Edge Network Provisioning Using Universal Customer Premises Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service ordering processes for telecommunications services often require inconvenient and inefficient changes to customer premises equipment when customers need to modify service types, speeds, or hardware configurations.
Innovation Solution
Implement edge-driven network provisioning by sending non-service-specific customer premises equipment to a location, which upon installation, configures and provisions services based on available network connections using an out-of-band communication channel and a customer premises equipment management service to select and provision services through edge devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If service-specific customer premises equipment is sent to customers as part of the service ordering process, then the equipment can be optimized for specific service requirements, but changes to service types, speeds, or hardware configurations require inconvenient and inefficient equipment modifications or replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal customer premises equipment design that can support multiple service types and configurations through software-based service-specific functionality. The system uses a service ordering system that configures the equipment based on customer requirements, allowing the same physical device to adapt to different services (DSL, cable, fiber, wireless) without hardware changes. This resolves the contradiction by making the equipment versatile while maintaining ease of operation through software configuration rather than physical modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic service configuration where the customer premises equipment can be reconfigured in real-time based on service ordering and customer preferences. The service-specific functionality is loaded or activated through software rather than fixed hardware, enabling the equipment to dynamically adapt to different service types, speeds, and configurations. This dynamic approach allows easy service changes without inconvenient equipment modifications.
2Reliability
If service-specific customer premises equipment is provided to customers, then the equipment can be optimized for specific service requirements, but repeated equipment shipments are needed when service changes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal customer premises equipment design that can support multiple service types and configurations through software-based service-specific functionality. The system uses a service ordering system that configures the equipment based on customer requirements, allowing the same physical device to adapt to different services (DSL, cable, fiber, wireless) without hardware changes. This resolves the contradiction by making the equipment versatile while maintaining ease of operation through software configuration rather than physical modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for the discarding of service-specific software configurations and recovery/reuse of the same physical equipment for different services. Instead of shipping new hardware for each service type, the system can reset and reconfigure the existing equipment for different service requirements, effectively discarding the previous service configuration and recovering the hardware resource for new service provisioning.
3Manufacturing precision
If customers are required to specify exact service types, speeds, and hardware configurations during ordering, then precise service requirements can be met, but the ordering process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary service configuration actions automatically during the ordering process. The service ordering system pre-configures the customer premises equipment based on customer selections, and the service-specific functionality is prepared and loaded in advance. This preliminary automation reduces the complexity and time of the ordering process while maintaining precise service configuration, as the system handles the complex setup steps before the customer receives their equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The customer premises equipment is designed to self-configure based on service ordering information and detected network conditions. The system automatically determines appropriate service types, speeds, and configurations without requiring customers to specify every detail manually. This self-service capability maintains precise service configuration while reducing ordering complexity and time, as the equipment adapts to customer needs through automated detection and configuration rather than manual specification.
Data Source
AI summary
Edge-driven network provisioning can include receiving, from a customer premises equipment located at an installation site, a configuration request that identifies the customer premises equipment and a location associated with the installation site. Available connections can be identified for data communication services that are available at the installation site for the customer premises equipment. Provisioning options that are based on the available connections can be generated and a user device associated with the customer premises equipment can be identified. The provisioning options can be provided to the user device and the user device can present the provisioning options in a user interface presented at the user device. A provisioning selection corresponding to a selection of one of the provisioning options can be received and a provisioning command can be sent to one or more recipients to cause a service to be provisioned to the customer premises equipment.