Methods and systems for assembling telephone line records

• US 7,130,399 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scherer, Rita H., Marcopulos, Judy M., Jean, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US09/946,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 379/9.01, 379/9.02, 379/9.03, 379/9.04, 379/126, 379/112.01, 379/114.03, 379/127.01, 379/121.05, 379/133, 379/221.09, 379/111, 379/243, 379/246, 707/10, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 379/126
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/051 technician dispatch system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for assembling a line record for a customer'"'"'s telephone number. One embodiment communicates with a communications network and acquires, in real time, at least one of i) information associated with the customer'"'"'s service, ii) facility information associated with the customer'"'"'s service, and iii) information associated with equipment used by the customer. The acquired information is assembled as the line record. An alternative embodiment communicates a request, over a communications network, for the line record. This alternative embodiment acquires, in real time, at least one of customer information from a Customer Record Information System, facility information from a Loop Facility Assignment Control System, and equipment information from a switch system. The acquired information is assembled as the line record, wherein each request for the line record is comprised of fresh data.

Claims

1. A method of assembling line records for customer telephone service, comprising:

receiving a request to assemble a line record, the request originating from a portable computer;

in response to the request, communicating with a communications network and acquiring, in real time, i) information associated with a customer'"'"'s telephone service, ii) facility information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service, and iii) information associated with equipment used by the customer;

storing the acquired information for a limited time;

assembling the acquired information as a line record;

annotating the line record with information indicating a description of a trouble with the customer'"'"'s telephone service;

annotating the line record with at least one of information indicating when the customer may be contacted, information indicating when a repair technician may access the customer'"'"'s business, and information indicating when a repair technician may access the customer'"'"'s residence;

annotating the line record with at least one of information indicating the urgency of a repair, information indicating an irate customer, and information indicating whom is creating a work order;

acquiring billing information including monthly phone bills, and average monthly phone bill;

acquiring payment information including at least one of customor'"'"'s payment history, the dates payments were received, and why a customer'"'"'s telephone service was deactivate; and

acquiring call information including a log of calls.

2. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service comprises acquiring customer information from a Customer Record Information System.

3. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service comprises acquiring information associated with at least one of a listed name for the customer, a service address, a location, and working conditions at the service address.

4. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service comprises acquiring information associated with at least one of class of service, listing information, port status information, and location route number.

5. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring facility information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service comprises acquiring facility information from a Loop Facility Assignment Control System.

6. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring facility information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service comprises acquiring information associated with a cable and a line pair serving the customer.

7. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring facility information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service comprises acquiring information associated with a terminal serving the customer.

8. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring facility information associated with the customer'"'"'s telephone service comprises acquiring information associated with a line pair serving the customer.

9. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring information associated with equipment used by the customer comprises acquiring equipment information from a TELCORDIA™

SWITCH system.

10. A method of assembling a line record according to claim 1, wherein acquiring information associated with equipment used by the customer comprises acquiring information associated with terminal equipment serving the customer.