Enhanced communication services for data networks

• US 6,621,895 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Giese, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US09/386,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 370/535, 370/469, 370/465, 379/10.03
• US Class Current: 379/201.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2227 Quality of service monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile

Abstract

An Enhanced Communication Services layer is adapted for connection intermediate a content application layer and a transport services layer of a communication network. The content application layer is adapted to generate payload data of a service instance. The transport services layer includes a physical fabric of the communication network and is adapted for end-to-end transport of the payload data across the communication network. The Enhanced Communication Services layer comprises a Contact Agent, an Exchange Agent and a Transport Agent, The Contact Agent is adapted to discover information identifying parties involved in a service instance. The Exchange Agent is responsive to the Contact Agent, and adapted to select, from a network space comprising one or more transport services, a best match set of transport services for the service instance. Finally, the Transport Agent is responsive to the Exchange Agent for engaging the selected set of transport services for the duration of the service instance.

Claims

1. An Enhanced Communication Services layer for controlling a service instance of a communication network comprising a content application layer adapted to generate payload data of the service instance and a transport services layer comprising a physical fabric of the communication network and adapted for end-to-end transport of the payload data between parties involved in the service instance, the Enhanced Communication Services layer comprising:

a) a Contact Agent adapted to discover information identifying respective communications capabilities of an originating party and at least one receiving party of the service instance;

b) an Exchange Agent responsive to the Contact Agent and adapted to select, from a network space comprising one or more transport services, a best match set of transport services for satisfying a communication goal of the originating party in respect of the service instance; and

c) a Transport Agent responsive to the Exchange Agent for engaging the selected set of transport services for a duration of the service instance.

2. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Contact Agent is responsive to a set of primitives generated by the content application layer and adapted for identifying, in respect of the service instance, the originating and receiving parties;

and the communication goal of the originating party.

3. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the Contact Agent is operative to construct a profile of each party involved in the service instance.

4. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the Contact Agent comprises a search engine adapted to locate, on the network, a profile of each party involved in the service instance, each profile including a listing of communication devices associated with the respective party, and a network address of each communication device.

5. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the Contact Agent further comprises a filter adapted to filter each of the located profiles with respect to the communication goal of the originating party.

6. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the Contact Agent is operative to generate a set of communication primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, a respective profile for each of the parties, and a set of one or more communication services required for the service instance.

7. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Exchange Agent is responsive to a set of communication primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, a respective profile for each of the parties, and a set of one or more communication services required for the service instance.

8. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the Exchange Agent is operative to generate a set of network primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, addresses of required transport services layer devices, QoS and CoS requirements, and any adaptive services required for the service instance.

9. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Transport Agent is responsive to a set of network primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, addresses of required transport services layer devices, QoS and CoS requirements, and any adaptive services required for the service instance.

10. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the Transport Agent is operative to generate a set of transport primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, end-to-end device and network services triggers for engaging the required transport services layer devices to effect end-to-end transport of the payload data.

11. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Contact Agent is resident on any one or more of an end-user communication appliance;

a network access provider server; and

a network server.

12. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Exchange Agent is resident on any one or more of a network access provider server;

and a network server.

13. An Enhanced Communication Services layer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Transport Agent is resident on a network server.

14. A method of providing Enhanced Communication Services in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

a) discovering information identifying an originating party of a service instance and at least one receiving party of the service instance;

b) selecting, from a network space comprising one or more transport services, a best match set of transport services for satisfying a communication goal of the originating party in respect of the service instance; and

c) engaging the selected set of transport services for the duration of the service instance.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of discovering information comprises the steps of:

a) obtaining a respective profile for each of the parties;

b) defining, on the basis of each respective profile, communication CoS and QoS requirements of the service instance; and

c) determining a location on the network of each of the parties.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of generating a set of one of more communication primitives describing an identity and location of each of the parties, and communication CoS and QoS requirements of the service instance.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of selecting a best match set of transport services comprises the steps of:

a) selecting, on the basis of each respective party profile, end-point equipment best suited to the originating party'"'"'s communication goal for the service instance;

b) locating the network addresses of the selected end-point equipment; and

c) selecting, from the network space, one or more network services intermediate the selected end-point equipment for transporting payload data of the service instance.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the selection of intermediate network services is based on requirements and preferences defined in the respective profiles of the parties to the service instance.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising evaluating operating characteristics and policies of the selected intermediate network services, and identifying any dissimilar protocols in the set of selected intermediate network services.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising, where the selected intermediate network services include dissimilar protocols, securing one or more adaptation services to facilitate conversion of the payload data between the dissimilar protocols.

21. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising generating a set of one or more network primitives describing delay, throughput, reliability, and connectivity requirements of the service instance.

22. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising generating a Contract defining terms, conditions and services applicable to the service instance;

wherein the terms define cost and payment information;

the conditions define party and transport service policies governing the service instance; and

the services comprise device addresses for each device involved in the service instance and device commands for controlling the devices with respect to the service instance.

23. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of engaging the selected set of transport services comprises the step of dynamically matching characteristics of respective transport media to QoS and CoS parameters of the service instance.

24. A communication network adapted for providing flexible communication services between end users, the network comprising:

a) a Content Application Layer adapted for generating payload data of a service instance;

b) a Transport Services Layer adapted for end-to-end transport of the payload data; and

c) an Enhanced Communication Services layer intermediate the content application layer and the transport services layer, the Enhanced Communication Services layer comprising;

i) a Contact Agent responsive to the Content Application Layer and adapted to discover information identifying an originating party and at least one receiving party of the service instance;

ii) an Exchange Agent responsive to the Contact Agent and adapted to select, from a network space comprising one or more transport services, a best match set of transport services for satisfying a communication goal of the originating party in respect of the service instance; and

iii) a Transport Agent responsive to the Exchange Agent for engaging the selected set of transport services for a duration of the service instance.

25. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Content Application Layer comprises any one or more of:

communication devices, device resources, application software; and

other network edge-based content-generating services.

26. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Transport Services Layer comprises two or more heterogeneous federated networks.

27. A communication network as claimed in claim 26, wherein each of the federated networks incorporates either new or legacy transport technologies.

28. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Contact Agent is responsive to a set of primitives for identifying, in respect of the service instance, an originating party, one or more receiving parties;

and a communication goal of the originating party.

29. A communication network as claimed in claim 28, wherein the Contact Agent is operative to generate a set of communication primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, profiles of each of the parties and communication services required for the service instance.

30. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Exchange Agent is responsive to a set of communication primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, profiles of each of the parties and communication services required for the service instance.

31. A communication network as claimed in claim 30, wherein the Exchange Agent is operative to generate a set of network primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, addresses of involved transport layer devices, QoS and CoS requirements, and any adaptive services required for the service instance.

32. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Transport Agent is responsive to a set of network primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, addresses of involved transport layer devices, QoS and CoS requirements, and any adaptive services required for the service instance.

33. A communication network as claimed in claim 32, wherein the Transport Agent is operative to generate a set of transport primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, end-to-end device and network services triggers for engaging the transport services layer of the communication network.

34. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Contact Agent is resident on any one or more of an end-user communication appliance;

a network access provider server; and

a network server.

35. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Exchange Agent is resident on any one or more of a network access provider server;

and a network server.

36. A communication network as claimed in claim 24, wherein the Transport Agent is resident on a network server.

37. A Contact Agent operable in a communication network having a content application layer adapted to generate payload data of a service instance, the Contact Agent being responsive to the Content Application Layer and comprising:

a) a profile construction portion adapted to construct a respective party profile for each party involved in the service instance; and

b) an API generating portion adapted to generate one or more communication primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, any one or more of;

each party profile constructed by the profile construction portion; and

a communication service required for the service instance.

38. A Contact Agent as claimed in claim 37, wherein the profile construction portion is responsive to a set of primitives adapted to identify, in respect of the service instance, any one or more of:

an originating party;

a receiving party; and

a communication goal of the originating party.

39. A Contact Agent as claimed in claim 38, wherein the profile construction portion further comprises a search engine adapted to locate on the network a party profile in respect of each party.

40. A Contact Agent as claimed in claim 39, further comprising a filter portion adapted to filter each party profile in light of the communication goal of the originating party.

41. A Contact Agent as claimed in claim 40, wherein the API generating portion is adapted to generate, in respect of the service instance, a respective communication primitive defining each filtered party profile.

42. An Exchange Agent operable in a communication network having a content application layer adapted to generate payload data of a service instance involving two or more parties, and a transport services layer comprising a physical fabric of the communication network and adapted for end-to-end transport of the payload data, the Exchange Agent being adapted to select, from a network space comprising one or more transport services, a best match set of transport services for the service instance, and comprising:

a) a service management portion adapted to select a respective best match end-point device for each party involved in the service instance;

b) a directory services portion adapted to resolve a physical address on the network corresponding to each selected end-point device; and

c) a session control portion adapted to select, from the network space;

a best match set of transport services for end-to-end connectivity between the selected end-point devices.

43. An Exchange Agent as claimed in claim 42, wherein the Exchange Agent is responsive to a set of communication primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, a respective profile for each of the parties, and a communication service required for the service instance.

44. An Exchange Agent as claimed in claim 43, wherein the service management portion selects the best match end-point device for each party on the basis of the respective profile for each of the parties, and a communication service required for the service instance.

45. An Exchange Agent as claimed in claim 43, wherein the service management portion is further adapted to determine whether or not content adaptation of the payload data is required for the service instance.

46. An Exchange Agent as claimed in claim 45, further comprising a transformation services portion adapted to select from the network space one or more content adaptation services when the service management portion determines that content adaptation of the payload data is required for the service instance.

47. An Exchange Agent as claimed in claim 42, further comprising a brokerage services portion adapted to negotiate, in respect of the service instance, network services to satisfy session requirements of the service instance.

48. An Exchange Agent as claimed in claim 42, wherein the Exchange Agent is adapted to generate a set of network primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, any one or more of:

addresses of required transport services layer devices;

QoS and CoS requirements; and

any adaptive services required for the service instance.

49. A Transport Agent operable in a communication network having a content application layer adapted to generate payload data of a service instance, and a transport services layer comprising a physical fabric of the communication network and being adapted for end-to-end transport of the payload data across the communication network, the Transport Agent being adapted to engage, from the transport services layer, a best match set of transport media to accomplish end-to-end transport of the payload data of the service instance, and comprising:

a) a directory services portion adapted to determine a best-match route for end-to end connectivity across the communication network; and

b) a session control portion adapted to engage, in the transport services layer, transport services layer devices corresponding to the best-match route.

50. A Transport Agent as claimed in claim 49, wherein the Transport Agent is responsive to a set of network primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, any one or more of:

addresses of required transport services layer devices;

QoS and CoS requirements; and

any adaptive services required for the service instance.

51. A Transport Agent as claimed in claim 49, wherein the Transport Agent is operative to generate a set of transport primitives defining, in respect of the service instance, end-to-end device and network services triggers for engaging transport services layer devices corresponding to the best-match route.

52. A Transport Agent as claimed in claim 49, further comprising a brokerage services portion adapted to negotiate, in respect of a service instance, transport services layer services satisfying QoS and QoS requirements of the service instance.