Method and system for assigning and dispatching a telecommunications systems work order based on global positioning information

• US 7,433,830 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cole, Robert A., Ingman, Robert M., Garris, Charlie, Reddick, Charles E
• Primary Examiner(s): Boswell; Beth V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/175,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/7.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for enhancing telephone work orders with Global Positioning System information. One method generates a work order for repair of a telecommunications network. A turf is assigned to the work order, and the assigned turf is verified with a wire center. The work order is then dispatched for repair of the telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A system for assigning and dispatching a telecommunications systems work order based on global positioning information, comprising:

a processor in communication with a first database and a second database stored in a memory;

the first database storing a plurality of wire centers associated with a plurality of turfs of a telecommunications network;

the second database associating the plurality of wire centers to a plurality of allocation areas, each allocation area associated with global positioning system information;

the processor receiving a work order associated with a telephone number and with a truncated service address;

the processor assigning a wire center, a turf, and an allocation area to the work order based on the truncated street address;

the processor querying the first database for the wire center and for the turf and determining that the assigned turf is not associated with the assigned wire center;

the processor querying the second database for the assigned wire center;

the processor retrieving from the second database another allocation area and the global positioning system information associated with the assigned wire center;

means for assigning the global positioning system information to the work order; and

means for electronically dispatching the work order to a technician based on the global positioning system information,

wherein the global positioning system information comprises one of a set of coordinates comprising a latitude and longitude, xyz-Cartesian coordinates, or position, velocity, and time coordinates, for a reference location within the another allocation area, and

wherein the reference location is one of an intersection of streets, a landmark, a building, or a network facility within the another allocation area.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for assigning the wire center, the turf, and the allocation area to the work order based on the telephone number.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating the work order.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for associating the turf to a composite of geographic areas.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for associating the turf to a non-contiguous composite of geographic areas.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for displaying the work order.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a request for the work order.

8. A computer program product comprising computer readable media storing processor-executable instructions for performing a method of assigning and dispatching a telecommunications systems work order based on global positioning information, the method comprising:

storing in a first database a plurality of wire centers associated with a plurality of turfs of a telecommunications network;

associating in a second database the plurality of wire centers to a plurality of allocation areas, each allocation area associated with global positioning system information;

receiving a work order associated with a telephone number and with a truncated service address;

assigning a wire center, a turf, and an allocation area to the work order based on the truncated street address;

querying the first database for the wire center and for the turf and determining that the assigned turf is not associated with the assigned wire center;

querying the work order for the assigned wire center;

retrieving from the second database another allocation area and the global positioning system information associated with the assigned wire center;

assigning the global positioning system information to the work order; and

electronically dispatching the work order to a technician based on the global positioning system information,

wherein the global positioning system information comprises one of a set of coordinates comprising a latitude and longitude, xyz-Cartesian coordinates, or position, velocity, and time coordinates, for a reference location within the another allocation area, and

wherein the reference location is one of an intersection of streets, a landmark, a building, or a network facility within the another allocation area.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising instructions for assigning the wire center, the turf and the allocation area to the work order based on the telephone number.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising instructions for associating the service address with the work order.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising instructions for generating the work order.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising instructions for associating the turf to a composite of geographic areas.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising instructions for associating the turf to a non-contiguous composite of geographic areas.

14. A computer implemented method of assigning and dispatching a telecommunications systems work order based on global positioning information, comprising performing on a system having a processor and a memory the steps of the method comprising:

storing, in the memory, a first database containing a plurality of wire centers associated with a plurality of turfs of the telecommunications network;

storing, in the memory, a second database associating the plurality of wire centers to a plurality of allocation areas, each allocation area associated with global positioning system information;

the processor in communication with the memory performing the steps comprising;

receiving the work order associated with a telephone number and with a truncated service address;

assigning a wire center, a turf, and an allocation area to the work order based on the truncated street address;

querying for the wire center and for the turf and determining that the assigned turf is not associated with the assigned wire center;

querying for the assigned wire center;

retrieving another allocation area and the global positioning system information associated with the assigned wire center;

assigning the global positioning system information to the work order; and

electronically dispatching the work order to a technician based on the global positioning system information,

wherein the global positioning system information comprises one of a set of coordinates comprising a latitude and longitude, xyz-Cartesian coordinates, or position, velocity, and time coordinates, for a reference location within the another allocation area, and

wherein the reference location is one of an intersection of streets, a landmark, a building, or a network facility within the another allocation area.