Benjamin Alfred Alves, 61Lewisville, TX

7130279, Oct 31, 2006

Mar 14, 2005

11/080076

Benjamin Alfred Alves - Flower Mound TX, US
Adeline Pang - San Jose CA, US
Alan R. Loudermilk - Chicago IL, US

Converged Data Solutions LLC - Chiacgo IL

H04L 12/28

370255, 370257, 370408, 709119, 709220, 707 10

A method for providing communications systems and network connection services is disclosed. Via a portal, user requirements data are entered, which are determinative of a configuration of the communications system. The user requirements data are translated into configuration data, which is stored in a storage location in electronic communication with the portal. The configuration data is provided to a manufacturing agent, which manufactures the communications system. The step of manufacturing the communications system includes loading the configuration data into the communications system, and the communications system operates based on the configuration data. The communications system is provided to a customer, and the communications system is operative to provide voice and data communications to a plurality of users in accordance with the configuration data. Prior to the step of manufacturing the communication system, a commercial transaction is initiated for the provision of the communication system to the customer, and prior to the step of providing the communication system to the customer, based on the user requirements data a commercial transaction is initiated for the provision of network connection services such as WAN services.

2007014, Jun 28, 2007

Oct 30, 2006

11/590654

Benjamin Alves - Flower Mound TX, US
Adeline Pang - San Jose CA, US
Alan Loudermilk - Chicago IL, US

H04L 12/28
H04L 12/66

370254000, 370352000

Web/portal-based systems and methods for selling, configuring, installing, reconfiguring and servicing such integrated voice/data communications systems are disclosed. An Internet/web or personal digital assistant (“PDA”) or personal computer (“PC”) based portal is provided to enable a relatively high level of data to be more easily collected. The portal preferably is graphical and guides either the customer or one or more sales persons (or site installer/technician, etc.) in the collection of user requirements data indicative of the particular customer's hardware, telephony and network service requirements. The user requirements data is a less technical, more intuitive level of user requirements data, as compared with configuration data. An initial test of the data preferably is performed, such as for purposes of data consistency, ensuring that all required data has been entered and the like. Thereafter, the user requirements data is translated into configuration data, preferably by way of automatic (or semi-automatic) software tools for installation or input into the integrated voice/data communications system in order to configure the system in a manner appropriate to satisfy the user requirements data. Such portal-based user requirements data entry is coupled to, and part of, a method for selling, ordering, manufacturing, testing and installing such integrated voice/data communications systems. Configuration data resulting from a user requirements level data entry and translation process is coupled at a desirable point with a hardware manufacturing process, such that an integrated system configured for the particular customer may be produced. A centralized intelligence may be involved in the configuration and testing of such integrated systems, thereby helping to facilitate configuration and testing, and thereby helping to ensure that the installed system will work correctly and in accordance with the requirements of the particular customer. Such a centralized intelligence also may be used to facilitate equipment upgrades and the provision of WAN or other network or other services to the particular customer.

6868070, Mar 15, 2005

Oct 6, 2000

09/680634

Benjamin Alfred Alves - Flower Mound TX, US
Adeline Pang - San Jose CA, US
Alan R. Loudermilk - Chicago IL, US

Vertical Networks, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

H04L012/28

370255, 370257, 370408, 709119, 709220, 707 10

Web/portal-based systems and methods for selling, configuring, installing, reconfiguring and servicing such integrated voice/data communications systems are disclosed. An Internet/web or personal digital assistant (“PDA”) or personal computer (“PC”) based portal is provided to enable a relatively high level of data to be more easily collected. The portal preferably is graphical and guides either the customer or one or more sales persons (or site installer/technician, etc. ) in the collection of user requirements data indicative of the particular customer's hardware, telephony and network service requirements. The user requirements data is a less technical, more intuitive level of user requirements data, as compared with configuration data. An initial test of the data preferably is performed, such as for purposes of data consistency, ensuring that all required data has been entered and the like. Thereafter, the user requirements data is translated into configuration data, preferably by way of automatic (or semi-automatic) software tools for installation or input into the integrated voice/data communications system in order to configure the system in a manner appropriate to satisfy the user requirements data.