System, method and article of manufacture for information service management in a hybrid communication system

• US 6,442,547 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Andersen Consulting (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman-Amuah, Michel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/324,246
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/3, 707/200, 707/101, 395/200.31, 395/200.49, 395/200.53, 370/352, 709/201, 709/217, 709/224, 709/229, 709/225
• US Class Current: 379/221.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5029 Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed

Abstract

Telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network system which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephony routing information and internet protocol address information. The system includes an information services manager that provides data management and data communications between element managers and presentation managers. Information forward from the network element managers is utilized by the information services manager to provide information to network operators.

Claims

1. A method for information services management in a hybrid communication system, comprising the steps of:

a) separating system management information deemed more critical to monitoring and managing a hybrid communication system from information deemed less critical to monitoring and managing the hybrid communication system, wherein the system management information has been processed by a plurality of hybrid communication system components;

b) receiving the system management information;

c) selecting a portion of the system management information for forwarding to an operator of the system;

d) storing the system management information in databases; and

e) providing access to the system management information by a user.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the access to the system management information is provided by a presentation manager.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the system management information is received from an element manager.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the databases include operation and analytical distributed databases.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the databases include media and textual databases.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the databases provide procedures, policies, and computer training to network users.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the databases stores a manual having at least one of administrative information and maintenance information.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of analyzing the system management information to determine a status of the hybrid network for utilization during management of the hybrid network, and determining billing rates and discounts based on the status of the hybrid network.

9. A system for information services management in a hybrid communication system, comprising:

a) logic that separates system management information deemed more critical to monitoring and managing a hybrid communication system from information deemed less critical to monitoring and managing the hybrid communication system, wherein the system management information has been processed by a plurality of hybrid communication system components;

b) a processor that receives the system management information;

c) logic that selects a portion of the system management information for forwarding to an operator of the system;

d) logic that stores the system management information in databases; and

e) logic that provides access to the system management information by a user.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the access to the system management information is provided by a presentation manager.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, further comprising an element manager that provides the system management information to the system.

12. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the databases include operation and analytical distributed databases.

13. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the databases include media and textual databases.

14. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the databases provide procedures, policies, and computer training to network users.

15. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for information services management in a hybrid communication system, comprising:

a) a code segment that separates system management information deemed more critical to monitoring and managing a hybrid communication system from information deemed less critical to monitoring and managing the hybrid communication system, wherein the system management information has been processed by a plurality of hybrid communication system components;

b) a code segment that receives system management information;

c) a code segment that selects a portion of the system management information for forwarding to an operator of the system;

d) a code segment that stores the system management information in databases; and

e) a code segment that provides access to the system management information by a user.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the access to the system management information is provided by a presentation manager.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the system management information is received from an element manager.

18. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the databases include operation and analytical distributed databases.

19. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the databases include media and textual databases.

20. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the databases provide procedures, policies, and computer training to network users.