Abstract:
A method and system for efficient processing of service requests requires a user to access the system and identify himself/herself. The user can then enter a request for a service. The identity and access to the requested service is then validated against an enterprise database. At this time, the need for risk acceptance approval is also carried out. If necessary, the user and manager are then queried for risk acceptance approval. If approved, the request is time-date stamped and forwarded to a service provider. User and request data are saved to a business logistics tracking database. If necessary, the user&#39;s manager is notified when renewal of the service is required, prior to expiration of the service. If the renewal is approved the service is then renewed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Typically, when a person requires to initiate services in an enterprise, such as, by way of example, telephone service, email service, voice mail, or perhaps long distance capabilities, the requester would have to complete one or more paper forms. These forms have been necessary, and still are necessary in most instances, because of approval levels required to be signed off on by management. Once approved, the forms would then be used to initiate service, and in some cases would be used to follow up on a service at a later time. Again, in the typical scenario, these forms would move from person to person and would act as the trigger to get something done. 
     Such a process is not only time consuming, but results in inefficiencies because people must send the forms properly to the next stage in the process and often a simple misspelling of a name or the transposition of a routing address number could result in delays in the provision of the service. Moreover, vacations, personnel changes, distractions, faulty filing, in short, any number of factors could (and do) go wrong causing delays and added cost and frustration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a system and method for a centrally accessible service initiation tool that automates the management approval and business control aspects of a service request. The system handles a large variety of service requests and coordinates all aspects of those requests. 
     The tool is accessible to both onsite and remote workers and assures quality of the order processing procedure because checks are made for completeness and accuracy of the input data. The approval process, i.e. obtaining management “signatures” is automated assuring that there are no gaps in the audit process and that the process is trackable without administrative processing time. 
     Using the inventive concepts, all of the services are in a common standard framework. Any changes to the process can be made very quickly and assured to be applied appropriately to all related services so there is no discrepancy of standards between services. 
     In operation, a user accesses the system and identifies himself/herself and enters a request for a service. The identity and access to the requested service is then validated against an enterprise database. If necessary, the user and manager are then queried for risk acceptance approval. If approved, the request is time-date stamped and forwarded to a service provider. The request is saved to a business logistics tracking database. If necessary, the user&#39;s manager is notified when renewal of the service is required, prior to expiration of the service. If the renewal is approved, the service is then renewed without interruption and without the need for human intervention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows a flow chart diagram of the system and method for efficient processing of service requests; 
         FIG. 2  shows a flow chart diagram of the preferred embodiment of the system as applied to a Hewlett Packard system service request; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a graphical user interface used to enter the identification number of a user in the present system; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a graphical user interface used to enter a service request and contact information in the present system; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a graphical user interface used to confirm a service request in the present system; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a graphical user interface confirming receipt of a service request in the present system; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of a graphical user interface used to enter a service request and contact information from a particular geographical location for the present system; and 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of a graphical user interface confirming receipt of a service request from a particular geographical location in the present system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows process  100  for the electronic communication request (ECR). In step  101  the user enters a request, via PC, onto the ECR web page. The web page itself can be hosted on any server, for example, an NT server. 
     The information entered at box  102  includes the desired service, whether it be for a new phone, voicemail connection, modem, remote access, etc. The information is validated at box  103  against a resource database to assure that the person signing up is actually a member of the enterprise and is authorized for the requested service. 
     Provided that the validation from the enterprise database comes back positive, (meaning that the requester is a member of the enterprise, either formally or by contract, as a contractor employed by the company) the request then goes to another web page in which the requester, if necessary, (based on employee type or service type, box  104 ) is asked to review a risk acceptance statement that must be agreed to prior to submitting the order, as shown by box  105 . A web page takes the requester automatically to a web page containing the risk acceptance statement. The user then clicks OK for acceptance, via an automated button on the displayed web page. Once accepted, the system automatically emails the information to the requester&#39;s manager, in which the manager is then given the web address (URL). Upon reading the e-mail message, the manager clicks on the web location within the email to bring another web page for approval (disapproval), as shown in box  106 . The manager can accept or reject this request. 
     If the manager hits the reject button, the system automatically sends, box  107 , an email stating the denial back to the requester. If the manager hits the approval button contained within the web page, the system goes to another web page within the application. The approved service request is automatically submitted to the service provider queue for allowing performance of the activity necessary to engage the service for the requester and a time stamp of day and time is logged, box  108 . Requester data is saved to a database, box  109 , along with information pertaining to the service requested. 
     If the requester is a contractor (or other special flag on the file), after a period of time, for example eleven months, an automatic renewal notice is sent via email (box  110 ) to the contractor&#39;s manager prompting the manager to go to a specific web address or URL to approve (or deny) renewal of the service. Upon denial of the service renewal, an email termination notice is sent to the user and the service department is notified to terminate service, via box  111 . Upon renewal, the service continues. 
     Note that system  100  distinguishes based on employee type, or on any other criteria. If the requester is, for example, a contractor, the system will automatically take the requester to a particular page to be certain conditions are met or agreed upon. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , a more detailed example 200 of the invention pertaining to a Hewlett Packard (HP) system is shown. This is one embodiment only and any number of configurations and sequences of operation will work User start  201  begins the process of ordering a service or group of services from the information technology (IT) group. The user goes to the web address, ecr.fc.hp.com, and will be brought to page  202 , known as the default.asp. The user will then be prompted to enter some information. Depending on whether the user is an HP employee or non-HP employee, the system will ask the user to enter his/her HP employee number. The system obtains their name and internal billing information, along with other pertinent information required. The user is then taken to a page  203 , known as pickHPservice.asp. At pickHPservice.asp, the employee number is matched against an enterprise directory database which contains all the HP and managed team employees. The database is queried to obtain the employee&#39;s name, both first and last, the employee&#39;s phone number, if applicable, their department number, their physical location, where they sit at in the company, and their email address. The system will begin to spawn the request. If the user is not a valid employee, the system goes to page  204 , which is HpbadID.asp. The user is prompted that the employee number was not a valid employee number and then asked to reenter the employee number. 
     With respect to that user, the system goes no further until a valid employee number is provided. Once the proper information has been successfully attained the user is asked, box  205 , to pick a service, or services that they would like to order. The user can order many different information technology services including a telephone  220 , voice mail or a local area network (LAN) connection. The user can also order a modem, a Windows NT account and PC email  221 , along with a variety of other services. Based on the services that are selected, for example, a Windows NT account, ECR will ask for the required information to be able to spawn the account and ask the user if he/she has a previous email account. If the user does not have a previous email account, ECR will create an email account. ECR will ask if the user requires certain things that pertain to a Windows NT account, such as an NT network share, an IP address, or some network shares created on other drives. Once the information is collected, the system submits the information, including the contact information and any possible additional instructions required. This information will go to one or two places. If the service is a corporate process, such as a calling card, a cellular phone or a phone extend, the user is taken to the appropriate corporate process page  206 . If the request matches a listing service offered through the system, the user is taken to checkorder.asp  207  and a page displays the information the user has entered and the user is asked to verify the information. The user can edit the information at  208 . Once the user submits the edited order, he/she is taken back to the checkorder.asp  207  and is presented the information again for verification. Once the user verifies the information at the checkorder.asp  207 , he/she moves to the next step, workorder.asp,  209 . At workorder.asp business logistics tracking ticket (BLT)  210  is spawned. The system spawns the BLT to notify the appropriate technician that the service needs to be created or setup. 
     If the employee was not found in the employee database, a mail message  211  is spawned through the appropriate personnel to add the new employee to the enterprise database. The employee-user is notified that his/her service request has been spawned. The employee-user is given a tracking number which can be used to check the order status of that specific work order. 
     After the work order is submitted at workorder.asp, the work order is tracked and the employee is sent the order information. The information is also sent to the ECR database  212  which tracks all the order information for audit, renewal or reference purposes. 
     At the default.asp page  202 , the non-HP employee user is prompted for his/her non-HP employee information. A non-HP employee cannot order their own service. A non-HP employee service must be ordered by an HP employee. When a non-HP employee number is entered, ECR prompts the user for the employee number of an HP employee, such as the user&#39;s HP Manager. 
     The user is taken to the risk acceptance form nonHP — chooseCDA.asp  213 . The user is then asked what kind of contractor he/she is (an individual contractor working for HP or a contractor working for a contractor company), that HP has contracted. Depending on the answer submitted, the necessary risk acceptance forms for the associated HP employee manager or for the person ordering the service or services are displayed. The employee is then asked to either submit or decline acceptance. If declined the user is sent back to the beginning of the process, the service is not ordered, and no further action is taken. If the employee accepts, the non-HP employee number is compared against the HP enterprise directory. 
     If the employee number is invalid, the system goes to page  214 , which is nonHp — badID.asp. The user is prompted that the employee number was not a valid employee number and then asked to reenter the employee number. 
     Once a valid employee number is entered, the information is then taken to the picknonHPservice.asp  215  to begin spawning a request order. The user can pick the service or services required such as a telephone, voice mail, local area network connection or modem. Depending on the service chosen, the user is prompted for specifics for that service, such as options or requirements needed to install the service. Additional comments or additional instructions may be entered at the picknonHPservice.asp page. Upon submission, the request is examined  216  and depending on the type of request, sent to the appropriate location, such as corporate process  206  for information which can be sent out to the appropriate web page web site. For other requests, the user is taken to a nonHP — checkorder.asp page  217  and asked to verify the information that has been entered. The user can choose to edit the information, or submit the information. If the user chooses to edit the information, he/she is taken to the nonHP — edit.asp  218  page. Once the information is submitted, the user is taken to the nonHP — workorder.asp  219  page. From the nonHP — workorder.asp page, a workorder is sent to the BLT,  210  so the work order request can be spawned and the appropriate technicians can be notified to begin processing the request. Also, email is spawned through the appropriate people  211  to add the non-HP employee to the enterprise directory. The non-HP ordering information is also submitted into the ECR database  212  to be used for auditing, renewal, or troubleshooting purposes. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an illustration of an ECR website screen  300  in accordance with the present system, disclosing the request for information from box  102  and more specifically the default.asp of  FIG. 2 , is shown. The user is prompted for information such as employee number in field box  301  and indication of the user&#39;s current site at  302 , and a button  303  which will send the user to the next step. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of the next website screen of our example, further representative of step  102  and more specifically of the pickHPservice.asp  203 . This screen  400  returns the information  401  acquired from the enterprise directory for the user, and asks the user to select the service from the services available,  402 . Based on the service selected, a description  403  of the service will be displayed and the user will then be prompted for appropriate information for options  404  related to that service and any other required information  405 . The user is then prompted for contact name,  406  contact phone number  407 , the user&#39;s manager&#39;s name  408  and the manger&#39;s contact number  409 . The user may input additional instructions or comments at  410 . The user may choose to either submit using button  411 , which will take the user to the next step of the process, or exit, via button  412 , which will take the user out of the ECR system. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , a screen for the checkorder.asp web page  500 , in accordance with box  207  above, is shown. This page  500  displays all the information the user has input for verification. The identity of the user is displayed in  501 , including data returned from the enterprise database such as department number  502 , building or post  503  and telephone number  504 . Other information displayed is based on the type of request made, for example, in  FIG. 5  an order for a digital telephone  505  is shown for illustrative purposes. The data returned includes the phone model  506 , voice mail preference  507 , and headset request  508 , along with the contact information for both the user  509  and their manager  510 . On this page, the user can edit the order by selecting button  511 , proceed to the next step of ECR of submitting a workorder by selecting button  512  or cancel the order with button  513 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sample workorder page  600  which is spawned by the system. The order has been submitted into the BLT system which will alert the appropriate technician to begin work on the order. If the user was not in the enterprise directory, the appropriate email is spawned to add the user to the enterprise database. The user is notified by page  600  that they have placed an order and gives him/her a status report  601  on the request, as well as time and date stamping the order  602 . The identity of the user is restated at  603  and the order information is restated at  604 . The user is encouraged to print out this page for their record keeping needs at  605 . A contact number for questions regarding the order is also provided at  606 . 
       FIG. 7  shows variations based on geographic region. The user&#39;s location might dictate support options. The appropriate content  701  maybe displayed in screen  700 . For example, in  FIG. 7  the appropriate contact numbers  701  for a help desk and ECR support is displayed for that user&#39;s geographic location. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a work order screen  800  for an employee in a particular geographic location. The ECR has shown the work order tracking number  801  which the user can use as a reference number. If the user has any problems or questions regarding the order, he/she can use the number as a reference number and pull up their appropriate order with the aid of a help desk technician.