Methods and apparatus for virtual network configuration
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a virtual network in a communication system, the communication system comprising a communication network connectable to one or more user communication elements, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving from a given one of the communication elements initiation information indicating that an association of the given communication element with a particular virtual network is to be established, wherein the initiation information is transmitted by the given communication element upon activation of the given communication element; and
responsive to the received information, configuring the virtual network to include the given communication element;
wherein the virtual network is configured in such a manner that it is not required to have any particular dedicated arrangement of physical network infrastructure elements associated therewith; and
wherein the virtual network is configured to include the given communication element under the control of one or more servers associated with the communication network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual network is configured in a communication system in such a manner that the virtual network is not required to have associated therewith any particular physical home location, or more generally any dedicated arrangement of physical network infrastructure elements. The communication system includes a communication network, such as a wireless network or the Internet, connectable to one or more user communication elements. Information is received from a given one of the communication elements indicating association of the given communication element with a particular virtual network, and responsive to the received information the virtual network is configured to include the given communication element. The virtual network may be comprised entirely of remote users. Emulated data network and voice network functionality may be provided to those users without requiring their corresponding entity to have a physical home location for data network and voice network elements, or any particular dedicated arrangement of such physical network infrastructure elements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a virtual network in a communication system, the communication system comprising a communication network connectable to one or more user communication elements, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving from a given one of the communication elements initiation information indicating that an association of the given communication element with a particular virtual network is to be established, wherein the initiation information is transmitted by the given communication element upon activation of the given communication element; and responsive to the received information, configuring the virtual network to include the given communication element; wherein the virtual network is configured in such a manner that it is not required to have any particular dedicated arrangement of physical network infrastructure elements associated therewith; and wherein the virtual network is configured to include the given communication element under the control of one or more servers associated with the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for configuring a virtual network in a communication system, the communication system comprising a communication network connectable to one or more user communication elements, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving from a given one of the communication elements initiation information indicating that an association of the given communication element with a particular virtual network is to be established, wherein the initiation information is transmitted by the given communication element upon activation of the given communication element; and responsive to the received information, configuring the virtual network to include the given communication element; wherein the virtual network is configured in such a manner that it is not required to have any particular dedicated arrangement of physical network infrastructure elements associated therewith; wherein the system is configured to support a plurality of virtual networks at a given point in time, each of at least a subset of the plurality of virtual networks including one or more of the communication elements; and wherein at least one of the plurality of virtual networks is provided under the control of a first network service provider, and at least one other of the plurality of virtual networks is provided under the control of a second network service provider associated with the system and unrelated to the first network service provider, the first and second network service providers sharing at least a portion of a physical network infrastructure of the system.
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18. An apparatus for configuring a virtual network in a communication system, the communication system comprising a communication network connectable to one or more user communication elements, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor-based device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, the device being configurable to receive from a given one of the communication elements initiation information indicating that an association of the given communication element with a particular virtual network is to be established, wherein the initiation information is transmitted by the given communication element upon activation of the given communication element; and
responsive to the received information, configure the virtual network to include the given communication element;wherein the virtual network is configured in such a manner that it is not required to have any particular dedicated arrangement of physical network infrastructure elements associated therewith; and wherein the virtual network is configured to include the given communication element under the control of one or more servers associated with the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A non-transitory machine-readable medium storing one or more programs for use in configuring a virtual network in a communication system, the communication system comprising a communication network connectable to one or more user communication elements, wherein the one or more programs when executed by a processor implement the steps of:
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receiving from a given one of the communication elements initiation information indicating that an association of the given communication element with a particular virtual network is to be established, wherein the initiation information is transmitted by the given communication element upon activation of the given communication element; and responsive to the received information, configuring the virtual network to include the given communication element; wherein the virtual network is configured in such a manner that it is not required to have any particular dedicated arrangement of physical network infrastructure elements associated therewith; and wherein the virtual network is configured to include the given communication element under the control of one or more servers associated with the communication network.
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Specification