US5870383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Provisioning technique for customer service
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-27
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Granted: 1999-02-09
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Expires: 2017-10-27
Abstract
Abstract The need for manual verification of service on a desired cross-connect in a cross-connect system prior to provisioning may be eliminated by modifying the logic of the cross-connect system to take account of an internal indication characteristic of whether service is present on the cross-connect. Upon receipt of a NORMAL command, the cross-connect system only executes the command to disconnect the cross-connect when no service is present. However, upon receipt of a FORCED command, the cross-connect system executes the command to disconnect the cross-connect irrespective of the existence of any service thereon. Moreover, in response to an indication of service and denial of the NORMAL command, a FORCE command may be issued instead to effect disconnection of the cross-connection with such disconnection is desired irrespective of the existence of service thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Hossein Eslambolchi
- 👤 Houssam Halabi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1302; H04Q2213/1304; H04Q2213/13076; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13296
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for provisioning customer service on a desired cross-connect within a cross-connect system, comprising the steps of: receiving, at the cross-connect system, at least one of a FORCED and NORMAL provisioning commands to initiate provisioning of service on the desired cross-connect; automatically examining, within the cross-connect system, an internal status indicator that provides an indication of whether the desired cross-connect is presently in service or out-of -service; responsive to a NORMAL provisioning command, denying execution of said NORMAL provisioning command to provision the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is in service; otherwise executing the NORMAL provisioning command to provision service on the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is out-of-service; responsive to a FORCED provisioning command, executing said FORCED provisioning command to provision service irrespective of the indication of the internal status indicator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for provisioning customer service on a desired cross-connect within a cross-connect system, comprising the steps of: receiving, at the cross-connect system, at least one of a FORCED and NORMAL provisioning commands to initiate provisioning of service on the desired cross-connect; automatically examining, within the cross-connect system, an internal status indicator that provides an indication of whether the desired cross-connect is presently in service or out-of -service; responsive to a NORMAL provisioning command, denying execution of said NORMAL provisioning command to provision the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is in service; otherwise executing the NORMAL provisioning command to provision service on the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is out-of-service; responsive to a FORCED provisioning command, executing said FORCED provisioning command to provision service irrespective of the indication of the internal status indicator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein each of the NORMAL and FORCED commands, when executed, effects disconnection of the cross-connect.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the step of generating at the cross-connect system a prescribed return code in response to an indication by the status indicator of the existence of service on the cross-connect.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 3 including the step of supplying the cross connect system with the FORCED provisioning command in response to the prescribed return code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the FORCED and NORMAL provisioning commands are of the X.25 protocol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the FORCED and NORMAL commands are generated remotely from the cross-connect system.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for disconnecting customer service on a desired cross-connect within a cross-connect system, comprising the steps of: receiving, at the cross-connect system, at least one of a FORCED and NORMAL disconnect commands to effect disconnection of service on the desired cross-connect; automatically examining, within the cross-connect system, an internal status indicator that provides an indication of whether the desired cross-connect is presently in service or out-of -service; responsive to a NORMAL provisioning command, denying execution of said NORMAL provisioning command to provision the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is in service; otherwise executing the NORMAL provisioning command to disconnect service on the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is out-of-service; responsive to a FORCED provisioning command, executing said FORCED provisioning command to disconnect service irrespective of the indication of the internal status indicator.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for disconnecting customer service on a desired cross-connect within a cross-connect system, comprising the steps of: receiving, at the cross-connect system, at least one of a FORCED and NORMAL disconnect commands to effect disconnection of service on the desired cross-connect; automatically examining, within the cross-connect system, an internal status indicator that provides an indication of whether the desired cross-connect is presently in service or out-of -service; responsive to a NORMAL provisioning command, denying execution of said NORMAL provisioning command to provision the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is in service; otherwise executing the NORMAL provisioning command to disconnect service on the desired cross-connect when the internal status indicator indicates the desired cross-connect is out-of-service; responsive to a FORCED provisioning command, executing said FORCED provisioning command to disconnect service irrespective of the indication of the internal status indicator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 7 further including the step of generating at the cross-connect system a prescribed return code in response to an indication by the status indicator of the existence of service on the cross-connect.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 8 including the step of supplying the cross-connect system with the FORCED provisioning command in response to the prescribed return code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the FORCED and NORMAL provisioning commands are of the X.25 protocol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the FORCED and NORMAL commands are generated remotely from the cross-connect system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-02-08 | 2002-08-10 | 2003-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-08 | 2006-08-10 | 2007-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-08 | 2010-08-10 | 2011-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |