Method and system for multilayer service management

• US 6,289,201 B1
• Filed: 10/02/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CDC Propriete Intellectuelle
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Xenakis, George, Weber, Mary Maureen, Hogg, Gerald James, Greenwood, James Edward Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/165,379
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 455/13.1, 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/13.3, 455/427, 455/428, 455/430, 379/230, 379/220, 379/219, 370/230, 370/254, 370/270
• US Class Current: 455/13.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18578 Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations for selecting H04W; provisions for broadband connection, H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

Methods (400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900) and a multi-layer service management system (300) enable mutilayer service management in a global network environment in a communication system (100) which includes a core network (230) and multiple Distributed Virtual Network Segments (DVNSs) (240). The system (300) includes a network service manager (315) capable of managing a set of services for operating the core network, DVNS service managers (DVNSMs) (345, 347) residing within a core side (340) and a product side (335) of each item of DVNS equipment (330) for managing a first and second set of services associated with the DVNS and also a set of value added services (352) provided through the DVNS equipment (330), and a processor/server 385 residing within customer premises equipment (CPE) (370) for enabling provision of value added services to the CPE. Methods (400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900) enable management of services using the service management system (300) by distributing service management across the layers of the network architecture (200).

Claims

1. A service management system for use in a communication system having a core network comprising, at least in part, a plurality of satellites, said service management system comprising:

a network operations control center (NOCC) having a network service manager capable of managing a set of core services for operating the core network;

a distributed virtual network segment (DVNS) having a product side and a core side, the core side being linked in communication with said network service manager of said NOCC and including a DVNSM capable of managing a first set of services, and the product side including a distributed virtual network segment service manager (DVNSM) capable of managing a second set of services;

wherein said first set of services comprise one or more service features which are built-in to said DVNS for operating said DVNS; and

wherein said second set of services comprise one or more optional services features which enable a DVNS operator to provide services to end users.

2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said set of core services for operating the core network comprises connectivity and information transportation services.

3. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first set of services comprises connection services and information transport services for operating said DVNS.

4. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second set of services comprises one or more services selected from the group of services consisting of authentication services, security management, call intercept services, fault management, configuration management, nomadicity, account management, and performance management.

5. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said DVNS product side includes means for creating and adding a third set of services to said DVNS.

6. The communication system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for creating and adding comprises a service creator for enabling a DVNS operator to add said third set of services to said DVNS.

7. The communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third set of services comprises one or more value added services from an external source which can be provided through a DVNS operator.

8. The communication system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

at least one item of customer premesis equipment (CPE), said CPE comprising a CPE product side and a CPE core side, said CPE product side including a processor capable of enabling provision of value added services in said CPE.

9. The communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said value added services comprise one or more services selected from the group of services consisting of business related services, banking services, on-line commerce, distant learning services, interactive TV, telemedicine, encryption, Internet/email access, leisure activities, software services, teleconferencing, usage reporting, and video conferencing.