Abstract: A transaction for communicating service information includes one or more items each having a same format for querying, provisioning and administering a service over a telecommunications network. The item includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth information block. The first information block identifies a destination system for the item. The second information block identifies an operation to be performed in the destination system. The third information block identifies a service on which the operation is to be performed. The fourth information block identifies data for performing the operation.

Abstract: A method of engineering services in a telecommunications network includes storing an engineering file including a plurality of engineering attributes associated with a class of services. A service package is received for a service within the class of services. The engineering attributes of the engineering file are loaded into the service package.

Abstract: A telecommunications network includes a client system and a server system. The client system has a service message and a client interface. The service message is of a standard format and operable to define at least one of a platform manager operation requesting information pertaining to the server system, a database operation requesting modification of information pertaining to a service in the server system and a service manager operation requesting administration of the service in the server system. The client interface is operable to transmit the service message to the server system over a network. The server system includes a platform manager, a database subsystem, a service manager and a server interface. The platform manager is operable to store and provide information pertaining to the server system. The database subsystem is operable to store, provision and provide information pertaining to the service. The service manager is operable to administer the service in the server system.

Abstract: A method of engineering a service in a telecommunications network includes receiving a service package including a series of items. The items each have a plurality of standard information blocks. A request to engineer the service package is received. In response, at least some of the information blocks for at least some of the items are graphically displayed in an array. The information blocks in the array are arranged by item.