Abstract:
A system for tracking communications resources. The system includes a first database configured to store data indicative of usage of numeric identifiers assigned to a service provider. The system also includes a computing device in communication with multiple databases via a network. The multiple databases including numeric identifier usage information associated with multiple service providers. The computing device executes software to query the first database and the multiple databases to retrieve information associated with the service provider to determine current utilization of numeric identifiers by the service provider and to determine months to exhaust of numeric identifiers, and automatically generate a report utilizing the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and months to exhaust.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Application for Patent is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/280,095 filed Oct. 24, 2011 which is a Continuation-in-Part and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/606,655 filed Nov. 29, 2006 titled “System and Method for Determining Whether to Request Additional Telephone Numbering Resources by a Telecommunications Carrier” which claims priority from pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/507,142 filed Aug. 21, 2006 and titled “System and Method for Reporting Telecommunications Utilization and Forecasting.” The entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The ten-digit North American Numbering Plan (NANP) currently used by the United States and 19 other countries is rapidly being depleted. Management of this resource is impaired by a lack of uniform data. Under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was given “exclusive jurisdiction over those portions of the North American Numbering Plan that pertain to the United States.” Pursuant to that authority, the FCC conducted a rulemaking that, among other things, addressed regular reporting on numbering resources used by United States telecommunications carriers. 
         [0003]    The FCC appointed an agency, known as the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), to monitor numbering resources utilized by all telecommunications carriers using the resources and to project the dates of area code and North American Numbering Plan exhaust. In their duties, NANPA created a numbering utilization report that telecommunications carriers are to submit semi-annually. The report is known as the Numbering Resource Utilization/Forecast (NRUF) Report. 
         [0004]    The NRUF Report includes a number of different forms that provide NANPA with information as to the usage of telecommunications allotted phone numbers. As understood in the telecommunications industry, each telecommunications carrier is allotted a certain number of phone numbers in blocks of 10,000, which is generally subdivided into ten blocks of a thousand. Ten-digit phone numbers include a (i) numbering plan area (NPA) (i.e., area code), which is three digits, (ii) central office code (NXX), which is also three digits, and (iii) thousands digit block (i.e., the first digit of the last four digits of a phone number). Telecommunications carriers provide phone numbers to customers from these blocks of a thousand numbers. As a thousands block is filled, it is considered to be exhausted. Some thousands digit blocks become filled while others become empty depending on how the telecommunications carrier customer base changes. The telecommunications carrier reports the existing usage and forecasts future usage of the phone numbers in the NRUF Report. 
         [0005]    One problem that exists with the NRUF Report is the time necessary to collect and process the information to report. Telecommunications carriers generally have many divisions, many central offices, thousands of thousands blocks, and millions of customers. Managing this information and reporting it can take several man-weeks for producing each NRUF Report. 
         [0006]    Another problem that exists is that there is no standard method for forecasting exhaustion of a thousands block. Telecommunications carriers or service providers (SP) throughout the telecommunications industry currently submit requests for additional numbering resources to a pooling administrator, currently NeuStar, by completing a Months to Exhaust and Utilization Certification Worksheet. Calculations for reported values on the form are performed manually and then typed onto the form. The Months to Exhaust (MTE) form may be prepared using a web-based graphical user interface (GUI) provided by the Pooling Administration System (PAS) (PAS User Guide for SPs, 5.1 Requests for Pool Resources: Task Overview, Apr. 17, 2006, NeuStar, Inc.). 
         [0007]    Regardless of whether or not a service provider requests additional telephone number resources on a paper worksheet, a software worksheet, or the website, the same information is required. For large rate centers, the process of compiling a carrier&#39;s current numbering resources and performing hand calculations on available and assigned numbers is one that can take several days and even weeks to complete. Many times a company may feel the need to request an additional block of numbers, but not know whether the request will be granted without performing all calculations required to complete the form. The end result is often determined that the required conditions are not met and the effort to complete the forms has gone to waste. Given the amount of time needed to determine the current and projected resources needed, service providers are often reluctant to embark on the effort to make the determination if there is a chance that the outcome of the request will be denied. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    One embodiment provides a system for tracking communications resources. The system may include a first database configured to store data indicative of usage of numeric identifiers assigned to a service provider. The system may also include a computing device in communication with multiple databases via a network. The multiple databases including numeric identifier usage information associated with multiple service providers. The computing device executes software to query the first database and the multiple databases to retrieve information associated with the service provider to determine current utilization of numeric identifiers by the service provider and to determine months to exhaust of numeric identifiers, and automatically generate a report utilizing the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and months to exhaust. 
         [0009]    Another embodiment provides a method for determining whether to request additional numeric identifier resources for a service provider. Data indicative of numeric identifier usage associated with a service provider may be saved in a first database. The first database may be queried to obtain a first set of data including numeric identifier information associated with the service provider. Multiple databases operating on a network are queried to obtain a second set of data including numeric identifier information associated with the service provider. Current utilization of numeric identifiers of the service provider and months to exhaust of numeric identifiers are determined based on the first and second sets of data. A determination is made whether to request additional numeric identifier resources based on the current utilization and months to exhaust. A report is generated including the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and the months to exhaust. 
         [0010]    Another embodiment provides a system for tracking communications resources. The system may include a first database operated by a service provider configured to store data indicative of usage of Internet Protocol addresses identifiers assigned to the service provider. The system may also include a computing device in communication with the database via a network. The computing device may execute software to query the first database to retrieve information associated with the service provider to determine current utilization of IP addresses by the service provider and to determine months to exhaust of IP addresses associated with the service provider, and automatically generate a report utilizing the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and months to exhaust. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary organizational structure for fulfilling governmental telecommunications telephone number usage reporting requirements; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a system configuration for fulfilling governmental telecommunications telephone number usage reporting requirements; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A-1  is an exemplary completed NRUF form; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A-2  is an exemplary completed NRUF form; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B-1  is an exemplary completed NRUF form; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B-2  is an exemplary completed NRUF form; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3C-1  is an exemplary completed NRUF form; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3C-2  is an exemplary completed NRUF form; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3D  is an exemplary completed NRUF form; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary system for gathering and processing information to complete NRUF forms; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are more detailed block diagram of the exemplary system of  FIG. 4  for gathering and processing information to complete NRUF forms; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for reporting telecommunications usage and forecasting; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are graphical user interfaces of exemplary Months to Exhaust and Utilization Forms with data representative of the two examples; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8A  is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for determining and reporting months to exhaust to the Pooling Administrator for requesting additional thousands blocks of telephone numbers; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8B  is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for determining and reporting months to exhaust to the Pooling Administrator for requesting additional thousands blocks of telephone numbers; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of an exemplary high-level process for requesting telephone number resources from a pooling administrator; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is an exemplary Months to Exhaust and Utilization Certification Worksheet that may be used by a telecommunications carrier for requesting additional resources from the pooling administrator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary organizational structure for fulfilling governmental telecommunications telephone number usage reporting requirements. As shown, a governmental organization, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), sets guidelines and mandates for the telecommunications industry for reporting telecommunications usage. The telecommunications usage includes telephone number usage so that planning of additional phone numbers across the United States may be adequately planned to avoid reaching a telephone number exhaust situation in any particular region. 
         [0030]    To help manage the reporting by the telecommunications industry, a reporting agency  104 , currently known as the North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA), has been established. Telecommunication companies  106   a - 106   n  (collectively  106 ) provide telecommunications services to customers, including using and managing telephone numbers. As mandated by the government, the telecommunications companies  106  are to file semi-annual Number Resource Utilization/Forecast Reports (NRUF)  108   a - 108   n  (collectively  108 ) that show telephone number utilization and forecasting of the telephone numbers for which the respective telecommunications companies are responsible. The telephone numbers may be associated with legacy telephone switches, packet or voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone switches or devices, or additional switch types, devices, and/or associated databases. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a system configuration  200  for fulfilling governmental telecommunications telephone number usage reporting requirements. The system configuration includes a variety of servers and databases for use in storing and retrieving data associated with telecommunications usage. 
         [0032]    Telecommunications servers  202   a - 202   n  (collectively  202 ) may be utilized to process telecommunications usage and forecasting of the respective companies by one or more telecommunications companies. Server  202   a  may include a processor  204  in communication with a memory  206  that is used for storing data and software and an input/output (I/O) unit  208  for communicating outside of the telecommunication server  202   a.  Software  210  may be executed by the processor  204  for performing data collection and processing of telecommunication usage and forecasting for the respective telecommunications company. A storage unit  212 , which may be contained within the telecommunications server or located remotely from the telecommunications server  202   a,  is used to store telecommunications usage information in one or more databases  214   a - 214   n  (collectively  214 ). The databases  214  may store telephone numbers assigned to the telecommunications company and usage of those telephone numbers by customers of the telecommunications company. As shown, telecommunications server  202 n may include the same or similar components as telecommunications server  202   a  and store data in an associated storage unit  216 . In one embodiment, the telecommunications servers  202  are used by the same telecommunications company having one or more divisions located across several states and regions within each state, but manage information associated with each of the respective divisions in which the telecommunications servers operate. 
         [0033]    As understood in the telecommunications community, a LERG server  218  is managed by Telcordia Technologies, Inc. to manage the LERG database  220   a - 220   n  (collectively  220 ). The LERG database  220  stores the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) which governs the management of telephone number resources for the public switched telephone networks in North America, including Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and territories, within the international country code ‘1’. The LERG database  220  has data for every switch and central office in the North American telephone network. The LERG server  218  includes a processor  222  and software  224  for communicating with the LERG database  220 . Memory  226  and an I/O unit  228  are in communication with the processor  222  for storing information and communicating with the LERG database  220  and with the telecommunications servers  202 . In one embodiment, the databases of  FIG. 2 , such as database  214  or  216 , may include one or more Electric NUmber Mapping System or E.164 Number Mapping (ENUM) standard databases. 
         [0034]    NeuStar® is an administrator of the thousands-block number pooling in the United States. As the pooling administrator, NeuStar has telecommunications companies  106  ( FIG. 1 ) submit information to them about phone number resources that are allocated. Each telecommunications company submits the information for each NPA and rate center of the company. A NeuStar server  230  is operated by NeuStar. The NeuStar server  230  may include the same or similar components as the LERG server  218 . The NeuStar server  230 , however, operates to manage different databases  232   a - 232   n  (collectively,  232 ) stored on a storage system  234 , which may or may not be a part of the NeuStar server  230 . As understood, the NeuStar databases  232  may store information for all telecommunications companies, including forecasted demand, blocks assigned, blocks returned, blocks donated, blocks added to the pool from new codes, and blocks available, for example. This information collected by the NeuStar server  230  may aggregate the information to provide historical information to the telecommunications industry and forecast information for the telecommunications industry so that telephone number resources may be planned going forward and trends may be determined. Contents of the NeuStar databases  232  may be utilized in accordance with the principles and the present invention. 
         [0035]    A NANPA server  236 , which may include the same or similar components as the LERG server  218  may be used to manage information being submitted to NANPA from the telecommunications companies  106 . The storage unit  238  may include databases  240   a - 240   n  (collectively  240 ) for storing the information. In one embodiment, the databases  240  store NRUF reports  108  ( FIG. 1 ), which may be in the form of Excel spreadsheets, PDF images, or raw content as specified by NANPA. The NRUF reports stored in the databases  240  may be utilized by NANPA, the reporting agency  104  ( FIG. 1 ), or other reporting agencies directed by the government to manage phone number resources in the United States. 
         [0036]    Each of the servers shown may be in communication with one another via a network  242 . In one embodiment, the network  242  is the Internet. Alternatively, other public or private networks, including wired, wireless, satellite, or any other configuration may be utilized in accordance with the principles and the present invention for providing communication services between each of the servers. As shown, communication over the network  242  is performed via data packets  244   a - 244   n  as understood in the art. Other types of communication protocols may be utilized in accordance with the principles and present inventions. While only various databases including an ENUM database, database  214 , the LERG database  220 , the NeuStar database  232 , NANPA database  240 , and database  216  are shown or described, it should be understood that other and/or additional databases that provide information associated with the telecommunications industry and including information for use in completing NRUF reports may be utilized. 
         [0037]    The system configuration  200  of  FIG. 2  may utilize any number of processes or systems for telephone number mapping. Telephone number mapping is the process of unifying the telephone number system of the public switched telephone network with the Internet addressing and identification name spaces. For example, telephone numbers may be systematically organized in the E. 164  standard, while the Internet uses the Domain Name System for linking domain names to IP addresses and other resource information. Telephone number mapping systems provide facilities to determine applicable Internet communications servers responsible for servicing a given telephone number by simple lookups in the Domain Name System (DNS). In one embodiment, the system configuration  200  may utilize the ENUM standard which uses special DNS record types to translate a telephone number in to a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) or IP address that may be used in Internet communications. For example, any of the databases, such as database  216  may include an ENUM database for performing the described mapping and translation. For VoIP phones the ENUM mapping may include mapping a telephone number to one or more Session Initiation Protocols (SIP) URIs. The ENUM database may be separated from the other databases of the system configuration so that a separate query may be made to the ENUM database for completeness of reporting. Additionally, the centralized nature of a VoIP platform and systems may need to address situations where the ENUM database includes telephone number information for one or more rate centers. 
         [0038]    The ENUM database may be utilized by any party, user, device, system, equipment, or application to interrogate the ENUM database with a telephone numbers to get identities and Internet related destinations, such as email addresses, mobile telephone numbers, or web pages. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 3A-3D  are exemplary completed NRUF forms. The forms are used for reporting telephone number usage by each of the telecommunications companies  106 . A complete NRUF report contains 12 forms for collecting utilization and forecast data from telecommunications carriers. However, only four of the twelve are provided for exemplary purposes because many of the others are not utilized or seldom utilized due to being used for specific purposes or seldom including information that needs to be reported. It should be understood that the principles of the present invention may be utilized for completing a full NRUF report. The NRUF forms and reports may also include information retrievable through the ENUM database as that information becomes increasingly more valuable. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3A  is an exemplary form U1 Utilization Reporting Form (for non-rural primary carriers). This form is used for non-rural primary carriers to report at the thousands block level per rate center. This form, as well as the other NRUF forms, are configured in Microsoft Excel® and include a header portion  302  for the telecommunication company to enter company information in tables  304  and  306 . The information provided may include service provider name, company address, city, state, zip code, contact name, contact telephone number, service provider OCN, service provider federal registration number (FRN), and service provider service type. 
         [0041]    Another table  308  that includes numbering resource utilization for each thousands or 1K block is completed by each telecommunications company  106  ( FIG. 1 ). The information to be reported includes NPA-NXX, thousands digit (“X”), rate center abbreviations, assigned numbers, intermediate numbers, reserved numbers, aging numbers, administrative numbers, donated to pool indicators, notes/assignee information, available numbers, utilization percentages, errors/messages, etc. The first ten columns are filled in by the telecommunications carriers based on utilization by customers being supported in each NPA-NXX-X first two columns of table  308 ). Available numbers, utilizations, and errors/messages are computed based on the resources being utilized by the telecommunications company for each NPA-NXX-X. 
         [0042]    Five categories are required to be reported in the U1 Utilization Reporting Form, including “assigned,” “intermediate,” “reserved,” “aging,” and “administrative.” These categories are defined in FCC Order 00-104. A sixth category, “available,” is automatically calculated and no entry is necessary. Clicking on a soft-button  310  causes the “available” data to be checked before submission. It should be understood that the forms provided in  FIGS. 3A-3D  are provided by the reporting agency  104  ( FIG. 1 ) to each telecommunications company  106  for reporting numbering resource utilization and forecasting. One embodiment in accordance to the principles of the present invention provides for determining the utilization of the different categories (e.g., “assigned”). 
         [0043]    Definitions for the different utilization categories as described in the NRUF report are provided herein below for convenience purposes: 
         [0044]    Assigned: Assigned numbers are defined as “numbers working in the public switched telephone network under an agreement such as a contract or tariff at the request of specific end users or customers for their use, or numbers not yet working but having a customer service order pending. Numbers that are not yet working and have a service order pending for more than five days shall not be classified as assigned numbers.” The assigned number is a number that is in use by an end-user customer. 
         [0045]    Intermediate: Intermediate numbers are defined as “numbers that are made available for use by another telecommunications carrier or non-carrier entity for the purpose of providing telecommunications service to an end user or customer.” “An exception to this requirement is numbers reported for the purpose of transferring an established customer&#39;s service to another service provider, in which case the numbers are classified as “assigned” by the reporting carrier and not counted by the receiving carrier. For intermediate numbers provided by carriers to non-carrier entities, the providing carrier must report utilization for these numbers. Numbers assigned to end users by a non-carrier entity should be reported by the providing carrier as “assigned”. Any remaining numbers held by a non-carrier entity that are not assigned to end users shall be reported by the providing carrier as “intermediate.” The sum of numbers reported by the carrier for the non-carrier entity in these two categories should always equal the total of numbers held by the non-carrier entity. 
         [0046]    Reserved: Reserved numbers are defined as “numbers that are held by service providers at the request of specific end users or customers for their future use.” Numbers held for specific end users or customers more than 180 days shall not be classified as reserved numbers. 
         [0047]    Aging: Aging numbers are defined as “disconnected numbers that are not available for assignment to another end user or customer for a specific period of time.” “Numbers previously assigned to residential customers may be aged for no more than 90 days. Numbers previously assigned to business customers may be aged for no more than 365 days.” 
         [0048]    Administrative: Administrative numbers are defined as “numbers used by telecommunications carriers to perform internal administrative or operational functions necessary to maintain reasonable quality of service standards.” 
         [0049]    Donated to Pool: An “X” is entered in this column if the NPA-NXX-X block has been donated to a pool. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 3B-3D  show exemplary forms F-1b, F-2b, and F-3, respectively. These forms are used to report forecasting of telephone number resources. More specifically, Form F-1b is used for pooling carriers to report forecasts for each NPA and rate center, Form F-2b is used for non-pooling carriers in pooling areas for forecasting for each NPA, and Form F-3b is used for carriers in non-pooling areas for forecasting for each NPA and rate center. Similar to  FIG. 3A , multiple tables are provided in each of  FIGS. 3B-3D  for header information and reporting information. It should be understood that one skilled in the art of telecommunications resource reporting is well versed in utilizing these resource utilization and forecast report forms. 
         [0051]      FIG. 3B  is an exemplary Form F-1b that is part of the NRUF Report submitted on a semi-annual basis by telecommunications service providers  106  ( FIG. 1 ). Pooling carriers, where a pooling carrier is a telecommunications carrier that has pooled telephone number resources in certain rate center locations, fill out Form F-1b when submitting the NRUF Report. Form F-1b includes a header portion with tables  314  and  316  that is filled out with information associated with the telecommunications service provider, such as parent company name, service provider name, address, service provider operator company number (OCN), service provider federal registration number, service type, etc. In addition, telecommunications service providers  106  fill out a forecast table  318  for forecasting pooling areas in 1K blocks per rate center, per year and 1K blocks (growth codes) over the next five years. It will be seen that this forecasting is different from forms F-2b ( FIG. 3C ) and forms F-3b ( FIG. 3D ) as form F-1b requests forecasting for 1K blocks, whereas forms F-2b and F-3b request forecasting for 10K blocks (i.e., NXX level blocks). Also, forecasting information associated with each rate center in an NPA is submitted in Form F-1b. 
         [0052]      FIG. 3C  is an exemplary Form F-2b that is part of the NRUF Report. Non-pooling carriers, where a non-pooling carrier is a telecommunications carrier that has not pooled telephone number resources in certain rate center locations, fills out Form F-2b when submitting the NRUF Report. The Form F-2b includes a header portion having tables  320  and  322  to be filled with information associated with the telecommunications service provider, as described with regard to Form F-1b of  FIG. 3B . The telecommunications service providers  106  fill out a forecast table  324  for forecasting NXX(s) per rate center, per year (growth codes) over the next five years. As shown, the forecast table  324  requests NPA and rate centers, but is performed on a 10K block level as opposed to the 1K block level of Form F-1b ( FIG. 3B ). 
         [0053]      FIG. 3D  is an example Form F-3b that is part of the NRUF Report. Telecommunications carriers in non-pooling areas, which are areas in which pooling has not been initiated yet, fill out Form F-3b when submitting the NRUF Report. The Form F-3b includes a header portion including tables  326  and  328  to be filled out with information associated with the telecommunications service provider, as described with regard to  FIG. 3B . The telecommunications service providers  106  fill out a forecast table  330  for forecasting NXX(s) per NPA, per year (growth codes) over the next five years. As shown, the forecast table  328  requests NPAs and is performed on a 10K block level as opposed to the 1K block level of form F-1b ( FIG. 3B ). 
         [0054]    As understood in the art, the telecommunications carriers may use respective proprietary inventory databases (e.g., databases  214 ) to generate at least a portion of the information used for generating utilization and forecasting information to complete the NRUF forms. The databases  214  may include an ENUM server component whether the ENUM database is embedded or adjunct to other existing service inventory databases. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary system  400  for gathering and processing information to complete the NRUF forms. The system may include data sources  402 , modules  404 , and reports  406 . The data sources  402  may include a telecommunications service provider inventory database  214 , LERG database  220 , and NeuStar database  232 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the LERG database  220  and NeuStar database  232  are accessible via a network  242 , such as the Internet. It should be understood that other databases currently available or developed in the future that include information available to be used to determine information for completing the NRUF forms may be utilized in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0056]    The modules  404  include an NRUF database system module  408 , database comparison and verification module  410 , blocks available for donation module  412 , months to exhaust module  414 , and directory numbers available module  416 . While the NRUF database system module  408  is of principal focus for completing the four NRUF forms of  FIGS. 3   a - 3 D, the other modules are briefly described herein below. 
       NRUF Database System Module 
       [0057]    The NRUF database system module  408  is used to collect and process information from the databases  214 ,  220 , and  232  to fill-out the NRUF forms  418 , which includes NRUF forms U1, F-1b, F-2b, and F-3b, as provided in  FIGS. 3A-3D . The NRUF database system module  408  is the primary aspect of the remainder of this description. 
       Database Comparison and Verification Module 
       [0058]    The database comparison and verification module  410  is a module used to extract information from both the telecommunications service provider database  214  and LERG database  220  and to compare the pooling statuses (i.e., every thousands block that the telecommunications service provider currently owns or had owned in the past) as well as the portability indicators stored in the respective databases. A report may be generated to shows all thousands blocks where there is a discrepancy between the sources. 
       Blocks Available for Donation Module 
       [0059]    The blocks available for donation module  412  queries several data sources  402  to first find all thousands blocks currently owned by a telecommunications service provider that are at or less than 10% utilized or contaminated. In other words, if 100 or less of the 1000 numbers in the thousands block are currently unavailable for assignment, the thousands block is not considered to be over-contaminated. By being 10% or less utilized, the block is capable of being pooled back to the government. However, the telecommunications service provider would not necessarily want to donate all blocks in a rate center that are under-contaminated. The second factor that should be accounted for is the projected growth of a rate center. The telecommunications service provider should donate only enough thousands blocks to ensure that a rate center will not exhaust all phone numbers in the rate center within the next six months. This number of thousands blocks to donate is what a report from this module  412  illustrates. This module  412  lists the current under-contaminated thousands blocks and their respective percent utilizations. Users may filter results based on NPA, state, and rate center combinations. 
       Months to Exhaust Module 
       [0060]    The months to exhaust module  414  automates the process for populating a Months-to-Exhaust Worksheet, which must be completed when a telecommunications carrier requests additional thousands blocks for growth in a rate center where the carrier already has resources assigned. It extracts information from both the telecommunications service provider database  214  and LERG database  220 . The module then uses queries to group, subtotal, and filter data to meet the requirements for the worksheet. Calculations are automated to determine whether the six months to exhaust requirement and the minimum 75% utilization requirement are met. 
         [0061]    Continuing with  FIG. 4 , the NRUF database system module  408  may be configured to query one or more databases to receive information for processing and completing NRUF forms. As shown, the NRUF forms, U1, F-1b, F-2b, and F-3b, may be completed by the NRUF database system module  408 . However, it should be understood that the NRUF database system module  408  may be adapted to complete other NRUF forms in the same or similar manner. 
         [0062]    In one embodiment, the reports  406  may include an ENUM report that is determined. 
         [0063]      FIG. 5  is a more detailed block diagram  500  of the exemplary system of  FIG. 4  for gathering and processing information to complete an NRUF report. As shown, databases, including the ENUM database, the service provider inventory database  214 , LERG database  220 , and NeuStar Timeline Report  232 , may be accessed to obtain information to be used for completing the NRUF report. In one embodiment, two or more databases may be accessed, including an internal database to the service provider and a telecommunications industry accessible database (e.g., the ENUM database and LERG database  220 ), if enough information can be gathered from these databases to complete the NRUF report. However, based on the current configurations of the three databases, each is accessed to complete the NRUF reports in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         [0064]    As previously described, (i) pooling carriers (i.e., those carriers in pooling areas who have donated or received numbers from the number pool) report forecasts by rate center on the F-1b form, (ii) non-pooling carriers in pooling areas (i.e., carriers in pooling areas who have not donated or received numbers from the number pool) report forecasts by rate center on the F-2b form, and (iii) carriers operating in non-pooling areas (i.e., NPA areas that have not yet started pooling) report forecasts in NPA areas on the F-3b form. The determination as to which forms to report projections for particular NPA areas may be determined using the NeuStar database  232  and looking up the NeuStar Timeline Report. At this time, the NeuStar Timeline Report can be found at:
       “https://www.nationalpooling.com/pas/control/timelinereport?siteTyp=FR”       
 
         [0066]    In one embodiment, the database or table that is stored at the above-listed website may be searched at the website. Alternatively, the contents of the database may be downloaded into a local software program (e.g., Microsoft Excel®) or database (e.g., Microsoft Access®) and queried therein. 
         [0067]    In step  502 , a query may be performed on the data from the NeuStar database  232  to determine whether an NPA is a pooling area. The NeuStar Timeline Report (not shown) includes, in part, state, NPA, and pool start date information. If the pool start date listed is prior to the current date, then the NPA is a pooling area. Otherwise, the NPA is a non-pooling area and Form F-3b is completed for those NPA areas. Unless an NPA is relatively new, most NPA areas are pooling areas, which is why the Form F-3b in  FIG. 3D  is empty. If the query in step  502  determines that the NPA is a pooling area, then in step  504 , a query determines whether the telecommunications service provider is a pooling carrier in that NPA. In other words, a determination is made to determine if the service provider has ever pooled in the NPA. If so, then a forecast for the NPA is reported in Form F-1b. Otherwise, a forecast for the NPA is reported in Form F- 2   b.    
         [0068]    As shown, four queries may be performed with the service provider inventory database, including a history query  506 , installed type ITYPE &amp; status query  508 , aging numbers query  510 , and working numbers query  512 . The history query  506  and working numbers query  512  are used to complete Forms F-1b, F-2b, and F-3b and the other queries  508  and  510  are used to complete the U1 Form. 
         [0069]    The history query  506  extracts or identifies the number of working phone numbers at rate center levels for each of the last 13 months from the service provider inventory database  214 . TABLE I is representative of a portion of such an extraction. It should be understood that TABLE I is an exemplary portion of an overall database that includes working telephone numbers for all rate centers and NPAs of the telecommunications service provider. At step  514 , NPA growth is determined for inclusion in form F- 3 b, if it is determined from step  502  that the NPA is not a pooling area. For example, referring to TABLE I below, if the current month is June 2006, month  13  (M 13 ) would be the previous month (e.g., May 2006) since the current month is not complete. Month  1  (M 1 ) would be May 2005. By using a rolling 13 months of history, month  1  can be subtracted from month  13  to derive the past year of growth (positive) or loss (negative). In the example of TABLE I, assuming that Decatur is the only rate center reported by the service provider, the growth of the NPA  940  is 22,886−21,316=1,570 phone number growth. If there are multiple rate centers served in this NPA, the working numbers would first be subtotaled at the NPA level. At step  516 , an NXX forecast per NPA may be determined. The results are included in Form F-3b if the NPA is not a pooling area. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Working Numbers at Rate Centers Table 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 ST 
                 Rate Center 
                 NPA 
                 YRMO 
                 Working 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M13 
                 22886 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M12 
                 22887 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M11 
                 22875 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M10 
                 22841 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M9 
                 21741 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M8 
                 21781 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M7 
                 21801 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M6 
                 21871 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M5 
                 21879 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M4 
                 22647 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M3 
                 22641 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M2 
                 22098 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M1 
                 21316 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0070]    At step  518 , rate center growth may be determined based on the information from TABLE I in a similar manner as the NPA growth described with respect to step  514 . In this case, rate center growth is calculated in the same manner and is the same as NPA growth (i.e., 1,570 phone numbers). If a service provider reported on multiple rate centers servicing a single NPA, which is often the case, then the growth for the rate center and NPA would likely be different. At step  520 , an NXX forecast per rate center is generated. In one embodiment, the growth may be projected by using the same growth as computed for the past 13-months (i.e., 1,570 phone lines). Alternatively, a different technique may be used for projecting the growth, such as using a moving average or other statistical function. The results of the NXX forecast per rate center may be applied to Form F-2b if it is determined at step  504  that the carrier is not a pooling carrier. If it is determined that the carrier is a pooling carrier, then the results of step  522 , which determines the thousands block forecast per rate center, is applied to Form F-1b. 
         [0071]    Continuing with the queries, the ITYPE &amp; status query  508  reports subtotals for combinations of installed type and status at the NPA-NXX-X (thousands block) level. When blocks of telephone numbers are assigned to a carrier, the services for which the numbers can be used are limited. For example, a block of numbers may be assigned for paging services only. Assigning an installed type to numbers in a carrier&#39;s inventory database allows the carrier to follow regulations in assigning the numbers. The status field serves to report the current status of the phone number. For example, the status defines directory numbers that are assigned to working customers and those that are currently unassigned. 
         [0072]    TABLE II is an exemplary partial listing of a telecommunications service provider inventory of telephone numbers. The list includes NPA-NXX-X, installation type, status, and quantity of numbers with a particular status. For example, the status “ASN” stands for “assigned,” and there are four (4) phone numbers in the NPA-NXX-X of 219-261-2 that are assigned. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE II 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Service Provider Inventory Database 
               
             
          
           
               
                 NPA 
                 NXX 
                 X 
                 ITYPE 
                 STATUS 
                 QTY 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 0 
                 REG 
                 WKG 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 0 
                 SPL 
                 WKG 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 ASN 
                 4 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 VAC 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 VND 
                 23 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 WKG 
                 72 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 DNA 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 LNPO 
                 2 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 VAC 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 VND 
                 153 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 WKG 
                 741 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 WLNP 
                 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0073]    TABLE III is a cross-reference table for the different ITYPE categories. For example, the ITYPE “BBDN” represents “broadband” service and “REG” represents “regular” service of customer telephone lines. TABLE IV is a cross-reference table for the status categories. For example, “ASN” represents phone numbers that are “assigned” and “WKG” represents phone numbers that have working service. Both of the ITYPE and status cross-reference tables are used in determining what information to report on the utility U1 form, as further described below with regard to the flow chart extending from the ITYPE &amp; status query  508 . It should be understood that TABLES III and IV are exemplary and that other and/or additional tables may be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention. It should also be understood that the content of the tables may be different or additional content may be utilized to perform the same or similar functionality as described herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that no tables may be used and cross-referencing of categories may be performed by using software that includes cross-reference values by hard-coding or otherwise. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE III 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 INSTALL TYPE CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 ITYPE 
                 DESCRIPTION 
                 EFFECT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 800 
                 800 SERVICE 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 BBDN 
                 BROADBAND 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 CNTX 
                 CENTREX NUMBERS 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 COIN 
                 COIN 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 DID 
                 DIRECT IN DIAL SVC. 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 ISDN 
                 INT SWITCH DIG NETWK 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 LNPI 
                 LNP IN 
                 EXCLUDE 
               
               
                 MBAS 
                 MILITARY BASE 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 MBEX 
                 MILITARY PIN/NO DIAL 
                 EXCLUDE 
               
               
                 MCA 
                 METRO CALLING AREA 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 MEXT 
                 MESSAGE LINE EXT. 
                 EXCLUDE 
               
               
                 MSGL 
                 MESSAGE LINE NUMBER 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 PAGE 
                 PAGING 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 POOL 
                 NUMBER POOLING 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 RECL 
                 RECLAIMED 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 REG 
                 REGULAR 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 SPL 
                 SPECIAL BILLING (WO) 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 STGV 
                 STATE GOVERNMENT NMBR 
                 INTERMEDIATE 
               
               
                 TEST 
                 TEST 
                 ADMINISTRATIVE 
               
               
                 TLCO 
                 COMPANY OFFICIAL NM 
                 ADMINISTRATIVE 
               
               
                 TNBR 
                 TOTAL NUMBER SERVICE 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 NSTR 
                 NEUSTAR&#39;S BLOCK 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 PATS 
                 CUSTOMER OWNED PHONE 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 PCS 
                 PERSONAL COMM SVC 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 ROT 
                 ROTARY HUNT 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                 SWAD 
                 TEST 
                 ADMINISTRATIVE 
               
               
                 WATS 
                 OUT WATS 
                 NO EFFECT 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE IV 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 STATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 STATUS 
                 DESCRIPTION 
                 EFFECT 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ASN 
                 ASSIGNED 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 CEAS 
                 PORTED # DATABASE 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 DNA 
                 DO NOT ASSIGN 
                 ADMINISTRATIVE 
               
               
                 JPY 
                 JEOPARDY 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 LNPO 
                 LNP OUT 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 RECL 
                 RECLAIM SD 
                 EXCLUDE 
               
               
                 RES 
                 RESERVED 
                 RESERVED 
               
               
                 SND 
                 SENDING TO VND 
                 EXCLUDE 
               
               
                 VAC 
                 VACANT 
                 EXCLUDE 
               
               
                 VACR 
                 VACANT RELATED ORDER 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 VND 
                 VACANT NUMBER DATABASE 
                 EXCLUDE 
               
               
                 WKG 
                 WORKING SERVICE 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 WLNP 
                 WORKING LNP SERVICE 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 CVR 
                 CONNECT VACATION SVC 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                 LNPP 
                 LNP PENDING PORT 
                 ASSIGNED 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0074]    Continuing with  FIG. 5 , the ITYPE &amp; status query  508  accesses the service provider inventory database  214  to extract data, such as the data of TABLE II. The process continues at step  524 , where a determination is made as to whether either the ITYPE or status indicates to exclude the numbers. For example, referring to TABLE II, for NPA-NXX-X of 219-261-2 having an ITYPE of “COIN” and status of “VND” (see row  5  of TABLE II), when the ITYPE cross-reference table (TABLE III) is cross-referenced, the effect for “COIN” is shown to have “NO EFFECT” (see row  4  of TABLE III) and when the status cross-reference table (TABLE IV) is cross-referenced, the effect for “VND” is “EXCLUDE” (see row  11  of TABLE IV). If at step  524  it is determined that either the ITYP or status is to be excluded, then at step  526 , the telephone numbers are excluded from reporting. Therefore, in the instant example, the 23 phone numbers in 219-261-2 that have a status of “VND” are excluded from reporting. 
         [0075]    If at step  524  it is determined that neither the ITYPE or status indicate to exclude the numbers, then at step  528 , a determination is made as to whether the ITYPE indicates one of the five NRUF categories (i.e., “assigned,” “intermediate,” “reserved,” “aging,” “administrative”). For example, if one of the NPA-NXX-X ITYPE data elements were “TEST,” then the effect would be found in TABLE III as being “ADMINISTRATIVE,” which is one of the NRUF categories. If the ITYPE indicates one of the NRUF categories at step  528 , then the process continues at step  530 , where the number of telephone numbers using the NRUF category indicated by the ITYPE is reported. The process continues at step  532  to report the number of telephone numbers that meets one of the categories “Assigned,” “Intermediate,” “Reserved,” or “Administrative” on the U1 form. 
         [0076]    If it is determined at step  528  that the ITYPE is not one of the NRUF categories (e.g., “NO EFFECT”), then the process continues at step  534 , where a determination is made as to whether the status is one of the NRUF categories. For example, referring to TABLE II, for NPA-NXX-X of 219-261-2 having ITYPE and status of “COIN” and “ASN,” the effect found in TABLE IV is “ASSIGNED,” which is one of the NRUF categories. If it is determined at step  534  that the status is an NRUF category, then the process continues at step  536  where the number of telephone numbers using the NRUF category indicated by the status is reported. For the case of 219-261-2 having ITYPE and status of “COIN” and “ASN,” there are  4  telephone numbers that are reported. As another example, referring to TABLE II, for NPA-NXX-X of 219-261-2 having ITYPE and status of “REG” and “WKG,” the quantity of 741 numbers are reported as being “ASSIGNED” on the U1 Form ( FIG. 3A ). The process continues at step  532  to report the numbers on the U1 form. If, at step  534 , the status does not indicate one of the NRUF categories, then the process continues at step  538 , where the telephone numbers are excluded from reporting. 
         [0077]    Continuing with the queries, the aging numbers query  510  is used to report subtotals for aging numbers at an NPA-NXX-X (thousands block) level. TABLE V shows a subset of the service provider inventory database  214  with aging data. The aging data is reported via step  540  on the U1 Form ( FIG. 3A ). 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE V 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Inventory Data with Telephone Number Aging Information 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 NPA 
                 NXX 
                 X 
                 AGING 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 46 
               
               
                   
                 219 
                 261 
                 3 
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 219 
                 261 
                 4 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 219 
                 275 
                 2 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 219 
                 275 
                 3 
                 9 
               
               
                   
                 219 
                 275 
                 4 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 219 
                 275 
                 5 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                 219 
                 275 
                 6 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0078]    Continuing with the queries, the working numbers query  512  reports working numbers at the NPA-NXX-X (thousands block) level that are designated as being working. TABLE VI shows a subset of the service provider inventory database  214  with working telephone number data. The working numbers are used in combination with the data from the LERG database  220 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE VI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Inventory Data with Working Telephone Number Information 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 NPA 
                 NXX 
                 X 
                 WORKING 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 0 
                 33 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 1 
                 74 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 2 
                 69 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 3 
                 569 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 4 
                 97 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 5 
                 79 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 7 
                 18 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 534 
                 9 
                 72 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0079]    At step  542  and  544 , assigned thousands blocks (i.e., blocks currently allocated to the reporting carrier) and unassigned thousands blocks (i.e., blocks not currently allocated to the reporting carrier), respectively, are collected from the LERG database  220 . Carrier working numbers (i.e., the reporting carrier&#39;s working customers whose numbers reside in a thousand block owned by the reporting carrier) are determined at step  546  and non-carrier working numbers (i.e., the reporting carrier&#39;s working customers whose numbers do not reside in a thousand block owned by the reporting carrier) are determined at step  548 . Thousand blocks in each rate center (i.e., the number of thousands blocks owned by the reporting carrier for each rate center) are determined at step  550  and thousand blocks in each NPA (i.e., the number of thousands blocks owned by the reporting carrier for each NPA) are determined at step  552 . Rate center percent utilization is determined at step  554  and NPA percent utilization is determined at step  556 . These values are used to complete the NRUF Forms F-1b, F-2b, and F-3b. 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               RTCTR 
                
               % 
                
               Util 
             
             = 
             
               
                 CarrierWkg 
                 + 
                 NonCarrierWkg 
               
               
                 NonCarrierWkg 
                 + 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     1000 
                     ) 
                   
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     ThouBlocksInRateCenter 
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               NPA 
                
               % 
                
               Util 
             
             = 
             
               
                 CarrierWkg 
                 + 
                 NonCarrierWkg 
               
               
                 NonCarrierWkg 
                 + 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     1000 
                     ) 
                   
                    
                   
                     ( 
                     ThouBlocksInNPA 
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0080]    The principles of the present invention determine which thousands blocks the company is responsible to report utilizing information stored in the LERG database  220 . For example, with number portability and number pooling, Company A may have customers in thousands blocks that are owned by Company B. Company A should not report utilization for these thousands blocks because Company B will report those numbers. To determine which blocks should be reported, the LERG database  220  may be used as the determining data source. All blocks that are listed in the LERG may have a corresponding operating company number (OCN). All thousands blocks listed in the LERG database  220  with an OCN that belongs to a particular carrier should be reported in the carrier&#39;s NRUF filings. However, this criteria alone does not include all necessary thousands blocks. If all of the thousands blocks in a NPA-NXX belong to one carrier and the blocks have not been pooled, then only the NPA-NXX shows up in the LERG database  220  rather than one record for each thousands block. To compensate for this, the process  500  splits these NPA-NXX&#39;s into all ten thousands blocks ( 0  through  9 ) for the blocks to report. Those blocks that were once owned by a company and donated back to the government without yet being reassigned should also be reported on the company&#39;s NRUF filings. These blocks are determined by meeting the following three conditions:
       1) The NPA-NXX is listed in the LERG database  220  with one of the company&#39;s OCN&#39;s.   2) The NPA-NXX is split out in the LERG database  220  to include one or more thousands blocks, rather than just one record for the whole NPA-NXX.   3) One or more of the thousands blocks for the NPA-NXX&#39;s is not listed in the LERG database  220 .       
 
         [0084]    If each of these conditions is met, then those blocks not listed in the LERG database  220  are the additional blocks that should be included in the list of blocks to report. These blocks are marked with an “X”, indicating that the block has been pooled. As described, the ENUM database may also be utilized alone or in conjunction with the LERG database  220 . 
         [0085]    In the following example shown in TABLE VII, for NPA-NXX  419 - 520 , a telecommunications company having OCN  0661  is the code holder of the NPA-NXX as indicated by the first line with a block ID of “A” for all. Since the thousand blocks are broken out into individual records, but only eight of the ten blocks are listed in the LERG database  220 , this means that blocks  7  and  9  are unassigned blocks. The blocks  7  and  9  have been pooled by one company, but not yet reassigned to another company, so these blocks are still to be reported by the pooling company. Blocks  5  and  8  have been pooled and reassigned to a company other than the pooling company having OCN  553 A, so these blocks are not be reported by the pooling company. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE VII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Pooling Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                 State 
                 Rate Center 
                 NPA 
                 NXX 
                 Block_ID 
                 OCN 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 A 
                 0661 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 0 
                 0661 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 1 
                 0661 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 2 
                 0661 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 3 
                 0661 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 4 
                 0661 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 5 
                 553A 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 6 
                 0661 
               
               
                 OH 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 419 
                 520 
                 8 
                 553A 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0086]    Therefore, for reporting utilization in this example, the following thousands blocks and pooling indicators shown in TABLE VIII are reported: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE VIII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Pooling Reporting Example 
               
             
          
           
               
                 NPA_NXX_X 
                 RATE_CTR 
                 POOL 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 419-520-0 
                 MANSFIELD 
                   
               
               
                 419-520-1 
                 MANSFIELD 
               
               
                 419-520-2 
                 MANSFIELD 
               
               
                 419-520-3 
                 MANSFIELD 
               
               
                 419-520-4 
                 MANSFIELD 
               
               
                 419-520-6 
                 MANSFIELD 
               
               
                 419-520-7 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 X 
               
               
                 419-520-9 
                 MANSFIELD 
                 X 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0087]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an exemplary process  600  for reporting telecommunications usage and forecasting. At step  602 , data indicative of telephone number usage assigned to a telecommunications carrier is stored in a first database. In one embodiment, the first database is a proprietary database managed by the telecommunications carrier. At step  604 , the first database may be queried to obtain a first set of data including telephone number information associated with the telecommunications carrier. At step  606 , multiple databases operating on a network may be queried to obtain a second set of data including telephone number information associated with the telecommunications carrier. In one embodiment, the multiple databases may include an ENUM database that is queried to retrieve information. In another embodiment, the multiple databases may include a database managed for the telecommunications industry, such as the LERG database. At step  608 , telephone number usage and forecast data may be generated from the first and second sets of data. The telephone number usage and forecast data may be used for completing NRUF forms. Other databases may also be queried to retrieve information that may assist in determining which form of the NRUF forms to apply the telephone number usage and forecast data. 
         [0088]    Using the system and methods described above, the time for completing NRUF reports may be reduced from several weeks to less than an hour. In addition, business information that was otherwise too difficult to accumulate during reporting periods are now able to easily be collected and reported for business purposes. Also, forecasting is improved from conventional forecasting, where the principles of the present invention may forecast by using, in one embodiment, the growth over the past 12 months to project the next 12 months rather than simply using a flat number as may previously have considered to be acceptable. 
       Determining Months to Exhaust 
       [0089]    Telecommunications carriers that wish to obtain additional telephone numbers for a rate center must submit a request to the Pooling Administrator (PA). When the Pooling Administrator, currently NeuStar, receives a carrier&#39;s request for additional telephone numbers, a determination is made as to whether or not the request will be granted. Two criteria must be met for additional numbering resources to be granted. First, the total rate center utilization must currently be at or above 75%. Second, based on the forecasted number growth and current numbering resources, the months to exhaust must be 6 months or less. 
         [0090]    As an example for determining months to exhaust, current rate center utilization for Decatur, Texas is 75.87%, which meets the first criteria (i.e., total rate center utilization at or above 75%). Based on the forecasted growth and the total numbering resources, the months to exhaust is 43.62. Because the months to exhaust is above six months, the rate center&#39;s telephone numbers will not be exhausted in the next six months, and, therefore, a request for additional telephone numbers, generally in the form of thousands blocks, would not be granted. 
         [0091]    Continuing with the example, suppose that a large customer of the rate center is building their headquarters in the area and requests 5000 consecutive phone numbers. This additional request is to be factored in to the calculations for determining months to exhaust. If the special 5000 number request was for one of the next six months, this number would be added to the average growth for that month. The additional utilization greatly increases the “average monthly forecast” for the next six months, which is used in the months to exhaust calculation below. In turn, the months to exhaust number is reduced to 5.78 months for this example. Now both required criteria are met (i.e., current rate center utilization at or above 75% and months to exhaust below six months), so the request should be granted. 
         [0092]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are graphical user interfaces of exemplary Months to Exhaust and Utilization Forms with data representative of the two examples described above. The forms  700   a  and  700   b  include a variety of selectable information, such as state  702  and rate center  704 , and displayed information, including operator company number (OCN)  706 . Based on the state  702  and rate center  704 , a list  708  of rate center NPA-NXX&#39;s and list  710  of thousands block utilization are provided. A numbering resources entry table  712  displays calculated utilization information, including available numbers, assigned numbers, total numbering resources, and percent (%) utilization. A months to exhaust value is automatically calculated based on current utilization and forecasted growth. In addition a customer requested numbers field  714  is provided to allow a telecommunications carrier to enter a number of specially requested telephone numbers out of the ordinary type of growth. A growth history table  716  and forecast table  718  display the growth for the previous 12 months and the generated forecast for the following 12 months. 
         [0093]    The difference between forms  700   a  and  700   b  is the customer requested numbers shown in field  714 , where in form  700   a , there are no customer requested numbers and in form  700   b , there are 5000 customer requested numbers. As described in the example above, 5000 customer requested numbers represent a special request from a customer to have 5000 telephone numbers reserved for the establishment of a headquarters or other business operation. The other numbers of utilization are the same with the exception of months to exhaust (i.e., 43.62 months versus 5.78 months). This difference enables the telecommunications carrier to request additional telephone numbers. In one embodiment, the software is configured to notify a user that the current utilization of telephone numbers for a rate center is above 75 percent and the months to exhaust is below 6 months so that the user may act to request additional telephone numbers from the Pooling Administrator. The notification may be in the form of displaying the information in a different color (e.g., red) or other graphical indicator (e.g., flashing number). Still yet, a pop-up window or other alert may be used to notify the user of the current utilization and months to exhaust situation. 
         [0094]    The following equations provided in the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Certification Worksheet may be used to compute months to exhaust and current utilization of a rate center. An exemplary Months to Exhaust and Utilization Certification Worksheet is shown in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the MTE is 5.78 and Utilization is 75.87%, which enables the telecommunications carrier to request additional telephone numbers for the rate center, which, in this example, is Decatur. 
         [0000]      Months to Exhaust=Numbers Available for Assignment to Customers/Average Monthly Forecasts Utilization=(Assigned Numbers−Excluded Numbers 2 )/(Total Numbering Resources−Excluded Numbers)
 
         [0095]    1 Average monthly forecast for the next 6 months 
         [0096]    2 Quantity of numbers activated in the past 90 days and excluded from the Utilization calculation 
         [0097]    The following tables are examples of query results and computations based on query results that are used by the telecommunications carrier to determine months to exhaust and utilization. TABLE IX provides computations based on results from a query of one or more databases  214  managed by the service provider, such as the ENUM database and the LERG database  220 . A query of the database  214  may provide utilization information of a rate center and an average growth over a year may be generated. For example, Stevenson rate center has an average year growth of 279 subscribers for the carrier. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE IX 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Rate Center Average Annual Growth 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 State 
                 Rate Center 
                 AvgYearGrowth 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 WA 
                 Roosevelt 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 WA 
                 Stevenson 
                 279 
               
               
                   
                 WA 
                 Sunnyside 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                 WA 
                 Toppenish 
                 78 
               
               
                   
                 WA 
                 Trout Lake 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 WA 
                 Wapato 
                 0 
               
               
                   
                 WA 
                 WH Salmon 
                 433 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0098]    A query of the LERG database  220  and/or service provider database  214  is able to provide a thousands block count as provided in TABLE X for each of the rate centers. As shown, the thousands blocks for a portion of the rate centers located in Florida are provided. For example, the rate center in Apopka, Fla. has 54 thousands blocks or 54,000 telephone numbers assigned to the carrier. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE X 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Rate Center Thousands Block Count 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 State 
                 Rate Center 
                 Thousands Block Count 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 FL 
                 Alford 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 FL 
                 Apopka 
                 54 
               
               
                   
                 FL 
                 Arcadia 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 FL 
                 Astor 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 FL 
                 Avon Park 
                 29 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0099]    A history query is used to report the amount of working phone numbers at the rate center level for each of the last 13 months. For example, if the current month is June 2006, month  13  (M 13 ) is the previous month (i.e., May 2006). Month  1  (M 1 ) is May 2005. By using a rolling  13  months of history, month  1  can be subtracted from month  13  to derive the past year of growth (positive) or loss (negative). The difference between M 13  and M 1  results in the previous year&#39;s growth, which can be projected forward to use for forecasted growth. TABLE XI is a table of an exemplary query of history from the past 13 months showing working telephone numbers within a rate center. The query results may be used to determine growth or loss of customers being serviced by the rate center for reporting to the Pooling Administrator. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XI 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 History Query 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 State 
                 Rate Center 
                 NPA 
                 YRMO 
                 Working 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M13 
                 22886 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M12 
                 22887 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M11 
                 22875 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M10 
                 22841 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M9 
                 21741 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M8 
                 21781 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M7 
                 21801 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M6 
                 21871 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M5 
                 21879 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M4 
                 22647 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M3 
                 22641 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M2 
                 22098 
               
               
                   
                 TX 
                 DECATUR 
                 940 
                 M1 
                 21316 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0100]    An ITYPE status query is used to report subtotals for combinations of Installed Type and Status at the NPA-NXX-X (thousands block) level. Results from such a status query is provided in TABLE XII. Installed types and statuses can be converted into NRUF categories in the same manner as NRUF reporting, with one of the categories being “assigned.” Once all numbers are converted to the NRUF categories, the assigned numbers can be totaled at the rate center level. The thousands-blocks owned by a service provider can be counted at the rate center level from a service provider&#39;s inventory database. This number of blocks multiplied by 1000 numbers per thousands-block provides the total numbering resources for each of the company&#39;s rate centers. Subtracting the assigned numbers from the total numbering resources in each rate center provides the available numbers. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE XII 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 ITYPE and Status Query 
               
             
          
           
               
                 NPA 
                 NXX 
                 THOU 
                 ITYPE 
                 STATUS 
                 QTY 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 0 
                 REG 
                 WKG 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 0 
                 SPL 
                 WKG 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 ASN 
                 4 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 VAC 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 VND 
                 23 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 COIN 
                 WKG 
                 72 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 DNA 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 LNPO 
                 2 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 VAC 
                 1 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 VND 
                 153 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 WKG 
                 741 
               
               
                 219 
                 261 
                 2 
                 REG 
                 WLNP 
                 2 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0101]    A number of queries may be performed from the LERG database  220 . The LERG queries may provide information associated with pooling of telephone numbers from the telecommunications carrier that can be used for reporting to the Pooling Administrator. TABLE XIII is the result of an exemplary query from the LERG database  220  that includes a pooling indicator. The Telcordia Routing Administration website provides read-only access to view and download LERG data. It currently has a row limit for exports, so downloads may be split into one or more per state to avoid download problems. 
         [0000]                                                      TABLE XIII                   Pooling Indicator LERG Query Results            NPA   NXX   BLOCK_ID   EFF_DATE   OCN   RC_STATE   RC_NAME10   POOL_IND               218   534   A   23-Sep-03   1456   MN   Deerwood   N       219   261   A   08-Jul-04   0832   IN   Remington   Y       219   261   0   19-Jul-04   0832   IN   Remington   Y       219   261   2   19-Jul-04   0832   IN   Remington   Y       219   261   3   19-Jul-04   0832   IN   Remington   Y       219   261   4   19-Jul-04   0832   IN   Remington   Y                    
Requesting Resources from the Pool
 
         [0102]    A request of resources from the telephone number pool when a telecommunications carrier already has resources from the pool in its inventory currently has the following guidelines (PAS User Guide for SPs, 5.2 Required Information Apr. 17, 2006, NeuStar, Inc.):
       1) A listing of all codes and blocks in the telecommunications carrier&#39;s inventory for the pool related to a request   2) The quantity of available telephone numbers (TNs) in the telecommunications carrier&#39;s inventory for the pool   3) The total quantity of telephone numbers the telecommunications carrier has assigned for this pool   4) The quantity of telephone numbers the telecommunications carrier has assigned for this pool in each of the previous 6 months   5) The quantity of telephone numbers the telecommunications carrier expects to assign for this pool in each of the next 12 months       
 
         [0108]    The following definitions are provided by the Pooling Administrator for telecommunications carriers who participate in the pool (PAS User Guide for SPs, 5.4 Procedure Apr. 17, 2006, NeuStar, Inc.)
       Available Numbers: the quantity of telephone numbers available in the telecommunications carrier&#39;s inventory for this pool.   Assigned Numbers: the quantity of telephone numbers in this pool the telecommunications carrier has assigned to customers.   Total Numbering Resources: the total quantity of telephone numbers assigned to the telecommunications carrier for this pool.   Quantity of Numbers Activated in the Past 90 Days and Excluded from Utilization Calculation: the quantity of telephone numbers that will be excluded from the utilization calculation because they are in codes/blocks activated in the past 90 days.   Growth History: the quantity of telephone numbers assigned to customers for each of the 6 previous months, with Month  6  being the current month.   Forecast: the quantity of telephone numbers your company expects to assign to customers in each of the next 12 months, with Month  1  being the current month.   NOTE: If the calculated month to exhaust value is greater than 6 and/or the calculated utilization percentage requirements are not met, the telecommunications carrier will not receive all of the blocks requested.       
 
         [0116]      FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an exemplary process  800  for determining and reporting months to exhaust to the Pooling Administrator for requesting additional thousands blocks of telephone numbers. The process  800  may be performed by a server operated by the telecommunications carrier and starts at step  802 , where the results from a history query  506  from the service provider inventory database  214  is used to determine rate center growth average. At step  804 , growth history is generated and reported in the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet (e.g., form  700   a  in  FIG. 7A ). At step  806 , a forecast history is generated and reported in the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet. 
         [0117]    An ITYPE &amp; Status Query  508  is performed from the service provider inventory database  214 . Based on the query  508 , a determination is made as to whether either the ITYPE or status indicates to exclude the telephone numbers. If so, then the telephone numbers are excluded from reporting at step  810 . Otherwise, at step  812 , a determination is made as to whether status indicates an NRUF “assigned” category. If not, then the telephone numbers are excluded from reporting at step  814 . Otherwise, if the thousands block of telephone numbers is assigned, then the telephone numbers are reported using the NRUF “assigned” category at step  816 . At step  820 , the telephone numbers (i.e., the thousands block of telephone numbers) are reported as being assigned on the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet. 
         [0118]    At step  822 , in response to a query of the LERG database  220 , counts of thousands blocks assigned to each rate center are performed. A percent (%) utilization, which is reported on the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet, may be made at step  824  based on the assigned thousands blocks from step  820  and the thousands block count at step  822 . At step  826 , total numbering resources is determined for each rate center by multiplying the thousands block count determined at step  822  by 1000. The results of the determination are used along with the assigned thousands blocks from step  820  at step  828  to determine available numbers, where the available numbers are the total number of telephone numbers that are not assigned (i.e., total telephone number resources minus assigned telephone numbers). The available numbers are reported on the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet. At step  830 , the months to exhaust is determined and reported. 
         [0119]    At step  832 , a determination is made as to the thousands blocks of telephone numbers owned by the telecommunications carrier. At step  834 , NPA, NXX, OCN, company name cross-reference is performed from the LERG database  220 . The NPA-NXX and OCN data are reported at steps  836  and  838 , which are reported on the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet. It should be understood that the process  800  is exemplary and that other processes may be performed to produce the information for reporting to the Pooling Administrator via the Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet. 
         [0120]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of an exemplary high-level process  900  for requesting telephone number resources from a pooling administrator. The process starts at step  902 . At step  904 , data indicative of telephone number usage assigned to a telecommunications carrier is stored in a first database. The first database is queried to obtain a first set of data including telephone number information associated with the telecommunications carrier at step  906 . At step  908 , multiple databases operating on a network, such as the Internet, are queried to obtain a second or additional set of data including telephone number information associated with the telecommunications carrier. For example, the multiple databases may include the ENUM database and the LERG database. At step  910 , current utilization of telephone numbers of a rate center of the telecommunications carrier and months to exhaust of telephone numbers based on the first and second sets of data are determined. A determination as to whether to request additional telephone number resources based on the current utilization and months to exhaust is performed at step  912 . The process  900  ends at step  914 . 
         [0121]    The process  900  may further include determining growth and current telephone number resources of the rate center. The growth may be based on historical growth at the rate center and per thousands blocks. The current utilization determination may include determining whether utilization is above 75 percent. Furthermore, the months to exhaust determination may be performed to determine whether the months to exhaust is at or below six months. If the current utilization is determined to be above 75 percent and months to exhaust is at or below six months, then a notification may be made to a user. The notification may be performed by a message in the same or different window (pop-up window), highlighting a number, or other technique as understood in the art. In determining current utilization, the determination may be made by determining the number of telephone numbers that are categorized. Still yet, a special customer request for a specified number of telephone numbers may be received and utilized in determining months to exhaust of telephone numbers. A report including months to exhaust and current utilization may be generated, where the report includes a Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet. 
         [0122]    The previous detailed description of a small number of embodiments for implementing the invention is not intended to be limiting in scope. One of skill in this art will immediately envisage the methods and variations used to implement this invention in other areas than those described in detail. The following claims set forth a number of the embodiments of the invention disclosed with greater particularity.