System and method to automate the management of computer services and programmable devices

A system for managing at least one function comprising:

• an automation interface for a developer to develop modules to aid in the automation of the management of the at least one function, the automation interface including at least one port for communication with a policy application and a management application;
• a software engine in communication with the automation interface for initiating a transition from one life cycle state to another life cycle state;
• and
• a set of control scripts in communication with the software engine.

A computer readable medium for managing at least one function through a lifecycle, the computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for the steps comprising:

• providing a plurality of predefined states of the lifecycle, including a deployed state, a prepped state, a provisioned state, and an in-service state;
• providing a plurality of procedures for transitioning the at least one function from one state of the lifecycle to another state of the lifecycle;
• initiating a transition from the deployed state to the prepped state after a task for the at least one function has been defined;
• initiating a transition from the prepped state to the provisioned state after a role for the at least function has been defined;
• and
• initiating a transition from the provisioned state to the in-service state after the at least one function is put in-service.

A computer readable medium for managing at least one service through a lifecycle, the at least one service having at least one programmable device, the computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for the steps comprising:

• providing a plurality of predefined states of the lifecycle, including a planned state, a provisioned state, and an on-line state;
• providing at least one set of procedures for transitioning the at least one service from one state of the lifecycle to another state of the lifecycle;
• initiating a first state transition, the first state transition comprising a transition of the at least one service from the planned state to the provisioned state after a planning process has been run;
• and
• initiating a second state transition, the second state transition comprising a transition of the at least one service from the provisioned state to the on-line state after the at least one programmable device has been provisioned with information that configures the at least one programmable device.