Assistant server and path connection control method for service provider's network

• US 20030005148A1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takase, Akihiko, Mochizuki, Misato
• Granted Patent: US 7,024,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers

Abstract

In a communication network having a communication node connected to a plurality of service providers'"'"' networks, a network controller connected to the communication node, and a server for supplying network control information to the network controller, the server stores definition information of communication services provided by the service providers. When a service request specifying a communication path to be assured is received from the user terminal, the server retrieves communication service definition information matched with the service request and notifies the search result to the user terminal. In response to a notification of agreement from the user terminal, the server transmits network control information for setting a communication path to the network controller and the network controller supplies communication path control information generated on the basis of the network control information to the communication node.

Claims

1. A communication path control method in a communication network comprising a communication equipment connected to a plurality of telecommunication companies'"'"' networks, a network controller connected to said communication equipment, and a server for supplying network control information to said network controller, said network controller supplying communication path control information generated on the basis of said network control at information to said communication equipment, comprising the steps of:

storing information entries each indicative of definition of communication services provided by each of said telecommunication companies'"'"' networks into said server;

issuing a communication service request, in which specifications of a communication path to be assured for a user terminal connected to said communication equipment are designated, from the user terminal to said server;

retrieving an information entry of the communication service definition matched with said communication service request and notifying said user terminal of a search result by said server; and

transmitting network control information generated on the basis of said communication service request and retrieved communication service definition from said server to said network controller in response to a notification of agreement from said user terminal to said search result.

2. The communication path control method according to claim 1, wherein when an information entry of communication service definition matched with said communication service request is not retrieved, said server notifies said user terminal of, as said search result, a combination of communication service definition of a plurality of entries, said combination satisfying said communication service request.

3. The communication path control method according to claim 1, wherein said communication service definition includes information indicative of bandwidth of the communication path provided by each telecommunication company'"'"'s network.

4. The communication path control method according to claim 1, wherein said communication service definition includes information indicative of quality of communication service provided by each telecommunication company'"'"'s network.

5. The communication path control method according to claim 1, wherein said communication service request includes information indicative of bandwidth of a communication path to be assured for a user terminal.

6. The communication path control method according to claim 1, wherein said communication service request includes information indicative of quality of communication service on a communication path to be assured for a user terminal.

7. The communication path control method according to claim 1, wherein said communication service request includes information indicating whether a backup communication path should be assured for a user terminal or not.

8. A communication service request processing method for a communication network including a communication equipment connected to a plurality of telecommunication companies'"'"' networks and a network controller connected to said communication equipment, comprising the steps of:

transmitting information indicative of definition of communication service from a management terminal of each telecommunication company'"'"'s network to an assistant server connected to said network controller;

storing communication service definition information received from said management terminal as a supply information entry by said assistant server;

issuing a communication service request, in which specifications of a communication path to be assured for a user terminal connected to said communication equipment are designated, from the user terminal to said assistant server;

retrieving an information entry of the communication service definition matched with said communication service request and notifying said user terminal of a search result by said assistant server;

after receiving a notification of agreement from said user terminal to said search result, transmitting network control information for establishing a communication path designated by said communication service request from said assistant server to said network controller; and

supplying communication path control information generated on the basis of said network control information from said network controller to said communication equipment.

9. The communication service request processing method according to claim 8, wherein when an information entry of communication service definition matched with said communication service request is not retrieved, said assistant server notifies said user terminal of, as said search result, a combination of communication service definition of a plurality of entries, said combination satisfying said communication service request.

10. The communication service request processing method according to claim 8, wherein the network control information transmitted from said assistant server to said network controller includes routing control information used by a telecommunication company'"'"'s network in which said communication path is set,

said path control information is informed from said network controller to a network controller of said telecommunication company'"'"'s network, and

said communication equipment establishes a communication path on the basis of communication path control information supplied from said network controller and when a packet is received from said user terminal, said communication equipment adds said routing control information to the received packet and transmits the packet to said communication path.

11. A server for performing communication with a user terminal via a communication network and supplying network control information to a network controller for controlling a communication node connected to both said user terminal and a plurality of telecommunication companies'"'"' networks, comprising:

memory means for storing information entries indicative of definition of communication service provided by each of said telecommunication companies'"'"' networks;

first means for receiving a communication service request in which specifications of a communication path to be assured for a user terminal are designated, from the user terminal, searching said memory means for an information entry of communication service definition matched with said communication service request, and notifying said user terminal of a search result; and

second means for transmitting network control information generated on the basis of said communication service request and the retrieved communication service definition to said network controller in response to a notification of agreement from said user terminal to said search result,

wherein said network controller instructs said communication node, in response to network control information received from said server, to establish a communication path so that transmission packets from said user terminal are transferred to a telecommunication company'"'"'s network which provides communication service definition matched with said communication service request.

12. The server according to claim 11, wherein said first means includes means for notifying said user terminal of, as said search result, a combination of communication service definition of a plurality of entries when no information entry of communication service definition matched with said communication service request is retrieved, said communication service request being satisfied with said combination.

13. The server according to claim 11, wherein each of information entries stored in said memory means includes, as a part of said communication service definition information, information indicative of bandwidth of a communication path provided by each telecommunication company'"'"'s network,

said communication service request designates the bandwidth of a communication path to be assured, and

said first means searches said memory means for an information entry of communication service definition matched with a bandwidth designated by said communication service request.

14. The server according to claim 11, wherein each of information entries stored in said memory means includes, as a part of said communication service definition information, information indicative of the quality of communication service provided by each telecommunication company'"'"'s network,

said communication service request designates the quality of communication service on a communication path to be assured, and

said first means searches said memory means for an information entry of communication service definition matched with the quality of communication service designated by said communication service request.