Systems, devices and methods of decomposing service requests into domain-specific service requests

• US 10,057,180 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Openet Telecom Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Openet Telecom Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lehane, Bart, McNamee, Alan, Dunne, Cameron Ross, Hogan, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cousins, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US15/473,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20170208016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1031 Controlling of the operation of servers by a load balancer, e.g. adding or removing servers that serve requests

Abstract

The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems that enable decomposing abstract service requests into resources rules, which may include receiving an abstract service request (e.g., a request specifying a functional requirement) via an exposed public interface, generating domain-specific resource rules based on the received abstract service request, identifying relevant components in a telecommunications domain for enforcing the generated domain-specific resource rules, and send the domain-specific resource rules to the identified components (e.g., online charging server, policy management server, etc.) for enforcement. Generating domain-specific resource rules based on the received abstract service request may include generating the rules consistent with the existing resource rules of the domain.

Claims

1. A network management method for modifying and evaluating a functionality in a telecommunication system that is organized into a plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, the method comprising:

identifying, via a processor of a continuum orchestrator component deployed in the telecommunication system, one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in a trial;

generating, via the processor, a first monitoring result by monitoring resources or services of the telecommunication system that are associated with the identified domains or devices;

selecting one or more of the resources or services for modification based on the generated first monitoring result;

modifying the selected resources or services to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for a subset of users, the modifying comprising;

determining policy-charging capabilities of a first heterogeneous telecommunication domain of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain including a policy management system component, a charging system component, a policy and charging enforcement (PCE) system component, or a first domain orchestrator component;

determining policy-charging capabilities of a second heterogeneous telecommunication domain of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, the second heterogeneous telecommunication domain including a second domain orchestrator component;

identifying metering, rating, charging, policy, and balance management requirements of an end-to-end communication;

determining policy-charging requirements for accomplishing the end-to-end communication across the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains based on the identified metering, rating, charging, policy, or balance management requirements;

using the determined policy-charging capabilities of the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain and the determined policy-charging capabilities of the second heterogeneous telecommunication domain to partition the determined policy-charging requirements into a first group that includes a first subset of the determined policy-charging requirements and a second group that includes a second subset of the determined policy-charging requirements;

sending a first message including the first group of policy-charging requirements from the continuum orchestrator component to the first domain orchestrator component; and

sending a second message including the second group of policy-charging requirements from the continuum orchestrator component to the second domain orchestrator component;

generating a second monitoring result by further monitoring the selected resources or services;

analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results;

generating an evaluation result based on analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results; and

using the generated evaluation result to determine whether to revert the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users or to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for at least one additional subset of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

generating the first monitoring result by monitoring resources or services of the telecommunication system that are associated with the identified domains or devices further comprises collecting information from an observation node and collecting information from an aggregation node; and

modifying the selected resources or services to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users further comprises creating a service policy message that includes information suitable for causing a service policy selection and application node to modify;

a resource in one or more heterogeneous telecommunication domains of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains;

or

a service across multiple heterogeneous telecommunication domains of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results comprises analyzing the collected information per user, per resource, or for the entire telecommunication system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial comprises identifying sets of telecommunication domains for participation in the trial.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial comprises identifying participant user equipment devices, the method further comprising generating and sending a communication message to offer a reward or an incentive for participation in the trial.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial further comprises:

determining a trial type for the trial; and

determining whether to split the candidate telecommunication domains or devices into two or more groups based on the determined trial type.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein using the generated evaluation result to determine whether to revert the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users or to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for at least one additional subset of users comprises using functionality provided by a service policy selection and application node to reset a resource to its pre-trial configuration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the selected resources or services to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users further comprises:

receiving, in the first domain orchestrator component, an implementation agnostic policy-charging service request message from the continuum orchestrator component, the received implementation agnostic policy-charging service request message including information identifying a functional service requirement for the delivery of a first service;

generating, in the first domain orchestrator component, implementation-and-domain-specific resource rules based on information included in the received implementation agnostic policy-charging service request message, the generated implementation-and-domain-specific resource rules including at least one domain-specific charging rule that is specific to the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain;

identifying a policy component and a charging component in the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain for enforcing the generated implementation-and-domain-specific resource rules; and

sending at least one of the generated implementation-and-domain-specific resource rules to each of the identified policy and charging components.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

all components in the telecommunication system involved in delivery of a first service are grouped into at least one of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains;

each domain in the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains includes different components than every other domain in the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains;

the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains includes at least a first domain and a second domain;

each of the components in the first domain implement domain-specific rules that are specific to the first domain;

the components in the first domain collectively provide a first functionality for the delivery of the first service;

the components in the second domain collectively provide a second functionality for the delivery of the first service;

each of the components in the second domain implement domain-specific rules that are specific to the second domain;

the first domain includes the first domain orchestrator component; and

the second domain includes the second domain orchestrator component.

10. A continuum orchestrator computing device deployed in a telecommunication system that is organized into a plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

identifying one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in a trial;

generating a first monitoring result by monitoring resources or services of the telecommunication system that are associated with the identified domains or devices;

selecting one or more of the resources or services for modification based on the generated first monitoring result;

modifying the selected resources or services to alter a functionality of the telecommunication system for a subset of users by performing operations comprising;

determining policy-charging capabilities of a first heterogeneous telecommunication domain of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain including a policy management system component, a charging system component, a policy and charging enforcement (PCE) system component, or a first domain orchestrator component;

determining policy-charging capabilities of a second heterogeneous telecommunication domain of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, the second heterogeneous telecommunication domain including a second domain orchestrator component;

identifying metering, rating, charging, policy, and balance management requirements of an end-to-end communication;

determining policy-charging requirements for accomplishing the end-to-end communication across the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains based on the identified metering, rating, charging, policy, or balance management requirements;

using the determined policy-charging capabilities of the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain and the determined policy-charging capabilities of the second heterogeneous telecommunication domain to partition the determined policy-charging requirements into a first group that includes a first subset of the determined policy-charging requirements and a second group that includes a second subset of the determined policy-charging requirements;

sending a first message including the first group of policy-charging requirements from the continuum orchestrator computing device to the first domain orchestrator component; and

sending a second message including the second group of policy-charging requirements from the continuum orchestrator computing device to the second domain orchestrator component;

generating a second monitoring result by further monitoring the selected resources or services;

analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results;

generating an evaluation result based on analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results; and

using the generated evaluation result to determine whether to revert the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users or to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for at least one additional subset of users.

11. The continuum orchestrator computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

generating the first monitoring result by monitoring resources or services of the telecommunication system that are associated with the identified domains or devices further comprises collecting information from an observation node and collecting information from an aggregation node; and

modifying the selected resources or services to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users further comprises creating a service policy message that includes information suitable for causing a service policy selection and application node to modify;

a resource in one or more heterogeneous telecommunication domains of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains;

or

a service across multiple heterogeneous telecommunication domains of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains.

12. The continuum orchestrator computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results comprises analyzing the collected information per user, per resource, or for the entire telecommunication system.

13. The continuum orchestrator computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial comprises identifying sets of telecommunication domains for participation in the trial.

14. The continuum orchestrator computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial comprises identifying participant user equipment devices, the method further comprising generating and sending a communication message to offer a reward or an incentive for participation in the trial.

15. The continuum orchestrator computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial further comprises:

determining a trial type for the trial; and

determining whether to split the candidate telecommunication domains or devices into two or more groups based on the determined trial type.

16. The continuum orchestrator computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that using the generated evaluation result to determine whether to revert the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users or to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for at least one additional subset of users comprises using functionality provided by a service policy selection and application node to reset a resource to its pre-trial configuration.

17. The continuum orchestrator computing device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that modifying the selected resources or services to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users further comprises sending an implementation agnostic policy-charging service request message to the first domain orchestrator component, the implementation agnostic policy-charging service request message including information identifying a functional service requirement for the delivery of a first service.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a continuum orchestrator component deployed in a telecommunication system that is organized into a plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains to perform operations comprising:

identifying one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in a trial;

generating a first monitoring result by monitoring resources or services of the telecommunication system that are associated with the identified domains or devices;

selecting one or more of the resources or services for modification based on the generated first monitoring result;

modifying the selected resources or services to alter a functionality of the telecommunication system for a subset of users by performing operations comprising;

determining policy-charging capabilities of a first heterogeneous telecommunication domain of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain including a policy management system component, a charging system component, a policy and charging enforcement (PCE) system component, or a first domain orchestrator component;

determining policy-charging capabilities of a second heterogeneous telecommunication domain of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains, the second heterogeneous telecommunication domain including a second domain orchestrator component;

identifying metering, rating, charging, policy, and balance management requirements of an end-to-end communication;

determining policy-charging requirements for accomplishing the end-to-end communication across the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains based on the identified metering, rating, charging, policy, or balance management requirements;

using the determined policy-charging capabilities of the first heterogeneous telecommunication domain and the determined policy-charging capabilities of the second heterogeneous telecommunication domain to partition the determined policy-charging requirements into a first group that includes a first subset of the determined policy-charging requirements and a second group that includes a second subset of the determined policy-charging requirements;

sending a first message including the first group of policy-charging requirements from the continuum orchestrator component to the first domain orchestrator component; and

sending a second message including the second group of policy-charging requirements from the continuum orchestrator component to the second domain orchestrator component;

generating a second monitoring result by further monitoring the selected resources or services;

analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results;

generating an evaluation result based on analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results; and

using the generated evaluation result to determine whether to revert the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users or to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for at least one additional subset of users.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that:

generating the first monitoring result by monitoring resources or services of the telecommunication system that are associated with the identified domains or devices further comprises collecting information from an observation node and collecting information from an aggregation node; and

modifying the selected resources or services to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users further comprises creating a service policy message that includes information suitable for causing a service policy selection and application node to modify;

a resource in one or more heterogeneous telecommunication domains of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains;

or

a service across multiple heterogeneous telecommunication domains of the plurality of heterogeneous telecommunication domains.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that analyzing the generated first and second monitoring results comprises analyzing the collected information per user, per resource, or for the entire telecommunication system.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial comprises identifying sets of telecommunication domains for participation in the trial.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial comprises identifying participant user equipment devices, the method further comprising generating and sending a communication message to offer a reward or an incentive for participation in the trial.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that identifying the one or more candidate telecommunication domains or devices for participation in the trial further comprises:

determining a trial type for the trial; and

determining whether to split the candidate telecommunication domains or devices into two or more groups based on the determined trial type.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that using the generated evaluation result to determine whether to revert the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users or to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for at least one additional subset of users comprises using functionality provided by a service policy selection and application node to reset a resource to its pre-trial configuration.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that modifying the selected resources or services to alter the functionality of the telecommunication system for the subset of users further comprises sending an implementation agnostic policy-charging service request message to the first domain orchestrator component, the implementation agnostic policy-charging service request message including information identifying a functional service requirement for the delivery of a first service.