Methods for identifying and revising high-risk orders based on identified errors

• US 7,774,237 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bajpay, Paritosh, Bienfait, Roberta Ann, Clarke, Kathleen M., Eslambolchi, Hossein, Liu, Daqin, Liu, Jackson, McCanuel, John, Pajarillo, Arnel R., Yang, Chen-Yui, Zinnikas, Michael, Chiang, Wan-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, William J.
• Application Number:
  US11/316,018
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705 26- 28, 705/80
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A method for identifying high-risk orders associated with a customer that includes the steps of: receiving an order that includes a customer number, an order type and a plurality of entries; identifying a customer contract based on the order type and the customer number, the customer contract having a plurality of terms that correspond to the entries; comparing the entries to corresponding terms using rules; and identifying a high-risk order containing at least one error from the comparison. The method can also include assigning a result code or a result text to the order, which corresponds to the errors that are identified, and changing the rule set by adding or removing rules.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a high-risk order associated with a customer by using a computer or microprocessor to perform the steps of the method, the method comprising:

receiving an order comprising a customer number, an order type and at least one entry;

entering the customer number, the order type and the at least one entry into a database;

identifying a customer contract based on the customer number and the order type, the customer contract comprising at least one term corresponding to the at least one entry, wherein the at least one term of the customer contract has a range with a low limit and a high limit;

retrieving customer contract information from the database;

comparing, by a computer, the at least one entry to the at least one term, wherein the comparison identifies at least one error in response to determining that the at least one entry is outside of the range between the low limit and high limit;

identifying a high-risk order based on the comparison;

assigning at least one of a result code or a result text to the order, wherein the result code or the result text corresponds to the at least one error that is identified; and

revising the order based on the result code or the result text.

2. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 1, further comprising discontinuing the processing of the order if a customer contract is not identified.

3. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 1, further comprising sending the high-risk order information to a customer care group.

4. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 3, wherein the high-risk order information is sent by e-mail.

5. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 1, wherein the order is for telecommunication services.

6. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 5, wherein the comparison is done using rules.

7. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 6, wherein each order type has different rules.

8. A method for identifying high-risk orders associated with a customer by using a computer or microprocessor to perform the steps of the method, the method comprising:

receiving an order comprising a customer number, an order type and a plurality of entries;

entering the customer number, the order type and the plurality of entries into a database;

identifying a customer contract based on the order type and the customer number, the customer contract comprising a plurality of terms, wherein each term has a range with a low limit and a high limit and wherein at least one of the plurality of entries corresponds to one of the plurality of terms;

retrieving customer contract information from the database;

comparing, by a computer, the entries to corresponding terms using rules, wherein the comparison identifies at least one error in response to determining that at least one of the plurality of entries is outside of the range of one of the plurality of terms;

identifying a high-risk order from the comparison;

assigning at least one of a result code or a result text to the order, wherein the result codes or the result text corresponds to the at least one error that is identified; and

revising the order based on the result code or the result text.

9. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 8, further comprising discontinuing the processing of the order if a customer contract is not identified.

10. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 8, further comprising sending the high-risk order information to a customer care group.

11. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 10, wherein the high-risk order information is sent by e-mail.

12. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 8, further comprising initiating action to remedy the high-risk order.

13. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 8, further comprising revising the rules.

14. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 8, wherein each order type has different rules.

15. A method for identifying a high-risk order for telecommunication services associated with a customer by using a computer or microprocessor to perform the steps of the method, the method comprising:

receiving an order comprising a customer number, an order type and at least one entry;

entering the customer number, the order type and the at least one entry into a database;

identifying a customer contract based on the customer number and the order type, the customer contract comprising at least one pricing term corresponding to the at least one entry, wherein the at least one pricing term of the customer contract has a range with a low limit and a high limit;

retrieving customer contract information from the database;

comparing, by a computer, the at least one entry to the at least one pricing term, wherein the comparison identifies at least one error in response to determining that the at least one entry is outside of the low limit and high limit range of the at least one pricing term;

identifying a high-risk order from the comparison;

assigning at least one of a result code or a result text to the order, wherein the result codes or the result text corresponds to the at least one error that is identified; and

revising the order based on the result code or the result text.

16. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 15, further comprising classifying orders based on the comparison.

17. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 16, wherein the orders are classified as “

Ignored,”

“

Good Order”

or “

Order with Errors.”

18. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 15, wherein the comparison is done using rules.

19. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 18, wherein each order type has different rules.

20. The method for identifying high-risk orders according to claim 15, further comprising sending the high-risk order information to a customer care group.