Method, system, and article for informing a telecommunication customer of a future performance estimate for a telecommunication feature

Abstract

A performance of a telecommunication feature for a telecommunication customer is monitored. Based on the monitored performance, if an estimate of future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer is determined to be unfavorable, the telecommunication customer is informed of same.

1 . A method comprising: 
 informing a telecommunication customer of an estimate of a time at which a future performance of a telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable; and    informing the telecommunication customer of at least one of: 
 an alternative telecommunication feature having an estimate of future performance for the telecommunication customer which is favorable; and  
 an upgrade to the telecommunication feature, the upgrade having an estimate of future performance for the telecommunication customer which is favorable.  
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 monitoring a performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer; and    determining the estimate of a time at which future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring a performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer comprises: 
 collecting and storing a time sequence of performance values of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the estimate of a time at which future performance of the telecommunication customer will be come unfavorable comprises: 
 determining an estimate of future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer;    determining that the estimate of future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer is unfavorable; and    determining an estimate of a time at which future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will first become unfavorable.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining that the estimate of future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer is unfavorable comprises: 
 comparing the estimate of future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer to a threshold value.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the estimate of future performance is for a predetermined range of future times.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the steps of determining an estimate of a time at which future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable and informing the telecommunication customer of the estimate of the time at which the future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable are performed when the performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer is favorable.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunication feature comprises customer premise equipment.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the telecommunication feature comprises a telecommunications network component.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 informing the telecommunication customer of a solution for remedying the estimated unfavorable future performance of the telecommunication feature.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 placing a telephone call to the telecommunication customer, wherein said informing is performed within the telephone call.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least one computer operable to: 
 output a signal to initiate informing a telecommunication customer of an estimate of a time at which a future performance of a telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable; and  
 output a signal to initiate informing the telecommunication customer of at least one of: 
 an alternative telecommunication feature having an estimate of future performance for the telecommunication customer which is favorable; and  
 an upgrade to the telecommunication feature, the upgrade having an estimate of future performance for the telecommunication customer which is favorable.  
 
   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one computer is further operable to: 
 monitor a performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer; and    determine the estimate of a time at which future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one computer is operable to monitor the performance by collecting and storing a time sequence of performance values of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one computer is further operable to: 
 display the estimate of the time at which the future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the telecommunication feature comprises customer premise equipment.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the telecommunication feature comprises a telecommunication network component.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one computer is further operative to: 
 output a signal to initiate informing the telecommunication customer of a solution for remedying the estimated unfavorable future performance of the telecommunication feature.    
   
   
       19 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions, the set of instructions to direct at least one processor to: 
 output a signal to initiate informing a telecommunication customer of an estimate of a time at which a future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable, and    output a signal to initiate informing the telecommunication customer of at least one of: 
 an alternative telecommunication feature having an estimate of future performance for the telecommunication customer which is favorable, and  
 an upgrade to the telecommunication feature, the upgrade having an estimate of future performance for the telecommunication customer which is favorable.  
   
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , further comprising a set of instructions to direct at least one processor to: 
 monitor a performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer; and    determine the estimate of a time at which future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable.    
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein the performance is monitored by collecting and storing a time sequence of performance values of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer.  
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , further comprising a set of instructions to direct at least one computer to: 
 display the estimate of the time at which the future performance of the telecommunication feature for the telecommunication customer will become unfavorable.    
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the telecommunication feature comprises customer premise equipment.  
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the telecommunication feature comprises a telecommunication network component.