System and Method for Service Assurance in IP Networks
First Claim
1. A communications network comprising:
- a plurality of network elements, each network element configured to route traffic through the respective network element, each network element being communicatively coupled to at least one other network element; and
a plurality of resource control points, each resource control point maintaining routing information for one or more of the network elements, the plurality of resource control points being independent from routing traffic through the communications network, each of the plurality of resource control points being configured to communicate with other resource control points to determine a path taken by traffic sent from a first device to a second device.
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Abstract
A system and method for providing service assurance in a data network is provided. Resource control points are positioned throughout a data network, such as an IP data network. The resource control points obtain network topology information and correlates that information with information associated with a particular service session. The resource control points utilize the correlated information to generate quality service records and to provide status information regarding the network topology and particular sessions. The information collected by the resource control points may also be utilized to provide reports regarding resource management for services within the data network, the path used by the session across the data network, fault information for the session in the context of the network topology and congestion information as concerns the resources in the data network used by the session.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A communications network comprising:
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a plurality of network elements, each network element configured to route traffic through the respective network element, each network element being communicatively coupled to at least one other network element; and a plurality of resource control points, each resource control point maintaining routing information for one or more of the network elements, the plurality of resource control points being independent from routing traffic through the communications network, each of the plurality of resource control points being configured to communicate with other resource control points to determine a path taken by traffic sent from a first device to a second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A resource control point in an IP communications network, the resource control point comprising:
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a first communications port configured to communicate to at least one other resource control point to track sessions across a network; a second communications port configured to communicate to a plurality of network elements to obtain routing and topology information; a third communications port configured to communicate with a session signaling device to obtain session creation/removal information; a fourth communications port to obtain configuration information from routers through a management network attached to the routers; and a processor configured to obtain the routing and topology information of the plurality of network elements from the plurality of network elements via the second communications port, router configuration via the fourth port, and session information via the third port. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of monitoring a network topology of a communications network, the method comprising:
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obtaining routing information from a plurality of network routers; obtaining link information from the plurality of network routers; receiving a call setup request for a communications session; determining upon receipt of the call setup request a call routing for the call request through the plurality of network routers using the routing information and the link information; and maintaining changes in the call routing during the communications session. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification