Dynamic configuration of network devices to enable data transfers

• US 20020069291A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daedalus Blue LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelliden, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Schenk, Jeffery A., Tindal, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/233
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/851 Dynamic network selection or re-selection, e.g. after degradation of quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/724 at intermediate nodes, e.g. resource reservation protocol [RSVP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing the use of network resources is described. In one embodiment, an enterprise first requests provisioning of network resources for a particular transaction. Responsive to that request, network resources are dynamically configured to meet the enterprise'"'"'s request. When the transaction is complete, the network resources are returned to a default state.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing data transmissions, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for bandwidth between a first point and a second point for a particular length of time;

identifying at least a first network device configurable to assist in providing the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point;

configuring the identified at least a first network device to assist in providing requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point; and

responsive to the completion of the particular transaction, configuring the identified at least a first network device to disable the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying at least a first network device comprises the step of:

identifying at least a first optical device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

dynamically generating device-specific commands for the at least a first network device;

wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the at least a first network device to assist in providing the requested bandwidth.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

retrieving a configuration record from a central repository of configuration records, the retrieved configuration record being unique to the at least a first network device and the retrieved configuration record including configuration information about the at least a first network device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of altering

altering the configuration record to include an indication that the at least a first device should be enabled to assist in providing the requested bandwidth.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

generating a device-specific command using the altered configuration record;

wherein the generated device-specific command is for configuring at least a first network device.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

altering the configuration record to include an indication that the at least a first network device should be configured to disable the requested bandwidth.

8. A method for optimizing data transmissions, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for routing priority for a transaction, the request being originated by a content provider;

identifying a service level available to the content provider;

determining a data transmission priority level to which the content provider is entitled, the data transmission priority level based upon, at least, the identified service level and the request for routing priority;

identifying at least a first transmission path accessible by the content provider, wherein the first transmission path includes at least a first network device;

enabling a priority data handling feature associated with the at least a first network device; and

responsive to completion of the transaction associated with the received request, disabling the enabled priority data handling feature.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transaction is defined at least partially in terms of a timeframe.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the transaction is defined at least partially in terms of a volume of data.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of identifying at least a first transmission path comprises the step of:

identifying at least a first router on that transmission path.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

generating device-specific commands for the at least a first network device;

wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the priority data handling feature associated with the at least a first network device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

retrieving a configuration record from a central repository of configuration records, the retrieved configuration record being unique to the at least a first network device and the retrieved configuration record including configuration information about the at least a first network device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

altering the configuration record to include an indication that the priority data handling feature should be enabled on the at least a first network device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

generating a device-specific command using the altered configuration record;

wherein the generated device-specific command is for enabling the priority data handling feature associated with the at least a first network device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving the content transfer request comprises:

receiving a content provider identifier and a data volume indicator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving the content transfer request further comprises:

receiving a data priority indicator.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of receiving the data priority indicator comprises:

receiving a data type indicator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of determining the priority comprises the step of:

determining the transfer priority based upon, at least, the data type indicator.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

generating device-specific commands for the at least a first of the plurality of network devices;

wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable a plurality of a priority data handling feature associated with the at least a first of the plurality network devices.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of :

determining a bandwidth for transferring the content within the requirements of the determined transfer priority;

wherein the generated device-specific commands are further configured to enable at least a first network device to assist in providing the determined bandwidth.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

retrieving a configuration record from a central repository of configuration records, the retrieved configuration record being unique to the at least a first network device and the retrieved configuration record including configuration information about the at least a first network device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

altering the configuration record to include an indication that at least a first device should be enabled to assist in providing the determined bandwidth.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

generating a device-specific command using the altered configuration record;

wherein the generated device-specific command is for configuring the identified at least a first network device.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

altering the configuration record to include an indication that the at least a first device should be configured to disable the determined bandwidth.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of:

altering the configuration record to include an indication that at least a first device should be enabled to assist in providing the determined bandwidth altering the configuration record to include an indication that the priority data handling feature should be enabled on the at least a second network device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

generating a device-specific command using the altered configuration record;

wherein the generated device-specific command is for enabling the priority data handling feature associated with the at least a second network device.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

altering the configuration record to include an indication that a priority data handling feature should be enabled at least on the a first network device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

generating a device-specific command using the altered configuration record;

wherein the generated device-specific command is for configuring the identified at least a first network device.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

altering the configuration record to include an indication that the at least a first device should be configured to disable the requested bandwidth.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

generating device-specific commands for the at least a first network device;

wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the at least a first network device to assist in providing the requested bandwidth.

16. A method for transferring data, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a content transfer request;

determining the transfer priority of the content associated with the content transfer request;

identifying a path for transferring the content associated with the content transfer request, the identified path including a plurality of network devices;

configuring at least a first of the plurality of network devices to assist in a content transfer corresponding to the content transfer request; and

responsive to the completion of the content transfer request, returning the at least a first of the plurality of network devices to a default setting.

33. A method for optimizing data transmissions, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for bandwidth between a first point and a second point for a select volume of data;

identifying at least a first network device configurable to assist in providing the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point;

configuring the identified at least a first network device to assist in providing requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point; and

responsive to the completion of the particular transaction, configuring the identified at least a first network device to disable the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

dynamically generating device-specific commands for the at least a first network device;

wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the at least a first network device to assist in providing the requested bandwidth.