Management and control of multi-layer networks
First Claim
1. A method of allocating resources in a network having multiple resource-allocation layers and in which a first layer requires resources provided by a second of said layers, the method comprising the steps of:
- at said first layer, providing an indication to the second layer of said required resources to be allocated from said second layer;
at said second layer automatically offering said required resource together with a condition for use of those resources; and
at said first layer determining if the condition for use of the offered resources is acceptable and, if so, automatically accepting the offered resources from the second layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications network has multiple resource-allocation layers and incorporates a management structure for allocating resources to allocate resources requested by a first layer of said layers from a second of said layers. At a first layer, the management structure provides an indication to a second layer of the required resources that are to be allocated from the second layer. The second layer automatically offers the required resource together with a condition for use of those resources. This condition includes a notional price factor which is dependent on current demand. Under the control of the manager, the first layer determines if the condition for use of the offered resources is acceptable and, if so, automatically accepts the offered resources from the second layer. In a preferred embodiment, ingress to an underlying multi-wavelength transport layer of the network is controlled via a virtual port which allocates traffic to real ports one for each wavelength supported by the transport layer.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of allocating resources in a network having multiple resource-allocation layers and in which a first layer requires resources provided by a second of said layers, the method comprising the steps of:
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at said first layer, providing an indication to the second layer of said required resources to be allocated from said second layer;
at said second layer automatically offering said required resource together with a condition for use of those resources; and
at said first layer determining if the condition for use of the offered resources is acceptable and, if so, automatically accepting the offered resources from the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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13. A method of allocating resources in a communications network having a hierarchy of transport layers, each said layer having its own resource capacity, the method comprising;
- determining within a said layer whether that layer has sufficient resources to support a request for service, and, where insufficient resources are available, automatically requesting further resources from one or more other said layers.
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17. A method of managing a communications network having a multi-layer hierarchical structure in which each layer of the hierarchy can provide a transport service to one or more other layers, the method comprising negotiating between said layers to determine a network resource allocation and a resource price to be offered to a customer for admission to the network and utilisation of said resource allocation.
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19. A method of managing a communications network having a multi-layer hierarchical structure in which each layer of the hierarchy can provide a transport service to one or more other of said layers, the method comprising negotiating automatically between said layers to determine a network resource allocation and a resource price to be offered to a customer for admission to the network and utilisation by the customer of said resource allocation.
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20. A communications network having a multi-layer hierarchical structure in which each layer of the hierarchy can provide a transport service to one or more other of said layers, and having a management arrangement for negotiating automatically between said layers to determine a network resource allocation and a resource price to be offered to a customer for admission to the network and utilisation by the customer of said resource allocation.
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21. A layered resource-allocation system comprising:
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a first layer comprising a topology manager arranged to provide an indication of required resources and an indication of willingness to pay for said required resources;
a second layer comprising a service manager arranged to provide said resources responsive to a comparison between said willingness to pay and a price of said required resources.
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22. A communications network having multiple resource-allocation layers and incorporating a resource allocation management structure for allocating resources requested by a first layer of said layers from a second of said layers, the management structure being arranged to perform the steps of:
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at said first layer, providing an indication to the second layer of said required resources to be allocated from said second layer;
at said second layer automatically offering said required resource together with a condition for use of those resources; and
at said first layer determining if the condition for use of the offered resources is acceptable and, if so, automatically accepting the offered resources from the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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23. A communications network having multiple resource-allocation layers and incorporating a resource allocation management structure for allocating requested resources between said layers, said network including a multi-wavelength transport layer to which controlled access is provided via one or more virtual ports, wherein each said virtual port provides access to a plurality of real ports one for each wavelength transported on the multi-wavelength transport layer, and wherein aid virtual port distributes traffic to said real ports so as to balance the loading of the real ports.
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27. A multi-layer communications network, comprising an upper Internet protocol (IP) layer, a multi-protocol label switched (MPLS) layer, a synchronous transport (SDH) layer, and an underlying multi-wavelength optical transport layer, wherein each said layer has a respective manager arranged to manage resources within that layer, to respond to requests for service from other layer managers, to set a price for those service requests, and to request service from the other layer managers, and wherein an interlayer manager responsible for controlling the resource allocation and resource pricing of each said layer manager so as to optimise use of the resources within each said layer.
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33. Software in machine readable form for allocating resources in a communications network having a hierarchy of transport layers, each said layer having its own resource capacity, the software being arranged to perform the method of;
- determining within a said layer whether that layer has sufficient resources to support a request for service, and, where insufficient resources are available, automatically requesting further resources from one or more other said layers.
Specification