Systems and methods for creating network architecture planning tools

• US 20030212588A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Tammy S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network

Abstract

A method of creating a network architecture planning tool includes receiving at a host computer system a request from a user computer to display a first object template, transmitting an electronic file comprising the object template to a user computer, receiving at the host computer system information defining a first object comprising at least a function defining a next object, receiving at the host computer system a request from a user computer to display at least a second object template, transmitting an electronic file comprising the at least a second object template to the user computer, receiving at the host computer system information defining at least a second object relating to a network, and storing the information defining the first object and the information defining at least the second object.

Claims

1. A method of creating a network architecture planning tool, comprising:

receiving at a host computer system a request from a user computer to display a first object template;

transmitting an electronic file comprising the object template to a user computer;

receiving at the host computer system information defining a first object comprising at least a function defining a next object;

receiving at the host computer system a request from a user computer to display at least a second object template;

transmitting an electronic file comprising the at least a second object template to the user computer;

receiving at the host computer system information defining at least a second object relating to a network; and

storing the information defining the first object and the information defining at least the second object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network relates to a portion of the public switched telephone network.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising validating the information defining the first object.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information defining at least the second object comprises at least one configuration item related to the network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information defining at least the second object comprises an action to take related to a network architecture.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the action comprises contacting an individual for information relating to the network architecture.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the action comprises obtaining educational information relating to the network architecture.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the educational information is located on a web site and the information defining the second object comprises a URL for the web site.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the action comprises completing a form relating to the network architecture.

10. A method of creating a planning tool, comprising:

determining a sequence of steps in a planning process;

associating at least one object with each step in the planning process; and

linking the objects according to the sequence;

wherein each object comprises an operation and the operation depends on a location of the step associated with the object in the sequence of steps.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the planning process relates to a network installation.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the network relates to a portion of the public switched telephone network.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of associating at least one object with each step in the planning process comprises:

receiving at a user computer a list of objects from a host computer system; and

selecting at least one of the objects from the list to associate with a step.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of associating at least one object with each step in the planning process comprises:

entering information defining a first object comprising at least a function defining a next object; and

entering information defining at least a second object relating to a network.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the information defining at least the second object comprises at least one configuration item related to the network.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the information defining at least the second object comprises an action to take related to a network architecture.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the action comprises contacting an individual for information relating to the network architecture.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the action comprises obtaining educational information relating to the network architecture.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the educational information is located on a web site and the information defining the second object comprises a URL for the web site.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the task comprises completing a form relating to the network architecture.

21. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of associating at least one object with each step in the planning process comprises:

receiving at a user computer a list of object templates from a host computer system;

selecting an object template from a list of object templates;

entering information defining an object; and

transmitting the information defining the object to the host computer system.

22. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of linking the objects according to the sequence comprises:

identifying at least one next object;

defining a condition for each of the at least one next objects; and

transmitting information relating to the at least one next object and the conditions to a host computer system.

23. The method according to claim 10, wherein determining a sequence of steps in a planning process comprises:

assimilating requirements from a plurality of requirements sources;

identifying parameters relating to projects that determine applicable ones of the requirements;

creating at least one step for each parameter that acquires information relating to the parameter; and

ordering the steps so as to acquire parameter information according to a particular sequence.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the requirements sources comprises a corporate policy.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the requirements sources comprises an industry standard.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the requirements sources comprises a supplier agreement.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the requirements sources comprises a government regulation.

28. A method of creating a planning tool, comprising:

receiving at a host computer system a request to display a list of objects;

transmitting an electronic file comprising the list to a user computer;

receiving at the host computer system a selection of a first object;

receiving at the host computer a selection of at least a second object;

receiving at the host computer at least one link that associates the first object with the at least a second object; and

storing the first object, the at least a second object, and the at least one link.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the planning tool relates to a network installation.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the network relates to a portion of the public switched telephone network.

31. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:

receiving a request at the host computer for an object template;

transmitting an electronic file comprising the object template to the user computer;

receiving information defining an object; and

storing the information.

32. A system for creating network architecture planning tools, comprising:

a host computer system; and

a network communicably coupling the host computer system to at least one user computer;

wherein the host computer system is programmed to;

receiving a request from the user computer to display a first object template;

transmit an electronic file comprising the object template to the user computer;

receive information defining a first object;

receive a request from the user computer to display at least a second object template;

transmit an electronic file comprising the at least a second object template to the user computer;

receive information defining at least a second object; and

store the information defining the first object and the information defining at least the second object;

wherein the information defining the first object includes a function defining a next object and the information defining at least a second object relates to a network.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the network relates to a portion of the public switched telephone network.

34. The system according to claim 32, further comprising validating the information defining the first object.

35. The system according to claim 32, wherein the information defining at least the second object comprises at least one configuration item related to the network.

36. The system according to claim 32, wherein the information defining at least the second object comprises an action to take related to a network architecture.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the action comprises contacting an individual for information relating to the network architecture.

38. The system according to claim 36, wherein the action comprises obtaining educational information relating to the network architecture.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the educational information is located on a web site and the information defining the second object comprises a URL for the web site.

40. The system according to claim 36, wherein the action comprises completing a form relating to the network architecture.