Systems and methods for resolving telephone number discrepancies en masse

1. A computer-implemented method of correcting telephone number status discrepancies using a telephone number inventory management system, the method comprising:

providing a computer-based telephone number inventory management system;

in the system, storing a list of rules, wherein each rule in the list of rules represents a unique combination of variables, each variable representing a status possibility for a telephone number in one of a plurality of data environments;

receiving data from each of the plurality of data environments, wherein the data is indicative of a status of one or more telephone numbers in the data environment;

for each of a plurality of telephone numbers, using the data from each of the plurality of data environments to select a rule from the list of rules, wherein the selected rule identifies the status of the telephone number in each of the plurality of data environments;

for each telephone number, storing the telephone number and the selected rule in a record;

from the list of rules, identifying a specific rule that reflects a discrepancy between a status possibility for a telephone number in one data environment and a status possibility for a telephone number in another data environment;

electronically searching the records to identify telephone numbers stored in a record with the specific rule;

transmitting from the telephone number inventory management system a command to one of the plurality of data environments to change the status of each of the telephone numbers relating to the specific rule; and

thereafter, on a display associated with the computer-based telephone number inventory management system, displaying information relating to a changed status.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a telephone number inventory system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the telephone number inventory system comprises a Customer Number Manager product.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a telephone number porting management system.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the telephone number porting management comprises an Advanced Service Management System.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a service order system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a system that manages data relating to central office facilities and circuits.

8. A system for correcting telephone number status discrepancies, comprising:

a host computer system programmed to:

receive a list of rules, each rule in the list of rules represents a unique combination of variables, each variable representing a status possibility for a telephone number in one of a plurality of data environments;

store the list of rules;

receive data from each of the plurality of data environments, wherein the data is indicative of a status of one or more telephone numbers in the data environment;

for each of a plurality of telephone numbers, use the data from each of the plurality of data environments to select a rule from the list of rules, wherein the selected rule identifies the status of the telephone number in each of the plurality of data environments;

for each telephone number, store the telephone number and the selected rule in a record;

receive information identifying a specific rule that reflects a discrepancy between a status possibility for a telephone number in one data environment and a status possibility for a telephone number in another data environment;

search the records for telephone numbers relating to the specific rule; and

transmit a command to one of the plurality of data environments to change the status of each of the telephone numbers relating to the specific rule.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a telephone number inventory system.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the telephone number inventory system comprises a Customer Number Manager product.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a telephone number porting management system.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the telephone number porting management system comprises an Advanced Service Management System.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a service order system.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a system that manages data relating to central office facilities and circuits.

15. A telephone number inventory management system, comprising:

means for storing a list of rules, wherein each rule in the list of rules represents a unique combination of variables, each variable representing a status possibility for a telephone number in one of a plurality of data environments;

means for receiving data from each of the plurality of data environments, wherein the data is indicative of a status of one or more telephone numbers in the data environment;

means for using the data from each of the plurality of data environments to select a rule from the list of rules for each of a plurality of telephone numbers, wherein the selected rule identifies the status of the telephone number in each of the plurality of data environments;

means for storing each telephone number and its associated selected rule in a record;

receiving means for receiving information identifying a specific rule that reflects a discrepancy between a status possibility for a telephone number in one data environment and a status possibility for a telephone number in another data environment;

searching means for searching the records for telephone numbers relating to the specific rule; and

transmitting means for transmitting a command to one of the plurality of data environments to change the status of each of the telephone numbers relating to the specific rule.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a telephone number inventory system.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the telephone number inventory system comprises a Customer Number Manager product.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a telephone number porting management system.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the telephone number porting management system comprises an Advanced Service Management System.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein one of the data environments relates to a service order system.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of data environments comprises a first data environment and a second data environment;

a first telephone number has a status of being a residential customer phone number on the first data environment;

the first telephone number has a status of being a business customer hone number on the second data environment;

the list of rules comprises a first rule, wherein the first rule represents:

the status of residential customer phone number on the first data environment; and

the status of business customer phone number on the second data environment; and

storing the telephone number and the selected rule in a record comprises storing the first telephone number and the first rule in the record.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of data environments comprises a first data environment and a second data environment;

a first telephone number has a status of being a voice communication phone number on the first data environment;

the first telephone number has a status of being a data communication phone number on the second data environment;

the list of rules comprises a first rule, wherein the first rule represents:

the status of voice communication phone number on the first data environment; and

the status of data communication phone number on the second data environment; and

storing the telephone number and the selected rule in a record comprises storing the first telephone number and the first rule in the record.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of data environments comprises a first data environment and a second data environment;

a first telephone number has a status of being a reserved phone number on the first data environment;

the first telephone number has a status of being an unreserved phone number on the second data environment;

the list of rules comprises a first rule, wherein the first rule represents:

the status of reserved phone number on the first data environment; and

the status of unreserved phone number on the second data environment; and storing the telephone number and the selected rule in a record comprises storing the first telephone number and the first rule in the record.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of data environments comprises a first data environment and a second data environment;

a first telephone number has a status of being an available phone number on the first data environment;

the first telephone number has a status of being an unavailable phone number on the second data environment; and

the list of rules comprises a first rule, wherein the first rule represents:

the status of available number on the first data environment; and

the status of unavailable phone number on the second data environment; and

storing the telephone number and the selected rule in a record comprises storing the first telephone number and the first rule in the record.