Method and system for managing telecommunications services and network interconnections

• US 20020004390A1
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Telx Group, Inc. (Digital Realty Trust, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Telx Group, Inc. (Digital Realty Trust, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldman, Peter Barrett, Newby, Hunter Patrick, Rivera, Romelio Alberto, Cutaia, Rory Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/851,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/18 Delegation of network management function, e.g. customer network management [CNM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5012 determining service availability, e.g. which services are available at a certain point in time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5029 Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

A method and system of managing telecommunication service and network connections in a colocation site is provided. A customer service module communicates with customers regarding at least one telecommunications resource within the colocation site. An engineering module manages provisioning of the telecommunications resource within the colocation site in response to communications with the customers. An MIS module collects information on operation of the telecommunications resource, and reports to the customers based on the collected information. The customer service module receives requests for pre-sales information (e.g., pricing, availability, equipment configuration, and space within the colocation site), receives and processes orders for use of the telecommunications resource, provides customers with account status, and receives requests to terminate use of the telecommunications resource. The engineering module maintains a database reflecting status of all telecommunications resources in the colocation site, including identification of equipment, space availability, capacity, current load, and customer allocation. The engineering module also changes connections between the telecommunications resources, monitors trouble reports reflecting technical problems with the telecommunications resource, and provides technical support in response to the communications with customers. The MIS module maintains an archive of all data and reports generated within the colocation site, including a video record of physical activity within the colocation site.

Claims

1. A method for managing telecommunications services provided by at least one colocation site each having a plurality of disparate non-homogenous telecommunications resources, the method comprises the steps of:

communicating with customers regarding at least one telecommunications resource within the at least one colocation site;

managing provisioning of said at least one telecommunications resource within the at least one colocation site in response to communications with said customers;

collecting information on operation of said at least one telecommunications resource; and

reporting to said customers based on said collected information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicating step further comprises receiving requests for pre-sales information including at least one of pricing, availability, equipment configuration, and space within the colocation site.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicating step further comprises receiving an order for use of said at least one telecommunications resource.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicating step further comprises providing said customers with account status.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said communicating step further comprises receiving a request to terminate use of said at least one telecommunications resource.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said managing step further comprises maintaining a database reflecting status of all telecommunications resources in said at least one colocation site, said status further including at least one of identification of equipment, space availability, capacity, current load, and customer allocation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said managing step further comprises changing connections between said at least one telecommunications resource and at least one other telecommunications resource.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said managing step further comprises monitoring trouble reports reflecting technical problems with said at least one telecommunications resource.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said managing step further comprises providing technical support in response to said communications with said customers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said managing step further comprises monitoring performance status of said at least one telecommunications resource.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said managing step further comprises installing equipment provided by said customers within said colocation site.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said installing step further comprises providing rack space and electrical power for said equipment provided by said customers.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said collecting step further comprises maintaining an archive of all data and reports generated within the at least one colocation site.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said collecting step further comprises collecting data in accordance with Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) from network devices within the at least one colocation site.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said collecting step further comprises collecting a video record of physical activity within the at least one colocation site.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said collecting step further comprises archiving said video record.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said reporting step further comprises generating billing reports reflecting usage of said at least one telecommunications resource.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said reporting step further comprises reporting performance status of said at least one telecommunications resource.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said reporting step further comprises reporting trouble reports reflecting technical problems with said at least one telecommunications resource.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said managing step further comprises changing connection status of said at least one telecommunications resource in satisfaction of an order negotiated on an exchange.

21. A colocation site management architecture, comprising:

at least one colocation site having a plurality of disparate telecommunications resources;

a customer service module adapted to communicate with customers regarding at least one telecommunications resource within the at least one colocation site;

an engineering module adapted to manage provisioning of said at least one telecommunications resource within the at least one colocation site in response to communications with said customers; and

a management information system (MIS) module adapted to collect information on operation of said at least one telecommunications resource and report to said customers based on said collected information.

22. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said customer service module receives requests from said customers for pre-sales information including at least one of pricing, availability, equipment configuration, and space within the colocation site.

23. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said customer service module receives orders from said customers for use of said at least one telecommunications resource.

24. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said customer service module provides said customers with account status.

25. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said customer service module receives from said customers requests to terminate use of said at least one telecommunications resource.

26. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said engineering module further comprises a database reflecting status of all telecommunications resources in said at least one colocation site, said status further including at least one of identification of equipment, space availability, capacity, current load, and customer allocation.

27. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said engineering module changes connections between said at least one telecommunications resource and at least one other telecommunications resource.

28. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said engineering module monitors trouble reports reflecting technical problems with said at least one telecommunications resource.

29. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said engineering module provides technical support in response to said communications with said customers.

30. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said engineering module monitors performance status of said at least one telecommunications resource.

31. The colocation site management architecture of claim 21, wherein said engineering module installs equipment provided by said customers within said colocation site.

32. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein said engineering module provides rack space and electrical power for said equipment provided by said customers.

33. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein said MIS module maintains an archive of all data and reports generated within the at least one colocation site.

34. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein said MIS module collects data in accordance with Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) from network devices within the at least one colocation site.

35. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein said MIS module collects a video record of physical activity within the at least one colocation site.

36. The colocation site management architecture of claim 35, wherein said MIS module archives said video record.

37. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein said MIS module generates billing reports reflecting usage of said at least one telecommunications resource.

38. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein said MIS module reports performance status of said at least one telecommunications resource.

39. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein said MIS module reports technical problems with said at least one telecommunications resource.

40. The colocation site management architecture of claim 31, wherein engineering module changes connection status of said at least one telecommunications resource in satisfaction of an order negotiated on an exchange.