Order entry system for telecommunications network service

摘要

An order entry system communicates with the customer over a user interface and at the same time works with an automated installation system for installing network service. The communication with the customer can be accomplished over the world wide web. The customer goes to the network provider's web site and signs on to gain access to the order entry system. The order entry system then conducts a conversation with the customer who is requesting service, and the order entry system conducts a conversation with the automated installation system that is installing the service. The order entry performs the tasks of prompting the customer to place a new service order. The service parameters of the new service order are passed to the installation system. The installation system responds to the order entry system with a route, i.e. capacity available on the network, or no route. The order entry system notifies the customer of the route and prompts the customer to add a service order for the route to the customer order. If the customer adds the service order to the customer order, the order entry system prompts the customer to reserve the service order or to submit an order for the service. If the customer reserves or submits an order for the service, the order entry system request the installation system to design an actual communication line circuit to satisfy the order. The installation system rechecks that there is capacity for the route, assigns and validates the communication line, and completes the design for the communication line circuit. Lastly, the installation returns a reserved status along with detailed information about the circuit. The order entry system informs the customer that the communication line is reserved. This occurs within minutes of requesting the reservation, and the customer can access detail information about network components of the communication line circuit if desired.