System for supply chain management of virtual private network services

• US 20030123446A1
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ent Services Development Corporation LP (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Page, David J., Muirhead, Charles S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5077 wherein the managed service relates to simple transport services, i.e. providing only network infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/555 Error detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/602 Multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

The system for the supply chain management of network services, preferably virtual private network services, provides hardware, processes and application tools useful in configuring and/or delivering substantially measurable virtual private network services.

Claims

1. A network device for providing standardized interconnectivity in a communications network, said network device comprising:

(a) one or more routers for propagating data through the network deterministically;

(b) one or more Ethernet switches for providing said network device with connectivity to at least one of a private or public network;

(c) one or more service creation devices for providing said network device with connectivity to an incompatible network equipment; and

(d) an operational system platform for providing communication between software and hardware components of said network device.

2. The network device according to claim 1, wherein said network device employs multi-protocol label switching technology.

3. The network device according to claim 2, wherein said multi-protocol label switching technology allows said network device to communicate with similar or dissimilar network transport technologies.

4. The network device according to claim 1, wherein said network device employs frame relay technology.

5. The network device according to claim 1, wherein said network device employs asynchronous transfer mode technology.

6. The network device according to claim 1, wherein each network device is arranged in a mirrored, redundant configuration.

7. The network device according to claim 1, wherein a functionality of said one or more routers and said one or more Ethernet switches mediates an incompatible network transport technology with said network device.

8. The network device according to claim 1, wherein a functionality of said one or more service creation devices mediates an incompatible signaling scheme with said network device.

9. The network device of claim 1, wherein a functionality of said one or more service creation devices mediates incompatible quality of service signaling with said network device.

10. The network device of claim 1, said network device configured to provide duality of interconnections.

11. The network device of claim 1, said network device configured to implement Layer 3 routing across a Layer 2 transit connection for failure detection.

12. A network device usable in a virtual private network, said network device comprising:

(a) a pair of routers for propagating data through the network;

(b) a pair of Ethernet switches for providing said network device with VPN connectivity;

(c) a service creation device for directing at least one of data forwarding, route propagation and quality of service functions in said network device; and

(d) operating instructions for providing communication between software and hardware components of said network device.

13. The network device according to claim 12, further configured with multi-protocol label switching technology.

14. The network device according to claim 12, further configured with frame relay technology.

15. The network device according to claim 12, further configured with asynchronous transfer mode technology.

16. The network device according to claim 12, each arranged in a mirrored, redundant configuration.

17. The network device according to claim 12, wherein a functionality of said pair of routers and said pair of Ethernet switches mediate an incompatible network transport technology through said network device.

18. The network device according to claim 12, wherein a functionality of said service creation device mediates an incompatible signaling scheme through said network device.

19. The network device of claim 12, wherein a functionality of said service creation device mediates incompatible quality of service signaling through said network device.

20. The network device of claim 12, said network device configured to provide duality of interconnections therein.

21. The network device of claim 12, said network device configured to implement Layer 3 routing across a Layer 2 transit connection for failure detection.

22. In an end-to-end architecture for delivery of managed network service, a network device serving as a peering point of interconnection, said network device comprising:

(a) a pair of routers for propagating data through the network;

(b) a pair of Ethernet switches for providing said network device with connectivity;

(c) programmable instrumentation for performing quality of service classification and re-marking functions in said network device; and

(d) an operating system for enabling communication between software and hardware components of said network device.

23. A network device that provides a substantially single interconnect scheme by one or more service providers to a communications network, said network device comprising:

(a) at least one router;

(b) at least one switch for providing connectivity to said communications network;

(c) an instrumentation for providing at least one of quality-of-service mapping, aggregation, de-aggregation and performance testing functions between said network device and an incompatible one; and

(d) an operating system for facilitating communication between software and hardware components of said network device.

24. The network device according claim 23, configured to read and write from and to each data packet passing therethrough.

25. The network device according to claim 23, configured to provide quality of service re-marking function throughout said communications network.

26. The network device according to claim 25, wherein said quality of service re-marking function facilitates segmentation of quality of service support along a route of said communications network.

27. The network device according to claim 23, wherein said instrumentation provides performance testing of said communications network.

28. The network device according to claim 23, wherein said instrumentation facilitates testing of performance of a segment of said communications network.

29. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation employing one or more passive testing technique for testing an attribute of said communications network.

30. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation employing one or more active testing technique for testing an attribute of said communications network.

31. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation configured for testing an attribute of said communications network for at least one of reachability, delay, throughput, jitter, packet loss, mean time between failure, and mean time to fix.

32. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation comprising a pre-processor, storage, and a management platform.

33. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation configured to perform arbitrary pattern matching on at least one of a packet header and packet data.

34. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation configured to perform arbitrary re-writes to at least one of a packet header and packet data.

35. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation configured for programmability of one or more desired functions.

36. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation interfacing a connection between said at least one switch and a gateway of said one or more service providers.

37. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation deployable in at least one of a spoke and hub configuration.

38. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation deployed on a per service provider basis.

39. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation being deployable on a shared basis between more than one service provider.

40. The network device according to claim 23, said instrumentation being managed remotely through said management platform.

41. The network device according to claim 23, which configuration provides at least one of mediation, performance monitoring, billing and security features.

42. A network node simplifying interconnection of one or more service providers to a communications network, said network node comprising:

(a) a network device configured to provide standardized connectivity in said communications network, said network device arranged with a pair of gateways in substantially physical communication with said network device;

(b) more than one route propagation system, which hosts subscriber traffic; and

(c) a management network, which is in connection with said network device and said route propagation system, said management network facilitating operation of said network device.

43. The network node according to claim 42, said route propagation system managing and controlling subscriber traffic.

46. A delivery system for providing substantially measurable network service, said system:

(a) capturing one or more of a user'"'"'s network service requirements;

(b) outputting one or more design solutions in substantial compliance with the user'"'"'s network service requirement;

(c) provisioning for implementation of a design solution, which is modifiable and which comprises at least one of network infrastructure and network services;

(d) monitoring said design solution for variation in at least one of delivery performance and usage, said monitoring being linked to said design solution agreement; and

(e) maintaining performance metrics data on said design solution, said performance metrics data usable as feedback in order to determine delivery of acceptable or unacceptable service, and usable to modify said design solution as desired.

47. A supply chain delivery system for providing substantially measurable network service, said system:

(a) capturing one or more of a user'"'"'s network service requirements;

(b) outputting one or more design solutions in substantial compliance with the user'"'"'s network service requirement;

(c) provisioning for implementation of a design solution, which is modifiable and which comprises at least one of network infrastructure and network services;

(d) monitoring said design solution for variation in at least one of delivery performance and usage, said monitoring being linked to said design solution agreement; and

(e) maintaining performance metrics data on said design solution, said performance metrics data usable as feedback in order to determine delivery of acceptable or unacceptable service, and usable to modify said design solution as desired.

48. A requirement planning system for providing managed network service, said system comprising:

(a) a network infrastructure comprising one or more network devices capable of connectivity with one or more service providers;

(b) a management module comprising a suite of applications and hardware, useful for managing a collection of functions directed to delivery of substantially measurable network service; and

(c) a communications network for interfacing said network infrastructure with said management module.

49. The requirement planning system according to claim 48, said management module further comprising a gateway, a logical structure, a modeling tools platform, network transformation programs and a workflow engine.

50. A system for providing performance-based network service, said system comprising:

(a) a portal allowing access to said system;

(b) a modeling tools engine for modeling one or more network designs;

(c) a network transformation programs engine, in communication with said modeling tools engine, for providing network support of a network design;

(d) a logical structure for storing and integrating information from said modeling tools engine and said network transformation programs engine involved in producing a network design; and

(e) a workflow engine for managing the processing of said modeling tools engine, said network transformation programs engine and said logical structure, in order to facilitate implementation of the network design.

51. The system according to claim 50, said modeling tools engine comprising one or more applications useful in assisting the development of desired modeling activities.

52. The system according to claim 50, said modeling tools engine facilitating a mapping of one or more network design requirements with one or more network providers capable of meeting a design requirement.

53. The system according to claim 50, said modeling tools engine further comprising a supplier qualification module for facilitating supplier feasibility determination.

54. The system according to claim 50, said modeling tools engine further comprising a supplier contract agreement module for facilitating contract preparation.

55. The system according to claim 50, said network transformation programs engine further comprising an assess module for providing an initial assessment of network requirements.

56. The system according to claim 55, said assess module providing a cost benefit analysis of said network requirements.

57. The system according to claim 50, said network transformation programs engine further comprising a design module for providing a solution design.

58. The system according to claim 57, wherein said solution design comprises a network design configuration.

59. The system according to claim 57, wherein said solution design comprises a network supply chain topology.

60. The system according to claim 59, said network supply chain topology having one or more target site-to-site connectivity matrices and one or more corresponding service level agreements.

61. The system according to claim 57, wherein said solution design comprises one or more performance parameters.

62. The system according to claim 57, said design module employing a supplier qualification module for providing potential network supplier feasibility and cost.

63. The system according to claim 57, said design module employing a contract agreement module for providing a service level agreement associated with a design solution.

64. The system according to claim 50, said network transformation programs engine further comprising an implement module for generating service orders in fulfillment of a solution design.

65. The system according to claim 64, said implement module employing a service acceptance module for providing testing of said solution design.

66. The system according to claim 64, said implement module managing coordination of implementation of said solution design.

67. The system according to claim 50, said network transformation programs engine further comprising an assure module for ensuring delivery of network service as designed.

68. The system according to claim 50, said network transformation programs engine further comprising an assure module for ensuring delivery of network service as contracted.

69. The system according to claim 67, said assure module providing incident management when network performance falls outside one or more performance parameters.

70. The system according to claim 67, said assure module providing real-time reporting of service monitoring and incident management activity.

71. The system according to claim 67, said assure module generating statistical performance information on substantially all aspects of a network.

72. The system according to claim 50, said logical structure configured for manipulating data from each of said modeling tools engine, network transformation programs engine and workflow engine, into information in a desired business usable format.

73. The system according to claim 50, said logical structure configured for storing data to populate a design module of said network transformation programs module.

74. The system according to claim 73, said data pertaining to at least one of network requirements, design topology, quality of service scheme, service provider capability and performance metrics.

75. The system according to claim 50, said logical structure configured for storing data to populate an implement module of said network transformation programs module.

76. The system according to claim 75, said data pertaining to at least one of a target solution design, supplier feasibility and contractual agreement.