Commodity trading of bandwidth
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system;
commoditizing the pooled bandwidth by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having negotiable sizes and characteristics;
initiating a transaction between a buyer and a seller for at least one bandwidth segment, wherein the seller delivers to the buyer bandwidth between the first and second pooling points pursuant to agreed upon terms; and
monitoring the delivered bandwidth to ensure that the bandwidth is delivered according to the agreed upon terms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system. The pooled bandwidth is commoditized by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having negotiable sizes and characteristics. A transaction between a buyer and a seller for at least one bandwidth segment is initiated, wherein the seller delivers to the buyer bandwidth between the first and second pooling points pursuant to agreed upon terms. The delivered bandwidth is monitored to ensure that the bandwidth is delivered according to the agreed upon terms. A system includes a first pooling point, a second pooling point, a service provisioning system, a cross connection switch, and a quality of service manager. The second pooling point is coupled to the first pooling point and bandwidth is pooled between the first and second pooling points. The pooled bandwidth is commoditized by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having a negotiable size and a determinable quality of service. The service provisioning system is coupled to at least on of the first and second pooling points, and the service provisioning system facilitates a transaction between a buyer and a seller for bandwidth at a contracted for quality of service. The cross connection switch is coupled to at least one of the first and second pooling points, and the cross connection switch executes the transaction between the buyer and seller by enabling delivery of bandwidth between the first and second pooling points at the contracted for quality of service. The quality of service manager is coupled to at least one of the first and second pooling points, and the quality of service manager monitors the delivered bandwidth to ensure that the contracted for quality of service is delivered.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system;
commoditizing the pooled bandwidth by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having negotiable sizes and characteristics;
initiating a transaction between a buyer and a seller for at least one bandwidth segment, wherein the seller delivers to the buyer bandwidth between the first and second pooling points pursuant to agreed upon terms; and
monitoring the delivered bandwidth to ensure that the bandwidth is delivered according to the agreed upon terms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system;
commoditizing the pooled bandwidth by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having a negotiable size and a determinable quality of service;
initiating a transaction between a buyer and a seller for at least one bandwidth segment, wherein the seller delivers to the buyer bandwidth between the first and second pooling points at a contracted for quality of service; and
monitoring the delivered bandwidth to ensure that the contracted for quality of service is delivered. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method, comprising:
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pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system;
commoditizing the pooled bandwidth by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having a negotiable size and a determinable quality of service;
initiating a transaction between a buyer and a seller for at least one bandwidth segment, wherein the transaction is pursuant to a master agreement having standard terms related to purchases and sales of bandwidth, and the seller delivers to the buyer bandwidth between the first and second pooling points at a contracted for quality of service; and
monitoring the delivered bandwidth to ensure that the contracted for quality of service is delivered. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A bandwidth trading system, comprising:
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a first pooling point;
a second pooling point coupled to the first pooling point, wherein bandwidth is pooled between the first and second pooling points, and the pooled bandwidth is commoditized by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having a negotiable size and a determinable quality of service;
a service provisioning system coupled to at least one of the first and second pooling points, wherein the service provisioning system facilitates a transaction between a buyer and a seller for bandwidth at a contracted for quality of service;
a cross connection switch coupled to at least one of the first and second pooling points, wherein the cross connection switch executes the transaction between the buyer and seller by enabling delivery of bandwidth between the first and second pooling points at the contracted for quality of service; and
a quality of service manager coupled to at least one of the first and second pooling points, wherein the quality of service manager monitors the delivered bandwidth to ensure that the contracted for quality of service is delivered. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method, comprising:
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pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system;
purchasing a segment of the pooled bandwidth;
marketing the segment of bandwidth as tradeable bandwidth blocks, wherein the bandwidth blocks are capable of interconnecting the first and second pooling points and have a bandwidth capacity and a time period duration that is less than the segment of bandwidth; and
selling the bandwidth blocks. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method, comprising:
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pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system;
taking over a first contract between a buyer and a seller, wherein the first contract is for bandwidth capacity between the first and second pooling points and is characterized by a first duration and a first price;
p1 selling the buyer a second contract for bandwidth capacity between the first and second pooling points, the second contract extending the first duration of the first contract and having a second price that is less than the first price. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59)
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60. A system comprising:
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means for pooling bandwidth between first and second pooling points in a communication system;
means for commoditizing the pooled bandwidth by making available tradeable bandwidth segments having a negotiable size and a determinable quality of service;
means for initiating a transaction between a buyer and a seller for at least one bandwidth segment, wherein the seller delivers to the buyer bandwidth between the first and second pooling points at a contracted for quality of service; and
means for monitoring the delivered bandwidth to ensure that the contracted for quality of service is delivered. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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Specification