Abstract: An object oriented system platform for a telecommunication system that provides subscriber services includes an upper layer containing applications in the form of base and supplementary functions providing base and supplementary services. This layer is implemented with base objects and extension objects. The base objects are object types implementing functions which may need extension in the future, each object type being designed for a particular task which can be performed with a minimum of coordination with other base objects. The extension objects are object types implementing extension functions which form extensions to the base functions and make it possible to add new services and modify and extend existing services without changing the software of a system that has already been implemented and supplied.

Abstract: The method and system of this invention assist a user in the achievement of a task according to a set of procedures such as those used in the design of software products. A functional description of the process of designing the software is instantiated by the system whereupon the system provides the user with a series of choices relating to the software development. The choices selected, in turn, permit a variety of system tools, each operating in parallel and concurrently, to be used in the development of the software. The system automatically monitors and checks the process during any manipulation and provides error analysis as well as suggested courses of action to the user. The system provides flexible support without requiring the user to follow a rigid development pattern.