ASCII/TLV, mechanized specification, HTTP/HTML, and terminals specifications.

20. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider comprising:

a code segment that interfaces with a core telecommunication system for handling core telecommunication system requests and responses received from the core telecommunication system, wherein the core telecommunication system is configured to provide telecommunication services outside of a service area that is local to customers;

a code segment that translates the core telecommunication system requests and responses to a predetermined protocol;

a code segment that interfaces with a local service provider for handling local service provider requests and responses received from the local service provider, wherein the local service provider provides local telephone service to the customers;

a code segment that translates the local service provider requests and responses to the predetermined protocol;

a code segment that communicates the core telecommunication system requests and responses with the local service provider;

a code segment that communicates the local service provider requests and responses with the core telecommunication system; and

a code that automatically managing a transfer of service request data between at least one core telecommunication system and at least one local service provider wherein the management is accomplished using a knowledge base,

wherein the requests and responses are logged upon receipt.

21. The computer program of claim 20, wherein the requests and responses are verified for completeness upon receipt.

22. The computer program of claim 21 further comprising a code segment that generates an error message upon one of the requests not being complete.

23. The computer program of claim 20 further comprising a code segment that handles pre-ordering duties selected from the group of pre-ordering duties consisting of address validation, feature verification, due-date reservation, telephone number reservation, and customer service record retrieval.

24. The computer program of claim 20 further comprising a code segment that manages errors in real-time.

29. The computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for interfacing with a core telecommunication system and a local service provider of claim 20,

wherein the code segment for managing the transfer of service request data between the core telecommunication system and the local service provider further performs the function of:

validating content, format, and completeness of the service request data using predetermined rules,

generating modified service request data that governs execution of a request in the service request data, wherein the modified service request data includes elements from a plurality of predetermined communication services, wherein the modified service request data specifies an ordering to perform the elements from the predetermined communication services according to predefined business rules and

transferring of modified service request data between the core telecommunication system and the local service provider; and

wherein the code segment for translating the local service request and data translates from a plurality of protocols comprising at least one of EDI, CORBA, EDI, customized SMTP, CMIP;

ASCII/TLV, mechanized specification, HTTP/HTML, and terminals specifications.

25. An article of manufacture for providing a management interface between a core telecommunication system and a local service provider, the article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having management interface instructions comprising:

interfacing with a core telecommunication system for handling core telecommunication service request data received from the core telecommunication system, wherein the core telecommunication system is configured to provide telecommunication services outside of a service area that is local to customers;

translating the core telecommunication service request data to a predetermined protocol;

interfacing with a local service provider for handling local service provider service request data received from the local service provider, wherein the local service provider provides local telephone service to the customers;

translating the local service provider service request data to the predetermined protocol, wherein the step of translating the local service provider data comprising translating from a plurality of protocols comprising at least one of EDI, CORBA, EDI, customized SMTP, CMIP;

ASCII/TLV, mechanized specification, HTTP/HTML, and terminals specifications;

communicating the core telecommunication system service request data with the local service provider;

communicating the local service provider service request data with the core telecommunication system; and

automatically managing a transfer of service request data between at least one core telecommunication system and at least one local service provider wherein the management is accomplished using a knowledge base.