Broadband communications

• US 20050027851A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: McKeown, Jean Christophe, Chabrier, Henri
• Granted Patent: US 9,077,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/64 Asynchronous transfer mode [ATM] addresses
• 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 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0659 by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5064 Customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5074 Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

Disclosed is a provisioning tool and a method for implementing an operating a communications network, particularly a broadband communications network which is arranged to provision a service for a user based on information available via another user connection; this facilitates provision. In a preferred embodiment, a user device address is obtained from a user IP address. Provisioning and other network tools with additional or alternative advantageous features are disclosed and the provisioning tools disclosed may communicate with a variety of other tools including planning and inventory applications and agents associated with equipment, all of which are also independently provided, enabling provision of a variety of novel services and features dealing with a spectrum of problems arising in a communications environment, particularly a broadband environment.

Claims

1-225. -225. (Canceled)

226. An agent for a network component of a broadband network, the agent comprising means for passing equipment status or identification information concerning the network component to a remote network component.

227. An agent according to claim 226 further comprising means for receiving a configuration instruction.

228. An agent according to claim 226 wherein at least a portion of the operation of the agent is configurable by means of a script.

229. An agent according to claim 226 wherein the remote network component is selected from the group comprising:

a provisioning tool incorporated into a broadband network;

a planning tool incorporated into a broadband network;

a network management tool.

230. An agent according to claim 226 wherein at least a portion of the operation of the agent is configurable to simulate user activity at the network component.

231. An agent according to claim 230 wherein the user activity comprises at least one of:

connecting to a broadband network;

verifying the identity of the user or the network component over the broadband network;

accessing a service via the broadband network preferably using configured and/or preset parameters;

amending at least one preset parameter and accessing a service via the broadband network usling the at least one amended parameter.

232. An agent according to claim 230 further comprising means for sending a report on the simulated user activity to the remote network component.

233. An agent according to claim 226 wherein the network component is a Set Top Box or a Cable Modem.

234. An agent according to claim 226 further comprising means for accessing a communication service and means for signaling an alarm to a remote network component in the event of detection of a fault condition.

235. A method of operating a network component of a broadband network, comprising passing equipment status or identification information concerning the network component to a remote network component.

236. A method according to claim 235 further comprising receiving a configuration instruction.

237. A method according to claim 235 wherein at least a portion of the operation of the network component is configurable by means of a script.

238. A method according to any of claims 235 to 237 wherein the remote network component is selected from the group comprising:

a provisioning tool incorporated into a broadband network;

a planning tool incorporated into a broadband network;

a network management tool.

239. A method according to claim 235 further comprising configuring at least a portion of the operation of the network component to simulate user activity at the network component.

240. A method according to claim 239 wherein the user activity comprises at least one of:

connecting to a broadband network;

verifying the identity of the user or the network component over the broadband network;

accessing a service via the broadband network using configured and/or preset parameters;

amending at least one preset parameter and accessing a service via the broadband network using the at least one amended parameter.

241. A method according to claim 239 further comprising sending a report on the simulated user activity to the remote network component.

242. A method according to claim 235 wherein the network component is a Set Top Box or a Cable Modem.

243. A method according to claim 235 further comprising accessing a communication service and signaling an alarm to a remote network component in the event of detection of a fault condition.

244. A node of a broadband communications network, for receiving one or more communications services from service providers and transmitting the one or more services towards end user equipment, which node comprises an agent or other programmable end user simulation equipment for launching a service request to the network.

245. A node according to claim 244 which further comprises a first signal path for delivering control signals to the simulation equipment and a second path for transmitting a launched service request from the simulation equipment to the network, said first and second paths being different.