System, method and graphical user interface for building virtual private networks
First Claim
1. A processor-implemented method for building a sub-network within a main network, comprising the steps of:
- (a) maintaining current configuration information on the main network;
(b) receiving a set of high-level requirements to be met by the sub-network;
(c) translating said set of high-level requirements into a corresponding set of low-level requirements;
(d) in response to user input, generating at least one option, each option corresponding to a detailed technical specification for configuring the main network such that the set of low-level requirements is met;
(e) providing a first graphical selection mechanism for allowing the user to select an option;
(f) in response to the user selecting an option through the first graphical selection mechanism, converting the detailed technical specification corresponding to the selected option into a set of graphical elements;
(g) displaying said set of graphical elements as a logical view of the main network configured in accordance with the selected option;
(h) causing resources in the main network to be automatically provisioned to meet said set of high-level requirements.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
High-level requirements specifying bandwidth, degree of featurization and quality of service are input to a network management system (NMS) in an elementary, high-level language. The NMS translates the set of high-level requirements into a set of low-level requirements using a first subroutine. A second subroutine then generates one or more options on the basis of the set of low-level requirements. Each option consists of a detailed technical specification for various elements of the underlying main network. In response to user selection of an option, the NMS converts the option to a set of graphical elements for display using a third subroutine. A cost breakdown is also provided for the selected option. The user may then commit the option to the NMS or reduce the high-level requirements if the cost is deemed too high. Subsequent to the selected option being committed, the NMS sends out the detailed technical specification to the appropriate network elements, resulting in the building of a VPN in accordance with the high level requirements. The high degree of automation enables faster service provisioning, less frequent errors and reduced training costs.
78 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A processor-implemented method for building a sub-network within a main network, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) maintaining current configuration information on the main network;
(b) receiving a set of high-level requirements to be met by the sub-network;
(c) translating said set of high-level requirements into a corresponding set of low-level requirements;
(d) in response to user input, generating at least one option, each option corresponding to a detailed technical specification for configuring the main network such that the set of low-level requirements is met;
(e) providing a first graphical selection mechanism for allowing the user to select an option;
(f) in response to the user selecting an option through the first graphical selection mechanism, converting the detailed technical specification corresponding to the selected option into a set of graphical elements;
(g) displaying said set of graphical elements as a logical view of the main network configured in accordance with the selected option;
(h) causing resources in the main network to be automatically provisioned to meet said set of high-level requirements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
providing a second graphical selection mechanism for allowing the user to proceed to step (c).
-
-
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, between the step of displaying and step (c), the step of:
providing a second graphical selection mechanism for allowing the user to choose between proceeding to step (c) or modifying the selected option.
-
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising, between the step of providing a second graphical interface and step (c), the steps of:
-
accepting user-generated reductions in the high-level requirements corresponding to the selected option;
modifying the detailed technical specification corresponding to the selected option in accordance with said reductions;
converting the modified detailed technical specification into a modified set of graphical elements; and
displaying said set of modified graphical elements as a modified logical view of the main network.
-
-
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main network comprises the Internet.
-
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main network comprises the public switched telephone network.
-
8. A network management system adapted to implement the method of claim 1.
-
9. A computer-readable storage medium having software stored thereon, for instructing a processor to implement a method of building a sub-network within a main network, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) maintaining current configuration information on the main network;
(b) receiving a set of high-level requirements to be met by the sub-network;
(c) translating said set of high-level requirements into a corresponding set of low-level requirements;
(d) in response to user input, generating at least one option, each option corresponding to a detailed technical specification for configuring the main network such that the set of low-level requirements is met;
(e) providing a first graphical selection mechanism for allowing the user to select an option;
(f) in response to the user selecting an option through the first graphical selection mechanism, converting the detailed technical specification corresponding to the selected option into a set of graphical elements;
(g) displaying said set of graphical elements as a logical view of the main network configured in accordance with the selected option;
(h) causing resources in the main network to be automatically provisioned to meet said set of high-level requirements.
-
-
10. A network management system for building a virtual private network (VPN), comprising:
-
means for maintaining current configuration information on the main network;
means for receiving a set of high-level requirements to be met by the VPN;
means for translating said set of high-level requirements into a corresponding set of low-level requirements;
means for, in response to user input, generating at least one option, each option corresponding to a detailed technical specification for configuring the main network such that the set of low-level requirements is met;
means for providing a first graphical selection mechanism for allowing the user to select an option;
means for, in response to the user selecting an option through the first graphical selection mechanism, converting the detailed technical specification corresponding to the selected option into a set of graphical elements;
means for displaying said set of graphical elements as a logical view of the main network configured in accordance with the selected option;
means for automatically provisioning resources in the main network to accommodate set of high-level requirements.
-
-
11. A processor-implemented graphical user interface (GUI) method for assisting a user in building a virtual private network (VPN), comprising:
-
providing a first interactive graphical mechanism for allowing the user to enter high-level requirements associated with each of a plurality of customer sites;
providing a second interactive graphical mechanism for allowing the user to request the generation of at least one option for configuring a main network in accordance with said high-level requirements;
in response to a user input requesting the generation of at least one option, providing a third interactive graphical mechanism for allowing the user to select one of the generated options;
in response to a user input selecting an option, displaying a logical view of the VPN in accordance with the selected option; and
providing a fourth interactive graphical mechanism for allowing the user to commit the selected configuration option to a network management system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
in response to the user accessing the first interactive graphical mechanism, prompting the user to enter a maximum number of options to be generated.
-
-
18. A GUI method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the third interactive graphical mechanism comprises a set of buttons, tabs, palettes or menu items, each button, tab, palette or menu item corresponding to a respective one of the options.
-
19. A GUI method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said logical view comprises a plurality of icons depicting the customer sites and the interconnections among the customer sites.
-
20. A GUI method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said fourth interactive graphical mechanism comprises a button, tab, palette or menu item.
-
21. A GUI method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:
providing a fifth interactive graphical mechanism for allowing the user to view a cost breakdown of the selected configuration option.
-
22. A GUI method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the fifth interactive graphical mechanism comprises a window for displaying said cost breakdown on a per-site basis.
-
23. A GUI method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the fifth interactive graphical mechanism comprises a window for displaying said cost breakdown on a per-service basis.
-
24. A GUI method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said logical view and said fifth interactive graphical mechanism are adapted to accept user-generated reductions to said high-level requirements and to reflect said reductions in the logical view of the VPN.
-
25. A computer-readable storage medium having software stored thereon, for instructing a processor to implement the method of claim 11.
Specification