Methods, Systems, and Products for Providing Communications Services

• US 20110075672A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tisoher, Steven N., Hodges, Donna K., Kreiner, Barrett Morris
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/400
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/145 trading network capacity or selecting route based on tariff
• 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 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• 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 43/0805 by checking availability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products provide communications services. A request for communications service is received at a service provider and a best-value scenario is determined. Packets of data are subcontracted to another service provider to receive a subcontracted processing service. A result of the subcontracted processing service is incorporated in the best-value scenario, and the communications service is provided to fulfill the request for communications service.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for communications service at a service provider;

determining a best-value scenario for fulfilling the request;

subcontracting packets of data to another service provider to receive a subcontracted processing service;

incorporating a result of the subcontracted processing service in the best-value scenario; and

providing the communications service to fulfill the request for communications service.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assessing an availability of a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assessing an availability of routing within a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assessing availability of a network associated with the another service provider.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assessing an availability of bandwidth in a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the best-value scenario maximizes profitability.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the best-value scenario reduces costs.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising querying for a service level agreement associated with the request for communications service.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive a request for communications service at a service provider;

determine a best-value scenario for fulfilling the request;

subcontract packets of data to another service provider to receive a subcontracted processing service;

incorporate a result of the subcontracted processing service in the best-value scenario; and

provide the communications service to fulfill the request for communications service.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to assess an availability of a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to assess an availability of routing within a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to assess availability of a network associated with the another service provider.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to assess an availability of bandwidth in a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to determine the best-value scenario that maximizes profitability.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to determine the best-value scenario that reduces costs.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to query for a service level agreement associated with the request for communications service.

17. A physical computer readable storage medium storing instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request for communications service at a service provider;

determining a best-value scenario for fulfilling the request;

subcontracting packets of data to another service provider to receive a subcontracted processing service;

incorporating a result of the subcontracted processing service in the best-value scenario; and

providing the communications service to fulfill the request for communications service.

18. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for assessing an availability of a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

19. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for assessing an availability of routing within a network to fulfill the request for communications service.

20. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for assessing an availability of bandwidth in a network to fulfill the request for communications service.