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Abstract

Methods and systems for provisioning online services are described. In the described embodiment, a framework is provided for provisioning various online services for users of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) through a web site that interfaces with the user. The inventive methods and systems make use of various programming objects to perform information collection and service provisioning functions. A master object is provided and is the focal point of a user's interaction with the framework. In the described embodiment, the master object can perform two primary functions--(1) security buffering--i.e. protecting system resources such as back end servers from a user that is not authorized to access such servers, and (2) oversight of various service configuration objects or 'SCOs'. The SCOs are programming objects that are each associated with a particular online service that might be specified by a user. The SCOs are separately configured to take the appropriate steps necessary to provision their own associated online service. In the described embodiment, in addition to these objects, a DS access object is provided and is the interface for a data store that stores user information. When a user enters the system, the master object is instantiated. Information that is to be used to provision various user-requested online services is collected from the user and stored in the data store. The master object is called when the information collection process is finished. The master object determines which services need to be provisioned and, correspondingly, instantiates the necessary SCOs, thereafter calling appropriate SCOs methods that enable the SCOs to provision their respective online service.

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First Claim