Network system manager for telecommunication carrier virtual networks

• US 7,436,840 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Bruce E., Satapathy, Durga Prasad, Distler, Peter H., Islam, Mir S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou; Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rutkowski; Jeffrey M
• Application Number:
  US10/439,590
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/392, 370/235, 370/395.53, 370/259, 709/226
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method, and system manager for establishing and maintaining layer one telecommunication carrier virtual networks. In accordance with the present invention, portions of layer one resources of telecommunication networks are dedicated to a carrier virtual network that may be accessed by other telecommunication networks. Information identifying the portions of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network is provided to a carrier virtual network system manager by the network system manager of the telecommunication networks dedicating portions of layer one resources to a carrier virtual network. The carrier virtual network system manager identifies the portions of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network to the network system managers of the telecommunication networks that may access a given carrier virtual network.

Claims

1. A carrier virtual network system comprising:

a carrier virtual network that is accessible by a first telecommunication network managed by a first network system manager, the carrier virtual network comprising at least one portion of layer one resources of a second telecommunication network dedicated to the carrier virtual network, the second telecommunication network managed by a second network system manager,

a carrier virtual network system manager comprising;

(1) a first interface with the first telecommunication network, wherein the first telecommunications network has network resources for providing services to a customer, the first interface being used to exchange information regarding the layer one resources devoted to a carrier virtual network by the first telecommunication network;

(2) a second interface with the second telecommunication network, wherein the first telecommunications network has network resources for providing services to a customer, the second interface being used to exchange information regarding the at least one portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network devoted to the carrier virtual network;

a first connection linking the first interface to the first network system manager, wherein the first connection comprises a dedicated connection for exchanging information regarding which of the at least one portion of the layer one resources are devoted to the carrier virtual network by the second telecommunications network; and

the first network system manager for performing a procedure comprising;

(1) maintaining information, dynamically received via the first connection, identifying the at least one portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the first telecommunication network in a resource allocation record;

(2) receiving a customer request to establish service;

(3) referencing the resource allocation record to ascertain that the customer request can be satisfied by utilizing the at least one portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the first telecommunication network, without engaging the second network system manager; and

(4) deploying the at least one portion of the second telecommunication network accessible to the first telecommunication network in response to a customer request to establish service, wherein the dedicated layer one resources of the second telecommunications network are freely accessible to the first telecommunications network such that the first network system manager securely manages the dedicated layer one resources as if part of the first telecommunications network.

2. The carrier virtual network system manager of claim 1 wherein:

the second interface receives information from the second network system manager identifying the at least one portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that may be accessed by the first telecommunication network; and

the first interface transmits information to the first network system manager identifying the layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that may be accessed by the first telecommunication network.

3. The carrier virtual network system manager of claim 2 further comprising:

a first connection between the first interface and the first network system manager; and

a second connection between the second interface and the second network system manager.

4. The carrier virtual network system manager of claim 1, wherein the resource allocation record for maintaining information identifying the layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that may be accessed by the first telecommunication network further comprises a means for maintaining information identifying the layer one resources of the first telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that may be accessed by the second telecommunication network.

5. The carrier virtual network system manager of claim 4 wherein:

the resource allocation record for maintaining information regarding which layer one resources of the first telecommunication network are dedicated to a carrier virtual network accessible by the second telecommunication network receives information from the first network system manager over the first interface and transmits information to the second network system manager over the second interface; and

for maintaining information regarding which layer one resources of the second telecommunication network are dedicated to a carrier virtual network accessible by the first telecommunication network receives information from the second network system manager over the second interface and transmits information to the first network system manager over the first interface.

6. The carrier virtual network system manager of claim 3 wherein the first connection and second connection comprise web based connections.

7. The carrier virtual network system manager of claim 3 wherein the first connection and second connection comprise dedicated connections for exchanging information regarding which layer one resources are dedicated to the carrier virtual network.

8. A layer one telecommunication carrier virtual network system comprising:

a first telecommunication network having a plurality of layer one resources for providing services to a customer;

a second telecommunication network having a plurality of layer one resources managed by a second network system manager for providing services to a customer;

a first portion of layer one resources of the first telecommunication network dedicated to a first carrier virtual, wherein the dedicated layer one resources of the first telecommunications network are freely accessible to the second telecommunications network such that the second network system manager provisions the dedicated layer one resources as if part of the second telecommunications network;

a carrier virtual network system manager, the carrier virtual network system manager comprising;

a first interface with the first telecommunication network, the first interface transmitting information identifying the first portion of layer one resources dedicated to the first carrier virtual network to the first telecommunication network;

a second interface with the second telecommunication network, the second interface receiving information identifying the first portion of layer one resources dedicated to the first carrier virtual network from the first telecommunication network; and

a first network connection linking the first portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to the first carrier virtual network to the second telecommunication network, the first telecommunication network accessing the first portion of layer one resources through the first network connection; and

a second network system manager for performing a procedure comprising;

(1) maintaining information, dynamically received via the first network connection, identifying the at least one portion of layer one resources of the first telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the second telecommunication network in a resource allocation record;

(2) receiving a customer request to establish service;

(3) referencing the resource allocation record to ascertain that the customer request can be satisfied by utilizing the at least one portion of layer one resources of the first telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the second telecommunication network, without engaging the first network system manager; and

(4) deploying the at least one portion of the first telecommunication network accessible to the second telecommunication network in response to a customer request to establish service, wherein the dedicated layer one resources of the first telecommunications network are freely accessible to the second telecommunications network such that the second network system manager securely manages the dedicated layer one resources as if part of the second telecommunications network.

9. The carrier virtual network system of claim 8 further comprising:

a second portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a second carrier virtual network that may be accessed by the first telecommunication network; and

a second network connection linking the second portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network to the first telecommunication network, the first telecommunication network accessing the second portion of layer one resources through the second network connection; and

wherein;

the second interface with the second telecommunication network further transmits information identifying the second portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to the second carrier virtual network from a first network system manager to the carrier virtual network system manager;

the first interface with the first telecommunication network further transmits information identifying the second portion of layer one resources dedicated to the second carrier virtual network from the carrier virtual network system manager to the first network system manager; and

the first network system manager determining whether to access the second portion of layer one resources dedicated to the second carrier virtual network in response to a customer request to establish service.

10. The carrier virtual network system of claim 9 wherein the first network connection and the second network connection comprise a single network connection.

11. The carrier virtual network system of claim 10 further comprising:

a first connection linking the first interface to the first network system manager; and

a second connection linking the second interface to the second network system manager.

12. The carrier virtual network of claim 11 wherein the first connection and the second connection comprise a dedicated connection for exchanging information regarding which layer one resources are dedicated to the first and second carrier virtual networks.

13. The carrier virtual network of claim 11 wherein the first connection and the second connection comprise a web based connection.

14. The carrier virtual network system of claim 11 wherein:

the first portion of layer one resources of the first telecommunication network dedicated to a first carrier virtual network further comprises;

a portion of layer one resources dedicated to a first carrier virtual network at a first level of access, the first level of access based on a first minimum available bandwidth; and

a portion of layer one resources dedicated to a first carrier virtual network at a second level of access, the second level of access based on a second minimum available bandwidth; and

the second portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a second carrier virtual network further comprises;

a portion of layer one resources dedicated to a second carrier virtual network at a third level of access, the third level of access based on a third minimum available bandwidth; and

a portion of layer one resources dedicated to a second carrier virtual network at a fourth level of access, the fourth level of access based on a fourth minimum available bandwidth.

15. The carrier virtual network of claim 14 wherein:

a means for maintaining information regarding the portions of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network further comprises a means for maintaining information regarding the level of access at which each portion of layer one resources are dedicated to a layer one carrier virtual network;

the first interface further transmits information regarding the level of access at which portions of layer one resources are dedicated to a layer one carrier virtual network; and

the second interface further transmits information regarding the level of access at which portions of layer one resources are dedicated to a layer one carrier virtual network.

16. A carrier virtual network of portions of layer one telecommunication resources that allows a telecommunication network to access portions of layer one resources of other telecommunication networks that are dedicated to the carrier virtual network, the carrier virtual network comprising:

the telecommunication network managed by a network system manager, wherein the telecommunications network has network resources for providing services to a customer;

at least one portion of layer one telecommunication resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network, wherein the dedicated layer one resources are freely accessible to the telecommunications network such that the network system manager provisions the dedicated layer one resources as if part of the telecommunications network, wherein the at least one portion of layer one telecommunications resources being provisioned upon a customer request;

a network connection between the telecommunication network and each of the at least one portions of layer one telecommunication resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network; and

the network system manager for performing a procedure comprising;

(1) maintaining information, dynamically received from the carrier virtual network, identifying the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the telecommunication network in a resource allocation record;

(2) receiving a customer request to establish service;

(3) referencing the resource allocation record to ascertain that the customer request can be satisfied by utilizing the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the telecommunication network, without engaging the another network system manager; and

(4) deploying the at least one portion of the layer one resources accessible to the telecommunication network in response to a customer request to establish service, wherein the dedicated layer one resources are freely accessible to the telecommunications network such that the network system manager securely manages the dedicated layer one resources as if part of the telecommunications network.

17. The carrier virtual network of claim 16 further comprising

a connection between the network system manager and the carrier virtual network system manager, the connection being used to exchange information identifying the at least one portion of layer one telecommunication resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network between the network system manager and the carrier virtual network system manager.

18. The carrier virtual network of claim 17 wherein the connection between the network system manager and the carrier virtual network system manager comprises a web based connection.

19. The carrier virtual network of claim 17 wherein the connection between the network system manager and the carrier virtual network system manager comprises a dedicated connection for exchanging information regarding which layer one resources are dedicated to the carrier virtual network.

20. The carrier virtual network of claim 17 wherein the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network further comprises:

a first portion of layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network at a first level of access, the first level of access based on a first minimum available bandwidth; and

a second portion of layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network at a second level of access, the second level of access based on a second minimum available bandwidth.

21. The carrier virtual network of claim 20 wherein the carrier virtual network system manager further maintains information identifying:

the first portion of layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network and the first level of access at which the first portion is dedicated to the carrier virtual network; and

the second portion of layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network and the second level of access at which the second portion is dedicated to the carrier virtual network.

22. The carrier virtual network of claim 16 wherein the carrier virtual network system manager further comprises a network system manager functionality that manages the telecommunication network.

23. A method for establishing a layer one telecommunication carrier virtual network to allow a first telecommunication network managed by a first network system manager to access the layer one resources of other telecommunication networks managed by other network system managers, the method comprising:

devoting at least one portion of the layer one telecommunication resources to the carrier virtual network, wherein the devoted layer one telecommunication resources of the other telecommunications network are freely accessible to the first telecommunications network such that the first network system manager provisions the dedicated layer one resources as if part of the first telecommunications network;

identifying the at least one portion of the layer one telecommunication resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network to the first network system manager of the first telecommunications network, wherein the first telecommunications network has network resources for providing services to a customer;

maintaining information, dynamically received via the first connection, identifying the at least one portion of layer one resources of the other telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the first telecommunication network in a resource allocation record;

receiving a customer request to establish service;

referencing the resource allocation record to ascertain that the customer request can be satisfied by utilizing the at least one portion of layer one resources of the second telecommunication network dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by the first telecommunication network, without engaging the second network system manager; and

deploying the at least one portion of the other telecommunication network accessible to the first telecommunication network in response to a customer request to establish service, wherein the dedicated layer one resources of the other telecommunications network are freely accessible to the first telecommunications network such that the first network system manager securely manages the dedicated layer one resources as if part of the first telecommunications network.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein identifying portions of layer one telecommunication resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network further comprises:

receiving information identifying the at least one portion of the layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network by a carrier virtual network system manager from the management systems of the telecommunication networks devoting portions of layer one resources to the carrier virtual network; and

transmitting the information identifying the at least one portion of the layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network from the carrier virtual network system manager to the first network system manager.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein transmitting information identifying the at least one portion of the layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network from the carrier virtual network system manager to the first network system manager comprises exchanging information over a connection between the carrier virtual network system manager the first network system manager.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein exchanging information over a connection between the carrier virtual network system manager and the first network system manager comprises exchanging information over a web based connection.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein exchanging information over a connection between the carrier virtual network system manager and the first network system manager and the first network system manager comprises exchanging information over a dedicated connection for exchanging information regarding which layer one resources are dedicated to the carrier virtual network.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein accessing the at least one portion of the layer one telecommunication resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network comprises accessing the layer one telecommunication resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network over a network connection.

29. A method for establishing a plurality of layer one carrier virtual networks from portions of layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual networks from a plurality of telecommunication networks, each telecommunication network managed by a network system manager, the method comprising;

dedicating at least a portion of layer one resources to each of the plurality of carrier virtual networks;

identifying each of the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network to the network system manager of each telecommunication network that may access that carrier virtual network; and

maintaining information, dynamically received via a connection, identifying the at least a portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by each telecommunication network in a resource allocation record;

receiving a customer request to establish service;

referencing the resource allocation record to ascertain that the customer request can be satisfied by utilizing the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network that is accessible by each telecommunication network, without engaging an external network system manager; and

deploying the at least one portion of the other telecommunication network accessible to each telecommunication network in response to a customer request to establish service, wherein the dedicated layer one resources from external telecommunication networks are freely accessible to each telecommunications network such that each network system manager individually securely manages the dedicated layer one resources as if part of their own telecommunications network

30. The method for establishing a plurality of layer one carrier virtual networks of claim 29 wherein identifying each of the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network to the network system manager of each telecommunication network that may access that carrier virtual network comprises:

transmitting information from the network system manager of each telecommunication network that dedicates a portion of layer one resources to a carrier virtual network to a carrier virtual network system manager, the information identifying each portion of layer one resources of that telecommunication network that are dedicated to a carrier virtual network; and

transmitting information from the carrier virtual network system manager to each of the network system managers that manage a telecommunication network that may access a carrier virtual network, the information identifying each portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network that may be accessed by that telecommunication network.

31. At least one machine readable media containing machine readable code embodied thereon for causing a machine to perform a method for establishing at least one layer one telecommunication carrier virtual network, the method comprising:

receiving information identifying the portions of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network from the network system managers that manage telecommunication network including each portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network; and

transmitting information identifying the portions of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network to the network system managers that manage each telecommunication network that may access that carrier virtual network

maintaining information, dynamically received via a connection, identifying each of the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to a carrier virtual network to the network system manager of each telecommunication network that may access that carrier virtual network;

receiving a customer request to establish service;

referencing the resource allocation record to ascertain that the customer request can be satisfied by utilizing the at least one portion of layer one resources dedicated to the carrier virtual network that is accessible by each telecommunication network, without engaging an external network system manager; and

deploying the at least one portion of the other telecommunication network accessible to each telecommunication network in response to a customer request to establish service, wherein the dedicated layer one resources from external telecommunication networks are freely accessible to each telecommunications network such that each network system manager individually securely manages the dedicated layer one resources as if part of their own telecommunications network.

32. The at least one machine readable media of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises:

maintaining information regarding which portion of layer one resources are dedicated to each carrier virtual network ;

and maintaining information regarding which telecommunication network may access which carrier virtual network.

33. The at least one machine readable media of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving information regarding the level of access at which each portion of layer one resources is dedicated to a virtual carrier network; and

transmitting information regarding the level of access at which each portion of layer one resources is dedicated to a virtual carrier network to the network system manager that manage each telecommunication network that may access that carrier virtual network.

34. The at least one machine readable media of claim 33, wherein the method further comprises:

maintaining information regarding the level of access at which each portion of layer one resources is dedicated to a virtual carrier network.