Systems and methods for allocating network bandwidth

• US 20080219170A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcellin, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,102,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/238.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/765 triggered by the end-points
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/825 Involving tunnels, e.g. MPLS

Abstract

An improved system for allocating bandwidth allows a network customer to dynamically modify bandwidth settings for their private networks. Applicable modified bandwidth settings may include port speed, committed access rate, and Ethernet flow. Port speed determines how much total data may pass through a node in a private network at one time, while committed access rate determines how much bandwidth the node will commit to a particular class of service. Ethernet flow governs the bandwidth allowed over a private line between two nodes. A bandwidth modification request is received by an input interface, which provides it to a processing server that schedules the modification request for committal. The processing server also changes customer billing information accordingly. Additionally, the user may specify a future time when the bandwidth modification request should be committed.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically allocating bandwidth across a network including at least a first node and a second node, comprising:

an input interface configured to validate the identity of a network customer and receive a bandwidth modification request from the network customer when validated;

a processing server in communication with the input interface, the first node and the second node, wherein the processing server is configured to apply the bandwidth modification request to at least the first node, thereby committing the bandwidth modification request, and change billing information for the network customer in accordance with the bandwidth modification.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein bandwidth modification request includes a change to the port speed of the first node.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein bandwidth modification request includes a change to the committed access rate of the first node.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the bandwidth modification request specifies a class of service to which the committed access rate applies.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first node and the second node form a private line within the network, and the bandwidth modification request includes a change to Ethernet flow over the private line.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing server is configured to schedule the bandwidth modification request to be committed at a future time, the future time being received from the network customer by the input interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the input interface is configured to receive a second input from the network customer as a change to the bandwidth modification request prior to committal of the bandwidth modification request by the processing server, and wherein the input interface is operative to notify the processing server of the change to the bandwidth modification request.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein input interface is configured to:

send a list of uncommitted bandwidth modification requests to the network customer; and

receive from the network customer a communication scheduling at least one of the listed bandwidth modification requests for committal.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the input interface is configured to send confirmation information to the network customer before the bandwidth modification request is committed by the processing server.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the confirmation information includes at least one of:

a notification of a billing change; and

a notification of a potential conflict associated with the bandwidth change request.

11. A method for dynamically allocating bandwidth across a network including at least a first node and a second node, the method comprising:

validating the identity of a network customer;

receiving a bandwidth modification request from the network customer, the bandwidth modification request relating to a first node;

applying the bandwidth modification request to a first node, thereby committing the bandwidth modification request; and

changing billing information in association with the bandwidth modification.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein bandwidth modification request includes a change to the port speed of the first node.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein bandwidth modification request includes a change to the committed access rate of the first node.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bandwidth modification request applies to a particular class of service.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first node and the second node form a private line within the network, and the bandwidth modification request includes a change to Ethernet flow over the private line.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the bandwidth modification request is committed at a scheduled time, the scheduled time being a future time received from the network customer.

17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for allocating bandwidth across a network including at least a first node and a second node, the instructions, when executed by a processing unit, causing the processing unit to:

validate the identity of a network customer;

receive a bandwidth modification request from the network customer, the bandwidth modification request relating to a first node within the network;

apply the bandwidth modification request to the first node, thereby committing the bandwidth authorization request; and

change billing information in association with the bandwidth modification.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein bandwidth modification request includes a change to the port speed of the first node.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein bandwidth modification request includes a change to the committed access rate of the first node.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the bandwidth modification request applies to a particular class of service.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first node and the second node form a private line within the network, and the bandwidth modification request includes a change to Ethernet flow over the private line.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the bandwidth modification request is committed at a scheduled time, the scheduled time being a future time received from the network customer.