Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-23
2001-10-02
Amsbury, Wayne (Department: 2171)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C379S201060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298352
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to methods employed in managing resources, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for managing number resources of a telecommunications service provider.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the telecommunications service industry, numbers, e.g., telephone numbers, are a valuable and finite resource. Number resource management, i.e., the process of setting aside specific numbers for external and internal customers, has become a critical function of telecommunications service providers.
Recent changes in the U.S. telecommunications regulatory environment have opened up local markets to competition and, in response, Local exchange carriers and providers of telecommunications services have instituted Local Number Portability (“LNP”) plans which enable customers to keep their local ten digit telephone number (i.e., NPA-NXX) when they move from one carrier to another. However, as a result of increasing competition and LNP in the local markets, management of local telephone numbers has become more complex. With the growth in local services, carriers, and customers, telephone numbers have become a limited resource and are no longer the exclusive property of one company in any geographical region. Several new carriers in each local serving area must now be assigned various numbers, and a number can move with a customer from one carrier to another.
Besides providing portability among carriers, there is fast approaching the need for LNP plans to provide geographical number portability which enable customers to take their local telephone number with them when they move from one serving area or rate center to another. This means that associating a number with a rate center becomes a dynamic function. Complicating this matter is the fact that federal regulations dictate how numbers must be reserved, assigned, and managed, with many states imposing their own regulations. A carrier must abide by both federal and state regulations in each local serving area in which they compete.
To date, the process of managing and tracking numbers, e.g., available to a local service customer base is predominantly manual, increasing potential for error and loss of data integrity. A common cause of rejects during the telecommunications service provisioning process is directly related to the use of numbers that are already in service or do not belong to the telecommunications service provider. Lack of specific business rules regarding number reservation and assignment have caused an inefficient use of the numbers and have negatively impacted sales and revenue.
It would thus be highly desirable to provide an integrated means for managing number resources, including the reservation, assignment, and status tracking of local telephone numbers.
It would additionally be highly desirable to provide a highly automated process enabling local sales personnel and order entry staff of a telecommunications service provider immediate access to available number resources for expedient processing of customer orders.
Furthermore, it would thus be highly desirable to provide a telecommunications number management system with a comprehensive automated LNP plan that can provide number portability among carriers and geographical portability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is directed to a Number Resource Management (“NRM”) system that provides an integrated means for the reservation, assignment, status tracking, and overall management of local telephone numbers, and particularly, facilitates management of number resources that have been ported to/from local service providers (carriers).
The number resource management system includes: a database for storing a repository of number resources each associated with a unique customer identifier and having an associated status attribute; a server for accessing information relating to the number resources; a web/browser-based interface device for enabling communication between a business entity and the accessing server, the interface device directing the server to retrieve information relating to number resources according to a specified customer identifier and/or a status attribute for display via the interface device.
In the preferred embodiment, the Number resource Management system provides an integrated means for the reservation, assignment, status tracking, and overall management of local telephone numbers including those numbers that are assigned to a carrier by a Public Utility Commission (PUC) or other regulatory body, and those numbers that port into a carrier when a customer leaves one carrier and signs up for local service with another carrier. Essential to the invention is the NRM database management system that provides automation of numerous number reservation, assignment, and tracking functions. In addition, it provides automated interfaces with other systems to provide an overall local number management system that is tied in with the local service order entry and provisioning process.
Advantageously, the NRM system has wide applicability to the management of any limited resource that requires reservation and assignment including, but not limited to, toll-free (800, 888, etc.) telephone numbers, cellular, and PCS telephone numbers, credit card numbers, Internet addresses, license plates, etc.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5168444 (1992-12-01), Cukor et al.
patent: 5732131 (1998-03-01), Nimmagadda et al.
patent: 5826239 (1998-10-01), Du et al.
patent: 5862322 (1999-01-01), Anglin et al.
patent: 5933489 (1999-08-01), Sensabaugh et al.
Kannan Sivaramakrishna
Parkins Dan M.
Amsbury Wayne
MCI Communications Corporation
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