Abstract:
Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing self-provisioning telephony services are provided. A method includes storing an access number at a service control server that services a local exchange carrier switch. The method also includes assigning a toll-free number to a customer account and distributing the toll-free number and access number to the corresponding customer. The method further includes receiving, at the local exchange carrier switch, a call from a customer, the call identified as the access number. The method also includes routing the call to a server and, absent human intervention, the server accessing the toll-free number identified for the customer account and generating a provisioning order that includes a customer telephone number from the customer account and the toll-free number. The method also includes transmitting the provisioning order to the service control server, the service control server activating the toll-free number for the customer account.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional U.S. patent application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/888,483, filed Jul. 9, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention relate generally to telecommunications services, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing a self-provisioning telephony service. 
     As society becomes more mobile, more service industries are attempting to cater to the changing needs associated with individuals who are geographically displaced from their friends, family, and others but wish to remain ‘connected.’ Those who travel extensively to variable locations have a particularly difficult time maintaining communications with family and friends back home. College students are another example of consumers who may find themselves disconnected from family and friends at home due to the costs and inconveniences of existing telecommunications services. Telephones are arguably the most popular means by which these travelers stay in communication with their loved ones. In addition, as the population grows older and ages, parents on fixed incomes may become more concerned with costs of calling their children. Finally, a certain segment of work-at-home residential customers may find it beneficial to provide a toll free number to prospective customers calling their combined home and business telephone number. Unfortunately, however, there are an abundance of long-distance carriers, each with their own billing policies and related time/cost restrictions that can create a burden on the calling individual, and perhaps, have a negative impact on how and when a caller will ‘phone home’. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a way to provide consumers with a simple, convenient, and reliable way of meeting their communications needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above disadvantages and shortcomings are overcome or alleviated by methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing self-provisioning telephony services. A method includes storing an access number at a service control server that services a local exchange carrier switch. The method also includes assigning a toll-free number to a customer account and distributing the toll-free number and access number to the corresponding customer. The method further includes receiving, at the local exchange carrier switch, a call from a customer, the call identified as the access number. The method also includes routing the call to a server and, absent human intervention, the server accessing the toll-free number identified for the customer account and generating a provisioning order that includes a customer telephone number from the customer account and the toll-free number. The method also includes transmitting the provisioning order to the service control server, the service control server activating the toll-free number for the customer account. 
     Systems for providing self-provisioning telephony services include a service control server storing an access number, the service control server servicing a local exchange carrier switch for a telecommunications provider. The access number is allocated for implementing the self-provisioning telephony services. The local exchange carrier switch receives a call from a customer of the telecommunications provider, the call identified by the local exchange carrier switch as the access number in response to a call number translation. The call from the customer is received in response to an invitation distributed to the customer to provision a toll-free telephone number. The invitation includes the toll-free telephone number and the access number. The toll-free telephone number is pre-assigned to a customer account of the customer. The system also includes a server in communication with the service control server. The server receives the call over a primary rate interface trunk and, absent human intervention, the server accesses the toll-free telephone number identified for the customer account, generates a provisioning order that includes a customer telephone number from the customer account and the toll-free telephone number, and transmits the provisioning order to the service control server. The service control server activates the toll-free telephone number for the customer account. 
     Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system upon which the self-provisioning system may be implemented in exemplary embodiments; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart describing a process for implementing the self-provisioning system in exemplary embodiments; and 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate sample provisioning orders created via the self-provisioning system in exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to exemplary embodiments, the self-provisioning telephony system enables service users to activate, e.g., a toll-free number at any time of the day using, e.g., a toll-free service number provided to them. This is accomplished without the need for any human interaction. The service user calls the toll-free service number, provides input in response to prompts, and selects a PIN. The toll-free number is activated in minutes once a provisioning order is processed through the provisioning system. In a similar manner, service users may modify and/or cancel their toll-free service. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a system upon which the self-provisioning system may be implemented will now be described. In exemplary embodiments, a telephone  102 , operated by a caller who may be a customer of a telecommunications service provider, is shown in  FIG. 1 . In the description that follows, the terms “caller” and “customer” are used. However, it should be appreciated that more than one caller may share a customer account. The telecommunications service provider provides long distance telephone services to residential customers, typically for a specified geographic region, and may also provide long distance telephone services to business customers. A caller communicates with the telecommunications service provider using a calling device  102 , such as a telephone, a personal computer, or a web-enabled mobile telephone, which is coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  106 . In exemplary embodiments, the telecommunications service provider, through host system  104 , also provides the self-provisioning services described herein. However, the telecommunications service provider may outsource a portion of these services to a third party system such as an application service provider (ASP) under an agreement. 
     The system shown in  FIG. 1  also includes a billing server  103  in communication with host system  104  via a packet-switched network such as network  108 . Billing server  103  executes a billing application for tracking the fees associated with the self-provisioning system. A customer account may be charged a fee for each minute of use similar to the fees associated with existing long distance telephone services. This usage may be tracked by host system  104  and customers may be billed via a billing application executing on server  103 . In  FIG. 1 , billing server  103  is shown to be outside of host system  104  for security reasons (e.g., an extra layer of security may be provided between network  108  and billing server  103  in order to protect confidential customer and billing data). However, it is not necessary that billing server  103  reside outside of host system  104 . With proper security systems/software in place, it is contemplated that billing server  103  may reside within host system  104 . Billing server  103  receives provisioning orders from host system  104  which include customer information used to facilitate the billing process. These provisioning orders may be stored internally in server  103  as shown in  FIG. 1  or may be stored in a memory location separate from server  103  which is logically addressable by server  103 . The type of data that may be found in a provisioning order received at server  103  is shown generally in  FIG. 3A  and is described further herein. 
     As indicated above, a packet-switched network  108  is also included in the system shown in  FIG. 1 . Network  108  may be any suitable network such as an Intranet, Extranet, or Internet, and enables entities associated with the self-provisioning system to communicate with one another as will be described further herein. 
     Host system  104  includes an exchange carrier switch  110 , a service control server  112 , a resource server  116 , and a provisioning server  128 . Exchange carrier switch  110  may comprise a high capacity switching system designed to assist the networks of interexchange carriers (e.g., host system  104 ). Exchange carrier switch  110  utilizes hardware and software capable of handling large capacity voice and data communications for long distance telecommunications customers. Hardware utilized by exchange carrier switch  110  may include the DMS 250™ by Nortel Networks Corporation of Brampton, Ontario. In a typical telecommunications environment, when an 800-number call is placed by an individual, a local exchange carrier (not shown) associated with the individual queries a national database (not shown) to determine which carrier enterprise services that particular 800 number. In  FIG. 1 , exchange carrier switch  110  is determined to be the carrier (e.g., service provider) for the 800 number that was dialed. 
     Exchange carrier switch  110  also communicates with service control server  112  utilizing, e.g., Signaling Service No. 7 (SS7) protocol, which is described in “Telecommunications-Signaling System No. 7 (SS7)—General Information,” T1.110, ANSI, 1992. Service control server  112  refers to a centralized database server that provides services such as 800-number translation. Service control server  112  sorts call handling and routing information for services executed by switching systems such as exchange carrier switch  110 . Exchange carrier switch  110  accesses service control server  112  to perform look-ups of 800 numbers it receives. Based upon the results of the look-ups, service control server  112  returns routing instructions for the call to exchange carrier switch  110 , which in turn, places the call. Exchange carrier switch  110  further communicates with resource server  116  via a primary rate interface (PRI) trunk  111 . The PRI trunk  111  may be a DS1 line or T1 line having a channel reserved for primary rate interface (PRI) signaling. 
     Service control server  112  stores self-provisioning service (SPS) access numbers in a data store  114  and stores SPS provisioned orders in a data store  115 . SPS access numbers  114  refer to pre-established toll free numbers that are exclusively allocated by host system  104  for implementing the self-provisioning system. Access numbers  114  are provided to customers of the telecommunications service provider. Data for provisioned orders in data store  115  is received from provisioning server  128  for activating the SPS services described herein. The type of data that may be included in a provisioning order received from provisioning server  128  is shown in  FIG. 3B . This data may be reformatted to a format usable by service control server  112 . For example, the provisioning order data of  FIG. 3B  may be reformatted into binary code or a format utilizing data compression for facilitating the storage requirements of server control server  112 . Service control server  112  may be a proprietary application or may comprise the Enhanced Control Server (eCS) by Lucent Technologies® of Murray Hill, N.J. Service control server  112  communicates with resource server  116 , billing server  103 , and provisioning server  128  via packet-switched network  108  or similar means. 
     Resource server  116  enables a service provider of host system  104  to provide enhanced customer services such as those provided by the self-provisioning system. Resource server  116  includes text-to-speech capabilities and supports multimedia and multi-lingual requirements. For example, the user interface  118  may communicate with customers by providing prompts using, e.g., voice, text, and/or multi-media formats depending upon the type of calling device (e.g.,  102 ) used. Resource server  116  may be a proprietary application or may comprise the Enhanced Media Resource Server (eMRS) by Lucent Technologies®. Resource server  116  further executes an application and user interface  118  for implementing the self-provisioning system services. 
     Resource server  116  is in communication with a data repository  120 , which stores databases of customer telephone numbers  122 , toll free telephone numbers  124 , and personal identification numbers (PINs)  126 . Customer telephone numbers  122  refer to the telephone lines associated with the customer accounts and may be business lines or personal lines. A pre-established listing of available toll free telephone numbers are allocated by host system  104  for the self-provisioning system and are maintained in database  124 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the self-provisioning system is capable of supporting at least 1,000 toll free telephone numbers. A pre-defined listing of PINs may also be established and maintained in database  126 . In exemplary embodiments, the self-provisioning system is capable of supporting at least 10,000 PINs. A single toll free telephone number may be assigned to multiple individuals whereby customers sharing the same toll free telephone number are distinguishable by their unique PIN. PINs may range in length from four digits to ten digits. In alternative embodiments, customers may assign their own PINs by entering and validating a unique user-selected number into telephone  102 . This assignment may be facilitated via prompts from the self-provisioning system application and user interface  118 . Provisioning orders may be generated by the self-provisioning system application  118  in response to customer requests as described further herein. 
     Data repository  120  may be a separate physical storage device that is addressable by server  116  as shown in  FIG. 1 . It will be understood, however, that data repository  120  and server  116  may alternatively comprise a single unit, such as a mainframe computer, and that they are shown as separate units in  FIG. 1  for purposes of illustration. 
     Provisioning server  128  provisions the databases for intelligent network services such as the self-provisioning system application and user interface  118  as well as voice files running on the intelligent network platform. Provisioning server  128  receives provisioning orders from resource server  116 . These provisioning orders may be in text format as shown, e.g., in  FIGS. 3A-3B . The provisioning orders may be reformatted by the provisioning server  128  into a data structure recognizable by service control server  112 . For example, the provisioning data may be compressed to facilitate the limited storage requirements of service control server  112 . In this manner, the provisioning order data that comprise the provisioned orders in data store  115  may be in a compressed format. This reformatted provisioning data is transmitted to service control server  112  via network  108 . Provisioning server  128  may execute a proprietary application or may execute the Enhanced Services Manager (eSM) by Lucent Technologies®. 
     Provisioning server  128  may also store records of provisioning orders in a data store  130  as a back-up security measure in the event of a system failure. Provisioning server  128  may also manage other services offered in addition to the self-provisioning services described herein. In alternate embodiments, a single server may be utilized to provide the functionality described above with respect to resource server  116  and provisioning server  128 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, customers/callers may activate the self-provisioning telephony service from their home phones (e.g., wireline phones linked to the toll-free number assigned by host system  104 ) for security purposes. However, it will be understood that activation may occur from an alternate location or device if sufficient security measures are adopted to prevent unauthorized activation of toll-free numbers and other system abuses. 
     The implementation of the self-provisioning system is described herein with respect to voice-initiated communications from a customer telephone  102 . Exemplary embodiments, however, further include implementation of the self-provisioning system using next generation network technologies such as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), whereby a customer initiates activation of the SPS services via a computer-enhanced device such as a personal computer, web-enabled mobile telephone, and similar digital devices. 
     Execution of the self-provisioning system will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . For ease of explanation, the processes described in  FIG. 2  presuppose that a telecommunications customer of host system  104  is a residential customer and that the customer has received an invitation by host system  104  to request a personal toll-free number. This invitation may come by postal mail, electronic mail, telephone, or other similar means. The invitation may include a toll-free number that is uniquely assigned to the residential customer or to a specified number of customers as described above. The invitation may further include a toll free SPS number that is used to initiate contact with the self-provisioning system and activate a toll free telephone number. This toll free SPS number may also be used to modify a customer&#39;s SPS service (e.g., change a PIN assignment), to retrieve a forgotten PIN, and to cancel the toll free SPS service. 
     At step  202 , a customer/caller who is interested in receiving the SPS services calls the SPS access number found in the invitation. The call is routed from carrier switch  110  to service control server  112 , which in turn translates the call at step  204 . The translation process is described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The number dialed by the customer is compared with SPS access numbers in database  114 . If the results of the comparison indicate that the number dialed is not an SPS access number at step  206  (e.g., no match is found in database  114 ), an error message is returned to the customer at step  208 . If the number is confirmed to be an SPS access number at step  206 , the call is then routed via carrier switch  110  to resource server  116  over trunk  111  at step  210 . Resource server  116  validates the requester&#39;s identity by comparing the customer&#39;s phone number (e.g., the telephone number from which the customer placed the call and which is tied with the customer&#39;s telecommunications service account) with customer number database  122  in data repository  120  at step  212 . If it is determined that the customer is not a valid account holder at step  214 , an error message is transmitted to the customer at step  216 . This may be a voice recording that is activated by resource server  116  and presented to the customer via carrier switch  110  and PSTN  106 . 
     If it is confirmed that the customer is a valid account holder at step  214 , resource server  116  presents a recorded greeting to the customer, along with options for directing the customer to activate the toll free number at step  218 . The prompts may include instructions for validating the customer&#39;s identity, or may include directions for activating, modifying, or canceling a toll-free number. The prompts may also include terms and conditions of the SPS services, including fees and cancellation penalties, if applicable. In response to the customer&#39;s responses to these directions, the resource server  116  assigns a PIN number to the customer at step  220 . The PIN number may be selected by resource server  116  from a database  126  of SPS PIN numbers in data repository  120 . The customer may, in turn, accept or reject the PIN number assigned by responding to prompts to accept or reject the PIN assignment. If the customer does not accept the pin number at step  222 , the resource server  116  retrieves an alternate PIN number from database  126  and presents it to the customer at step  220 . If the customer accepts the PIN at step  222 , or alternatively, if the customer accepts an alternative PIN at step  222 , the resource server  116  presents the toll free number, PIN, and the customer&#39;s phone number as confirmation of the transaction at step  224 . The customer may then be prompted to accept the SPS service and its terms and conditions. 
     The provisioning process is then initiated by the resource server  116  at step  226 . The provisioning process includes generating a provisioning order by resource server  116  and transmitting the provisioning order to provisioning server  128 . Sample provisioning orders are shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B . Provisioning server  128  forwards the provisioning order  300 A to billing server  103  so that billing server  103  can ensure that the customer is billed for the service at step  228 . Billing server  103 , in turn, stores the provisioned orders received in database  105 . Provisioning server  128  also reformats the provisioning order data as described in  FIG. 1  and transmits the reformatted data to service control server  112  as part of step  228 . Likewise, resource server  116  updates its toll-free number database  124  and PIN database  126  to reflect that this number and PIN are no longer available for assignment. Once service control server  112  receives the reformatted provisioning order data, it activates the toll free number at step  230 . This reformatted provisioning order data is stored in database  115 . The customer&#39;s toll free number is now ready for use. The entire provisioning process as recited in steps  202 - 230  may be completed in minutes without any human intervention. 
     The provisioning order shown in  FIG. 3A  represents the type of data that is provided to billing server  103  in order to manage the customer billing for the SPS service. The provisioning order of  300 A includes an order date reflecting the date in which the SPS service was activated. Provisioning order  300 B, however, does not require an order date as the data is used by service control server  112  to automatically activate the service immediately upon receipt of the provisioning order. 
     A customer may modify and/or cancel his/her toll free number service (or retrieve a forgotten PIN) by calling the SPS access number and following the prompts to either modify or cancel the service. The process steps for modifying and canceling service are similar to those described above with respect to activating the service. 
     As can be seen from the above, the self-provisioning system facilitates 24-hour self-provisioning of toll-free number services. The service user calls the toll-free service number, provides input in response to prompts, and selects a pin. The toll-free number is activated in minutes once a provisioning order is processed through the provisioning system. In a similar manner, service users may modify and/or cancel their toll-free service. This is accomplished without the need for any human interaction. 
     As described above, the present invention can be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.