Patent ID: 8194641

Claim:
A method of providing communication service, comprising: receiving, at a processor, user identification information and first communication service criteria, wherein the user identification information identifies a user, and wherein the first communication service criteria describe a first type of packet-based communication service requested by the user; automatically selecting, with the processor, a first service provider from a plurality of service providers that provide communication services of the first type based on the received first communication service criteria; generating, with the processor, a first communication service order based on the first communication service criteria, wherein the first communication service order includes the user identification information and the first communication service criteria; selecting, with the processor, premise equipment for the user based on the first communication service criteria, the premise equipment configured to support packet-based communication at a premise associated with the user; generating, with the processor, an equipment order, wherein the equipment order includes the user identification information and identifies the selected premise equipment; transmitting the first communication service order to the selected first service provider; and transmitting the equipment order to an equipment provider.