Method and system for managing telecommunications reports

• US 7,072,881 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Robert H., Metcalf, Gary Thomas, Weitlauf, Jr., Willard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Veillard, Jacques
• Application Number:
  US09/995,042
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707/9, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/4, 707/103.R, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709227-230, 709/219, 709/217, 379/9, 379/265.2, 379/309, 379/112.01, 379/201.05, 705/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/17 Web printing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A method for managing telecommunications reports comprises receiving customer data in a mainframe database system based on a plurality of customer submissions. A report is generated in the mainframe database system based on the customer data in the mainframe database system. Summaries of the generated reports are printed to a printer emulator. Selected data from the printed report summaries are imported into a spreadsheet. A terminal emulator connects to the mainframe database system and prints selected reports to the printer emulator. The printed reports are stored on a storage device.

Claims

1. A method for managing customer service request reports, comprising:

receiving customer data in a mainframe database system based on a plurality of customer requests;

generating a report for each of the plurality of customer requests based on the customer data in the mainframe database system;

assigning a unique report number for each of the generated reports;

providing summaries of at least one of the generated reports to a computer acting as a printer emulator;

importing selected data from the provided report summaries on the printer emulator into a spreadsheet;

saving the spreadsheet on a computer acting as a terminal emulator;

connecting to the mainframe database system with the computer acting as a terminal emulator;

submitting a print request to the mainframe database system from the terminal emulator to print selected reports based on the summary information in the spreadsheet for at least one of the generated reports;

providing the selected reports from the mainframe database system to the printer emulator in response to the print request;

saving the provided reports as word processing documents; and

storing the saved reports on a storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer data comprises customer names, locations, and service request dates.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected data comprises report numbers and service request dates.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a terminal operator selects the at least one report by viewing the spreadsheet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a file name for each saved report comprises the report number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a file server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a single computer comprises the printer emulator and the terminal emulator.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting the customer data from the mainframe database system.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising deleting the generated reports from the mainframe database system.

10. A method for managing customer service request reports, comprising:

receiving customer data in a mainframe database system based on a plurality of customer requests;

generating a report for each of the plurality of customer requests based on the customer data in the mainframe database system;

assigning a unique report number for each of the generated reports;

providing summaries of at least one of the generated reports to a computer acting as a printer emulator;

importing selected data from the provided report summaries on the printer emulator into a spreadsheet;

saving the spreadsheet on a computer acting as a terminal emulator;

connecting to the mainframe database system with the computer acting as a terminal emulator;

submitting a print request to the mainframe database system from the terminal emulator to print selected reports based on the summary information in the spreadsheet for at least one of the generated reports;

providing the selected reports from the mainframe database system to the printer emulator in response to the print request;

saving the provided reports as word processing documents;

storing the saved reports on a storage device;

deleting the customer data from the mainframe database system; and

deleting each generated report from the mainframe database system after the generated report is selected and provided to the printer emulator.

11. A system for managing customer usage reports, comprising:

a mainframe database system for receiving customer data based on a plurality of customer usage submissions;

a computer comprising a printer emulator and a terminal emulator, and in communication with the mainframe database system; and

a file server in communication with the computer;

wherein the mainframe database system generates a report for each of the plurality of customer usage submissions based on the customer data, at least one of the generated reports is selected for printing, a file is generated comprising report numbers associated with the selected reports, the file is printed to the printer emulator, the computer imports to a spreadsheet selected data from a generated report selected for printing on the printer emulating;

the terminal emulator connects to the mainframe database system in response to a print request for at least one selected report based on the summary data in the spreadsheet, the selected report or reports are printed from the mainframe database to the printer emulator, and the printed reports are stored on the file server.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a local area network in communication with the file server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the stored reports are accessible from the local area network.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the printed reports are stored on the file server as work processing documents.