Systems and methods for archiving network planning processes

• US 20030212780A1
• 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 7,613,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network

Abstract

A method of documenting a network architecture planning process includes receiving at a host computer system a request from a user computer to initiate a network architecture planning process, transmitting an electronic file comprising a question relating to a parameter of the network architecture to the user computer, receiving a first response to the question, storing the first response, transmitting an electronic file comprising at least a second question to the user computer, wherein the second question comprises context-sensitive content based on the first response, receiving at the host computer system at least a second response to the at least a second question, storing the at least a second response, determining at least a first action based on the first response and the at least a second response, and transmitting the at least a first action for display at the user computer.

Claims

1. A method of documenting a network architecture planning process, comprising:

receiving at a host computer system a request from a user computer to initiate a network architecture planning process;

transmitting an electronic file comprising a question relating to a parameter of the network architecture to the user computer;

receiving a first response to the question;

storing the first response;

transmitting an electronic file comprising at least a second question to the user computer, wherein the second question comprises context-sensitive content based on the first response;

receiving at the host computer system at least a second response to the at least a second question;

storing the at least a second response;

determining at least a first action based on the first response and the at least a second response; and

transmitting the at least a first action for display at the user computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the host computer system a request to view a listing of the first response and the at least a second response; and

transmitting a file comprising the listing.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving at the host computer a revised response to replace one of the first response and the at least a second response; and

determining at least a second action based on the revised response;

wherein the at least a second action is different from the at least a first action.

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

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising validating the first response.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least a first action comprises adding at least one configuration item related to the network architecture to a list of configuration items.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least a first action comprises contacting an individual for information relating to the network architecture.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least a first action comprises obtaining educational information relating to the network architecture.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the educational information is located on a web site and the information relating to the action comprises a URL for the web site.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least a first action comprises completing a form relating to the network architecture.

11. A system for documenting a network architecture planning process, comprising:

a host computer system; and

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

wherein the host computer system is programmed to;

receive a request from a user computer to initiate a network architecture planning process;

transmit an electronic file comprising a question relating to a parameter of the network architecture to the user computer;

receive a first response to the question;

store the first response;

transmit an electronic file comprising at least a second question to the user computer, wherein the second question comprises context-sensitive content based on the first response;

receive at least a second response to the at least a second question;

store the at least a second response; and

determine at least a first configuration based on the first response and the at least a second response.

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

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the host computer system is further programmed to validate the first response.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least a first action comprises adding at least one configuration item related to the network architecture to a list of configuration items.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least a first action comprises contacting an individual for information relating to the network architecture.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least a first action comprises obtaining educational information relating to the network architecture.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the educational information is located on a web site and the information relating to the at least a first action comprises a URL for the web site.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least a first action comprises completing a form relating to the network architecture.

19. A method of documenting a planing process, comprising:

receiving at a host computer system a request from a user computer to initiate a planning process;

transmitting an electronic file comprising a question relating to a parameter of a project to the user computer;

receiving a first response to the question;

storing the first response;

transmitting an electronic file comprising at least a second question to the user computer, wherein the second question comprises context-sensitive content based on the first response;

receiving at the host computer system at least a second response to the at least a second question;

storing the at least a second response;

determining at least a first action based on the first response and the at least a second response; and

transmitting information relating to the at least a first action for display at the user computer.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least a first action comprises adding at least one configuration item related to the planning process to a list of configuration items.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least a first action comprises contacting an individual for information relating to the planning process.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least a first action comprises obtaining educational information relating to the planning process.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the educational information is located on a web site and the at least a first action comprises a URL for the web site.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the at least a first action comprises completing a form relating to the planning process.