Systems and methods for providing extended peering

• US 20060179148A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Sandin, Craig M., Newman, Adele M., Chung, Robin Q.
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A system includes at least one network device that allows users to establish peering connections between ports in different geographic locations via web-based interfaces.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a first customer via a web-based interface, the request identifying a peering connection between a first port associated with the first customer and located in a first geographical region and a second port associated with a second customer and located in a second, different geographical region; and

establishing the peering connection based on the received request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request includes:

information identifying a first service provider associated with the first customer and the first port and information identifying a second service provider associated with the second customer and the second port.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the request further includes:

at least one of information identifying a communication protocol, information identifying a class of service, or information identifying a bandwidth.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying the second customer of the received request in response to receiving the request from the first customer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the notifying includes:

sending a notification to the second customer via e-mail.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the notifying includes:

providing information relating to the connection request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the information relating to the connection request includes information identifying a service provider associated with the first customer, the first port, and a connection identifier associated with the first customer and information identifying a second service provider associated with the second customer, the second port, and a connection identifier associated with the second customer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the information relating to the connection request further includes at least one of information identifying a type of peering connection to be established, information identifying a service class, or information identifying a communication protocol.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

providing a second web-based interface to the second customer, the second web-based interface allowing the second customer to accept the request from the first customer.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second web-based interface provides information identifying a first service provider associated with the first customer, the first port, and a connection identifier associated with the first customer and information identifying a second service provider associated with the second customer, the second port, and a connection identifier associated with the second customer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second web-based interface further provides at least one of information identifying a type of peering connection to be established, information identifying a service class, or information identifying a communication protocol.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

notifying, when the second customer accepts the request from the first customer, the first customer and the second customer that the request has been accepted.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the notifying the first customer and the second customer includes:

sending a notification to the first customer and the second customer via e-mail.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the notification includes:

information identifying a first service provider associated with the first customer, the first port, and a connection identifier associated with the first customer and information identifying a second service provider associated with the second customer, the second port, and a connection identifier associated with the second customer.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying, after the establishing, the first customer and the second customer that the peering connection has been established.

16. A system comprising:

a network device configured to;

cause a web-based interface to be provided to a user device, the web-based interface allowing a user to request that an extended peering connection be established,

receive information from the user relating to the extended peering connection, and

cause the extended peering connection to be established between the user and a second user based on the received information.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the web-based interface allows the user to specify a first port, associated with the user, from which the extended peering connection is to be established and a second port, associated with the second user, to which the extended peering connection is to be established.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the network device is further configured to:

notify the second user in response to receiving the information from the user that an extended peering connection has been requested.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the network device notifies the second user via at least one of e-mail, facsimile, or instant message.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the network device is further configured to:

cause a second web-based interface to be provided to the second user, the second web-based interface allowing the second user to accept the request.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the second web-based interface allows the second user to select the requested extended peering connection from a list of pending peering connections.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the network device is further configured to:

notify the user when the second user accepts the request.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the network device notifies the second user via at least one of e-mail, facsimile, or instant message.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein the network device is further configured to:

notify the user and the second user when the extended peering connection has been established.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the network device notifies the user and the second user via at least one of e-mail, facsimile, or instant message.

26. A method comprising:

causing a graphical user interface to be provided to a user device, the graphical user interface allowing a user to request that a peering connection be established between two ports located in different geographic regions;

receiving information relating to the peering connection from the user device; and

establishing the peering connection between the two ports based on the received information.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the user is associated with a first port of the two ports and a second user is associated with a second port of the two ports, and

wherein the method further comprises:

notifying the second user in response to receiving the information that a peering connection has been requested.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the notifying includes:

notifying the second user via at least one of e-mail, facsimile, or instant message.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

causing a second graphical user interface to be provided to the second user, the second graphical user interface allowing the second user to accept the request.

30. A system comprising:

at least one network device configured to;

allow users to establish peering connections between ports in different geographic locations via web-based interfaces.