System and method for controlling data flow based upon a temporal policy

• US 20070106808A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEA Systems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Vemula, Narendra, Svensson, Jan, Forsberg, Anders
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/22 Traffic shaping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2425 for supporting services specification, e.g. SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/30 in combination with information about buffer occupancy at either end or at transit nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/522 Dynamic queue service slot or variable bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6215 Individual queue per QOS, rate or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/745 Reaction in network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/781 Centralised allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/805 QOS or priority aware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/821 Prioritising resource allocation or reservation requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 : Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 : Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for controlling data flow based on a temporal policy. These mechanisms and methods for controlling data flow based on a temporal policy can enable embodiments to provide a different service level agreement to control network traffic selected from a plurality of service level agreements based upon one or more temporal conditions. The ability of embodiments to provide different service level agreement to control network traffic can enable embodiments to control one or more of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination to enhance efficient usage of the network resources.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system, comprising:

a service capability Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) to receive at least one of a plurality of service requests from at least one application;

a Policy Decision Point (PDP) to select from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition to control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement; and

a plug-in manager to receive a decision from the PDP and provide at least one plug-in representing a network resource element to route requests permitted by the PDP.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the service capability Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) to receive at least one of a plurality of service requests from at least one application includes:

a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) comprising at least one of a plurality of service capability modules to request a network plug-in from the plug-in manager to handle the request.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the Policy Decision Point (PDP) to select from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition to control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement includes:

a policy engine to apply the selected service level agreement to select from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition to control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement.

4. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the plug-in manager to receive a decision from the PDP and provide at least one plug-in representing a network resource element to route requests permitted by the PDP includes:

plug-in manager to receive a decision from the PDP and provide at least one plug-in representing a network resource element to route requests permitted by the PDP selected from at least one of an SMPP protocol adapter, a PAP protocol adapter, an MM7 protocol adapter and an IMAP protocol adapter.

5. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein the Policy Decision Point (PDP) to select from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition to control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement further comprises:

a Policy Decision Point (PDP) to select from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition selected from a time of day and a day of the week to control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement.

6. A method for controlling data flow based on a temporal policy in a telecommunications environment, the method comprising:

receiving at least one of a plurality of service requests from at least one application;

selecting from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition; and

controlling at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving at least one of a plurality of service requests from at least one application includes:

requesting a network plug-in from the plug-in manager to handle the request.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition to control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement includes:

selecting from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition selected from a time of day and a day of the week to control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein controlling at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement includes:

providing, responsive to a decision to route the traffic, at least one plug-in representing a network resource element to route requests permitted by the PDP selected from at least one of an SMPP protocol adapter, a PAP protocol adapter, an MM7 protocol adapter and an IMAP protocol adapter.

10. An apparatus for controlling data flow based on a temporal policy in a telecommunications system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receive at least one of a plurality of service requests from at least one application;

select from a plurality of different service level agreements, a service level agreement to control network traffic based upon at least one temporal condition; and

control at least one of access to network resources and traffic flow coordination based upon the selected service level agreement.