System and method for tracking communications resources

Abstract

A system for tracking communications resources. The system includes a first database configured to store data indicative of usage of numeric identifiers assigned to a service provider. The system also includes a computing device in communication with multiple databases via a network. The multiple databases including numeric identifier usage information associated with multiple service providers. The computing device executes software to query the first database and the multiple databases to retrieve information associated with the service provider to determine current utilization of numeric identifiers by the service provider and to determine months to exhaust of numeric identifiers, and automatically generate a report utilizing the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and months to exhaust.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for tracking communications resources, the system comprising:
 a first database configured to store data indicative of usage of numeric identifiers assigned to a service provider;   a computing device in communication with multiple databases via a network, the multiple databases including numeric identifier usage information associated with multiple service providers, the computing device executing software to query the first database and the multiple databases to retrieve information associated with the service provider to determine current utilization of numeric identifiers by the service provider and to determine months to exhaust of numeric identifiers, and automatically generate a report utilizing the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and months to exhaust.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first database is operated by the service provider, wherein the numeric identifiers are Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and wherein the software is further configured to determine growth and current numeric identifier resources by the service provider. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the multiple databases include a regional database. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software is further configured to determine whether the current utilization of numeric identifiers of the service provider is above 75 percent. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the software is further configured to determine whether the months to exhaust is at or below six months. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the software is further configured to notify a user that the current utilization of numeric identifiers is above 75 percent and the months to exhaust is at or below six months. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software, in determining current utilization of numeric identifiers, determines a number of numeric identifiers that are categorized. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software is further configured to receive a special customer request for a specified number of numeric identifiers, the special customer request being utilized by the software in determining months to exhaust of numeric identifiers. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the software is further configured to generate the report for numeric identifiers utilization associated with legacy telephone switches and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) switches. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the report is a Months to Exhaust and Utilization Spreadsheet. 
     
     
         11 . A method for determining whether to request additional numeric identifier resources for a service provider, the method comprising:
 storing data indicative of numeric identifier usage associated with a service provider in a first database;   querying the first database to obtain a first set of data including numeric identifier information associated with the service provider;   querying multiple databases operating on a network to obtain a second set of data including numeric identifier information associated with the service provider;   determining current utilization of numeric identifiers of the service provider and months to exhaust of numeric identifiers based on the first and second sets of data;   determining whether to request additional numeric identifier resources based on the current utilization and months to exhaust; and   generating a report including the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and the months to exhaust.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising determining growth and current numeric identifier resources of the service provider, wherein the numeric identifier information includes IP addresses utilized by the service provider. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein querying the multiple databases includes querying a regional database. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising determining whether current utilization of numeric identifiers of the service provider is above 75 percent. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising determining whether months to exhaust is at or below six months. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising notifying a user that the current utilization of numeric identifiers is above 75 percent and the months to exhaust is at or below six months. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein determining current utilization includes determining a number of numeric identifiers that are categorized. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a special customer request for a specified number of numeric identifiers, the special customer request being utilized by the software in determining months to exhaust of numeric identifiers. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the first database includes stores data for the numeric identifiers indicating usage, and wherein the report is generated for numeric identifiers utilization associated with legacy telephone switches and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) switches. 
     
     
         20 . A system for tracking communications resources, the system comprising:
 a first database operated by a service provider configured to store data indicative of usage of Internet Protocol addresses identifiers assigned to the service provider;   a computing device in communication with the database via a network, the computing device executing software to query the first database to retrieve information associated with the service provider to determine current utilization of IP addresses by the service provider and to determine months to exhaust of IP addresses associated with the service provider, and automatically generate a report utilizing the current utilization and months to exhaust in response to determining the current utilization and months to exhaust.