Tiered and modular approach to operational support systems

• US 7,882,209 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eslambolchi, Hossein, McCanuel, John, Vasa, Prakash
• Primary Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/239,832
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/223, 709/202, 709/250, 370/256, 719/320, 719/328
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

A computer system and techniques are disclosed that provide support for the operations of a modern telecommunication services provider. The computer system includes several software modules arranged in layers that are configured to provide services, such as a data access, workflow, and business-management functions. In some preferred embodiments, data cleansing and enterprise-view functionality are provided. An application program interface is also provided that allows a software program to execute software modules contained in the layers to perform specific tasks.

Claims

1. An operational support system comprising:

an application programming interface; and

a plurality of software modules organized in hierarchical layers, the modules including program instructions that, when executed, invoke a module configured in an adjacent lower layer of the plurality of hierarchical layers and provide functionality to a module in an adjacent upper layer of the plurality of hierarchical layers, the modules being callable from the application programming interface, wherein the plurality of modules include a data access module, a data cleansing module and a workflow module, the data access module including program instructions that, when executed, retrieves and standardizes data from a plurality of data sources, wherein the data access module removes duplicates received from the data sources, the data cleansing module including program instructions that, when executed, provide information to identify a discord from among the plurality of data sources, the workflow module including program instructions that, when executed, automate provisioning activities of an enterprise and provide exception handling during execution of the provisioning activity, wherein the data access module, the data cleansing module and the workflow module are each callable from the application programming interface, the application programming interface identifying functions of the data access module, the data cleansing module, the workflow module and the plurality of data sources.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data access module including program instructions that, when executed, interact with a data source.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the data cleansing module is configured to include program instructions that, when executed, access a business rule to determine the discord.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the data cleansing module is configured to include program instructions that, when executed, identify a most-trusted data source from the plurality of data sources to determine the discord.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of modules include an enterprise-view module, the enterprise view module including program instructions that, when executed, provide a single view of information stored in a plurality of data sources, the enterprise-view module being callable from the application programming interface, the application programming interface identifying a function of the enterprise view module.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the workflow module is configured to include program instructions that, when executed, access at least one workflow template, the workflow template identifying tasks and data needed to perform the provisioning activity.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the workflow module is configured to include program instructions that, when executed, determine the scheduling of tasks identified in the at least one workflow template.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the workflow module is configured to include program instructions that, when executed, provide message handling during execution of the provisioning activity.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of modules include a business control module, the business control module including program instructions that, when executed, provide a business control function, the business control module being callable from the application programming interface, the application programming interface identifying a function of the business control module.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the business control module is configured to include program instructions that, when executed, monitor an enterprise activity.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the business control module is configured to include program instructions that, when executed, provide a consolidated enterprise-wide control point.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the data access module includes a read-adapter reading data from a relational database and a write-adapter storing the relational database data in another relational database.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the data access module includes a converter-adapter standardizing data format before the duplicates received from the data sources are removed.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the data access module is organized in a lower layer than the data cleansing module.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the converter-adapter translates the data to an enterprise consistent image.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the data cleansing module includes sub-modules, wherein at least one of the sub-modules is a network-access-polling module, the network-access-polling module including program instructions that, when executed, selects a most-trusted data source from among the data sources.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the data cleansing module includes sub-modules, wherein at least one of the sub-modules is a data-modifier module, the network-access-polling module including program instructions that, when executed, modifies extracted data based on the identified discord.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of modules include a work-list module, the work-list module including program instructions that, when executed, identifies tasks needing manual intervention.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of modules include a lead-to-ledger module, the lead-to-ledger module including program instructions that, when executed, tracks sales to a customer, execution of a contract, taking of a service order, provisioning of the service order, billing and accounting of the sales to a ledger.

20. A method of arranging an operational support system comprising:

providing an application programming interface; and

organizing a plurality of software modules in hierarchical layers, the modules invoking a module configured in an adjacent lower layer of the plurality of hierarchical layers and providing functionality to a module in an adjacent upper layer of the plurality of hierarchical layers, the modules being callable from the application programming interface, wherein organizing the plurality of software modules includes providing a data access module, a data cleansing module a workflow module and a business control module, the data access module retrieving and standardizing data from a plurality of data sources and the data access module removing duplicates received from the data sources, the data cleansing module providing information to identify a discord from among the plurality of data sources, the workflow module including program instructions that, when executed, automate provisioning activities of an enterprise and provide exception handling during execution of the provisioning activity, the business control module including program instructions that, when executed, monitor an enterprise activity, the data access module, the data cleansing module, the workflow module and the business control module each being callable from the application programming interface, the application programming interface identifying functions of the data access module, the data cleansing module, the workflow module, the business control module and the plurality of data sources.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein organizing the plurality of software modules includes providing an enterprise-view module, the enterprise view module providing a single view of information stored in a plurality of data sources, the enterprise-view module being callable from the application programming interface, the application programming interface identifying a function of the enterprise view module.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein organizing the plurality of software modules includes providing a work flow module, the work flow module automating provisioning activities of an enterprise, the workflow module being callable from the application programming interface, the application programming interface identifying a function of the workflow module.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the business control module provides a business control function.