Patent ID: 7269250

Claim:
A method for processing a traffic study request in a communications network, comprising: validating a user identification received from a user; providing a first window for receiving customer information and input parameters from the user, wherein the first window automatically displays some or all of user information obtained from a user directory; providing a second window for receiving a plurality of telephone numbers from the user for which the traffic study is requested, the second window also including an input parameter specifying a start date, start time, stop date, and stop time for which the traffic study is to be performed; determining whether a telephone number is a local number portability (LNP) number; when the LNP number is served by a local telephone provider in a region associated with the local telephone provider, then continuing with the traffic study for the LNP number, and when the LNP number is not served by the local telephone provider in the region associated with the local telephone provider, then discontinuing the traffic study for the LNP number and sending an error message; and processing the traffic study to determine whether new telephone lines are required for the plurality of telephone numbers.