Systems and methods for providing voice/data communication systems and voice/data communications

• US 8,737,993 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2006
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Alves, Benjamin Alfred, Pang, Adeline, Loudermilk, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US11/590,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20070147270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,766 Days
• Field of Search: 370/255, 370/256, 370/408, 709/203, 709223-226, 709/217, 705/14.17, 705/14.23, 705/14.25, 705/14.26, 705 26- 27, 705/29, 705/35, 705/36, 705/44, 705/1, 705/37, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

System and method for selling, configuring, installing, reconfiguring and servicing integrated voice/data communications systems are disclosed. An Internet/web based portal is provided to enable a high level of data to be easily collected. The portal guides the customer or sales persons in the collection of user requirements data indicative of the particular customer'"'"'s hardware, telephony and network service requirements. Test of the data is performed, ensuring that all required data has been entered. The user requirements data is translated into configuration data in order to configure the system in a manner to satisfy the user requirements data. Configuration data resulting from a user requirements data entry and translation process is coupled with a hardware manufacturing process to produce an integrated system configured for the particular customer. A centralized intelligence ensures that the installed system will work correctly and in accordance with the requirements of the particular customer, to facilitate equipment upgrades and the provision of WAN or other network services to the customer.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

entering user requirements data via a single portal to a centralized intelligence using a software application, wherein the user requirements data comprises intuitive data that includes include information determinative of a hardware configuration of a computing system for providing voice and data communications in accordance with the user requirements data, wherein the hardware configuration includes hardware for providing voice and data communications over one or more WAN or other networks, wherein the user requirements data also include information for a provision of network services by a network services provider;

translating, at the centralized intelligence, at least a portion of the user requirements data into configuration data, wherein the configuration data is stored in a storage location in electronic communication with the portal;

providing the configuration data to a manufacturing agent;

manufacturing the computing system, wherein the step of manufacturing the computing system includes the configuration data within the computing system, wherein the computing system operates based on the configuration data;

providing the computing system to an end user, wherein the computing system is operative to provide voice and data communications to a plurality of users via the network services provided by the network services provider in accordance with the configuration data; and

wherein, prior to the step of manufacturing the computing system, based on the user requirements data entered via the single portal, an order is placed from the centralized intelligence that initiates a commercial transaction for the provision of the computing system for use by an end user, and wherein, prior to the step of providing the computing system for use by an end user, based on the user requirements data entered via the single portal, an order is placed from the centralized intelligence that initiates a commercial transaction for the provision of network services over the one or more WAN or the other networks, wherein the network services provide voice and/or data communications over a wide area network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of testing the user requirements data prior to the step of translating the user requirements data and also prior to the step of initiating the second commercial transaction, wherein in response to the testing corrected or additional user requirements data are selectively prompted for entry via the portal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portal comprises a web-based portal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user requirements data include information determinative of the network services.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of electronically placing an order for manufacture of the computing system, wherein the order comprises a legally binding commercial transaction for the computing system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of producing a physical medium containing data generated based on the user requirements data, wherein the physical medium is provided with the computing system after the manufacturing step.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein voice communications are provided over the wide area network via the network services.

8. A method comprising the steps of:

entering user requirements data via a single portal to a centralized intelligence using a software application, wherein the user requirements data comprises intuitive data that includes include information determinative of a hardware configuration of a communications system for providing voice and/or data communications in accordance with the user requirements data, wherein the hardware configuration includes hardware for coupling the communications system to one or more WAN or other networks, wherein the user requirements data also include information for provision of network services by a network services provider;

translating, at the centralized intelligence, at least a portion of the user requirements data into configuration data, wherein the configuration data is stored in a storage location in electronic communication with the portal;

providing the configuration data to a manufacturing agent;

manufacturing the communications system, wherein the step of manufacturing the computing system includes the configuration data within the computing system, wherein the communications system operates based on the configuration data;

providing the communications system to an end user, wherein the communications system is operative to provide voice and/or data communications to a plurality of users via the network services provided by the network services provider in accordance with the configuration data; and

wherein, prior to the step of manufacturing the communications system, based on the user requirements data entered via the single portal, an order is placed from the centralized intelligence that initiates a commercial transaction for manufacture of the communications system, and wherein, prior to the step of providing the communications system for use by an end user, based on the user requirements data entered via the single portal, an order is placed from the centralized intelligence that initiates a commercial transaction for provision of network services for providing voice and/or data communications with the communications system via the one or more WAN or other networks.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of testing the user requirements data prior to the step of translating the user requirements data and prior to the step of initiating the second commercial transaction, wherein in response to the testing corrected or additional user requirements data are selectively prompted for entry via the portal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the portal comprises a web-based portal.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the user requirements data include information determinative of the network services.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of electronically placing an order for the manufacture of the system, wherein the order comprises a legally binding commercial transaction for the system.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of producing a physical medium containing data generated based on the user requirements data, wherein the physical medium is provided with the system after the manufacturing step.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein voice communications are provided over the wide area network via the network services.

15. A method comprising the steps of:

entering user requirements data via a single portal to a centralized intelligence using a software application, wherein the user requirements data comprises intuitive data that includes information determinative of a hardware configuration of a computing system for providing voice communications and data communications in accordance with the user requirements data, wherein the hardware configuration includes hardware for coupling the computing system to one or more WAN or other networks, wherein the computing system includes hardware for connecting the computing system to a local area network, wherein the user requirements data also include information for provision of network services by a network services provider;

translating, at the centralized intelligence, the user requirements data into configuration data, wherein the configuration data is stored in a storage location in electronic communication with the portal;

providing the configuration data to a manufacturing agent;

manufacturing the computing system, wherein the step of manufacturing the computing system includes the configuration data within the computing system, wherein the computing system operates based on the configuration data;

providing the computing system to an end user, wherein the computing system is operative to provide voice communications and data communications, wherein the voice communications are provided to a plurality of users via network services provided by the network service provider in accordance with the configuration data; and

wherein, prior to the step of manufacturing the computing system, based on the user requirements data entered via the single portal, an order is placed from the centralized intelligence that initiates a commercial transaction for the manufacture of the computing system, and wherein, prior to the step of providing the computing system for use by an end user, based on the user requirements data entered via the single portal, an order is placed from the centralized intelligence that initiates a commercial transaction for provision of the network services, wherein voice communications are provided via the network services.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of testing the user requirements data prior to the step of translating the user requirements data and prior to the step of initiating the second commercial transaction, wherein in response to the testing corrected or additional user requirements data are selectively prompted for entry via the portal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the portal comprises a web-based portal.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the user requirements data include information determinative of the network services.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of electronically placing an order for the manufacture of the computing system, wherein the order comprises a legally binding commercial transaction for the computing system.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of producing a physical medium containing data generated based on the user requirements data, wherein the physical medium is provided with the computing system after the manufacturing step.