Pay-per-use communication node capabilities
First Claim
1. A method of enabling capabilities on a telecommunication node having a control complex, the method comprising the steps of:
- associating in memory of the control complex an enabled status of each capability;
enforcing the enabled status of each capability by limiting operator access to configuration only of those capabilities which are enabled;
in response to instructions from an operator, enabling a specified capability by adjusting the enabled status of the specified capability; and
calculating a charge for enabling the specified capability.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for enabling additional capacity or features on telecommunication nodes without requiring replacement of hardware. Service providers purchase hardware which is fully capable of providing a full suite of features and providing a large bandwidth capacity. However, depending on the amount of payment by the service provider, not all of the features or the bandwidth capacity is enabled. If the service provider wishes to increase the number of features or the capacity of a node, the additional features or capacity are enabled using software after payment to the vendor. This allows service providers to enter the market at an initially relatively low expense. Additional features and capacity can be purchased and enabled using software as demand grows, without having to purchase replacement hardware.
21 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of enabling capabilities on a telecommunication node having a control complex, the method comprising the steps of:
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associating in memory of the control complex an enabled status of each capability; enforcing the enabled status of each capability by limiting operator access to configuration only of those capabilities which are enabled; in response to instructions from an operator, enabling a specified capability by adjusting the enabled status of the specified capability; and calculating a charge for enabling the specified capability. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer-readable medium comprising:
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instructions for presenting at least one configuration option to a user interface, each configuration operation corresponding to one of a set of at least one enabled capability of a telecommunication node; instructions for receiving a first security key; instructions for identifying a particular capability which corresponds to the first security key; instructions for adding the particular capability to the set of at least one enabled capability; and instructions for calculating a charge corresponding to the particular capability. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A processor for use within a telecommunication node, comprising:
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instructions for presenting at least one configuration option to a user interface, each configuration operation corresponding to one of a set of at least one enabled capability of the telecommunication node; instructions for receiving a first security key; instructions for identifying a particular capability which corresponds to the first security key; instructions for adding the particular capability to the set of at least one enabled capability; and instructions for calculating a charge corresponding to the particular capability. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer-readable medium comprising:
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instructions for presenting at least one selection to a user interface, each selection comprising a capability of a telecommunication node and a duration; instructions for receiving an identification of a particular selection from the user interface; instructions for determining a first security key associated uniquely with the particular selection; and instructions for transmitting the first security key to the telecommunication node. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A processor for use within a network management station, comprising:
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instructions for presenting at least one selection to a user interface, each selection comprising a capability of a telecommunication node and a duration; instructions for receiving an identification of a particular selection from the user interface; instructions for determining a first security key associated uniquely with the particular selection; and instructions for transmitting the first security key to the telecommunication node. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification