Method and apparatus for administration of circuit inventories in telecommunications networks
First Claim
1. A telecommunications circuit provisioning and administration system for recording telecommunications service data comprising:
- a customer submodule providing access to customer information;
a contract submodule providing access to contract information;
a circuit submodule providing access to a database of circuit information, each circuit being logically associated to said contract information;
a conversion submodule which converts data information into a standardized format;
a billing submodule that consolidates billing information corresponding to a plurality of telecommunications circuits into a single invoice; and
a data presentation submodule that displays telecommunications service data available over a network alongside previously entered data in a desired format for easy reference during human interactions concerning transitioning of an original installed service to a replacement service, including de-installation of said original installed service.
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Abstract
Telecommunications customers must frequently utilize the facilities of many different telecommunications service providers in order to transmit data from one location to another. When a telecommunications customer encounters a network problem, that customer usually must navigate a complicated web of service providers and equipment owners in order to receive meaningful technical assistance from a human technician. The present invention is designed and intended to facilitate human interactions for technical support and administrative tasks by associating customer, contract, circuit, equipment, key personnel, billing, and telco information in a database for efficient data presentation and information retrieval. Resolution of the logistical problem of tracking circuit information is achieved by organizing the information and displaying important data concurrently. Toward that end, the system modules comprising the invention share all of the circuit inventory data available, and graphical user interfaces for each module display relevant information together. Examples of features in the present invention include: simultaneous display of circuit and contact information for key personnel, a reminder function for tracking changes in important service characteristics, and customer-specific formatting for billing.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A telecommunications circuit provisioning and administration system for recording telecommunications service data comprising:
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a customer submodule providing access to customer information; a contract submodule providing access to contract information; a circuit submodule providing access to a database of circuit information, each circuit being logically associated to said contract information; a conversion submodule which converts data information into a standardized format; a billing submodule that consolidates billing information corresponding to a plurality of telecommunications circuits into a single invoice; and a data presentation submodule that displays telecommunications service data available over a network alongside previously entered data in a desired format for easy reference during human interactions concerning transitioning of an original installed service to a replacement service, including de-installation of said original installed service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computerized method of presenting telecommunications service charges, comprising:
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receiving from a database customer description information processed through a conversion submodule; receiving a description of a telecommunications pathway of circuit information processed through a conversion submodule; receiving telecommunications service charge information for a plurality of telecommunications circuits of the telecommunications pathway processed through a conversion submodule, the plurality of telecommunications circuits being provided by multiple vendors; receiving telecommunications service provider description information processed through a conversion submodule; processing all received information in order to logically connect and aggregate the received information; presenting, through an interactive display interface, billing information that aggregates the telecommunications service charge data from the multiple vendors providing the plurality of telecommunications circuits; and displaying telecommunications service data available over a network alongside previously entered data in a desired format for easy reference during human interactions concerning transitioning of an original installed service to a replacement service, including de-installation of said original installed service. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computerized telecommunications circuit provisioning and administration system for recording telecommunications service data comprising:
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a customer submodule providing access to customer information; a contract submodule providing access to contract information; a circuit submodule providing access to circuit information, each circuit being logically connected by the computer to a respective contract; a conversion submodule which converts data information into a standardized format; a change notification submodule outputting reports notifying of current or impending changes to telecommunications service based on the customer information, the circuit information and the contract information; and a data presentation submodule displaying telecommunications service data available over a network alongside previously entered data in a desired format for easy reference during human interactions concerning transitioning of an original installed service to a replacement service, including de-installation of said original installed service. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification