System and method for provisioning resources of a packet network based on collected network performance information

• US 8,223,655 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heinz, John M., McNaughton, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENSAH, PRINCE AKWASI
• Application Number:
  US11/809,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20080049640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 370236-238, 370241-253, 455403-408, 455/550, 455/561, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/115.1
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/087 Jitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/82 Miscellaneous aspects

Abstract

A system and method for provisioning resources of a packet network, including monitoring at least one network performance information parameter associated with communications of data packets. The at least one network performance information parameter(s) may be compared with at least one respective threshold value indicative of degradation of communications of the data packets. A determination may be made that the network performance information parameter(s) crosses the respective threshold value(s). In response to determining that the network performance information parameter(s) crosses the respective threshold value(s), a network resource may be provisioned to compensate for the degradation of communications of the data packets.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning resources of a packet network, said method comprising:

monitoring at least one network performance information parameter associated with communications of data packets;

comparing the at least one network performance information parameter with at least one first respective threshold value indicative of degradation of communications of the data packets;

determining that the at least one network performance information parameter crosses the at least one first respective threshold value;

in response to the at least one network performance information parameter crossing the at least one respective threshold value, performing a first provisioning, using a microprocessor, of network resources to compensate for the degradation of communications of the data packets;

comparing the at least one network performance information parameter with at least one second respective threshold value indicative of communications of the data packets; and

in response to the at least one network performance information parameter crossing the at least one second respective threshold value, performing a second provisioning of network resources to compensate for the degradation of communications of the data packets, wherein at least one of the first provisioning of the network resources and the second provisioning of the network resources includes slowing rate of communications of data packets that include non-real-time content and halting provisioning of new communication sessions over a network node associated with the degradation of communications of the data packets.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring the at least one network performance information parameter includes monitoring at least one network performance information parameter associated with communications of data packets including real-time content.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein provisioning includes load balancing communications of the data packets across multiple network resources.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein provisioning includes stopping communications of data packets including non-real-time content.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein provisioning includes notifying an operator of the network of a network resource causing the degradation of communications of the data packets.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the at least one network performance information parameter crosses back over the at least one respective threshold value; and

in response to the at least one network performance information parameter crossing back over the at least one respective threshold value, unprovisioning the network resource.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein provisioning includes sending a message to another communications carrier to notify the other communications carrier of degradation in the packet network.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising initiating a trace route signal to determine a specific network resource that has deteriorated.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein initiating the trace route includes initiating a modified trace route signal that includes at least one performance information packet communicated over a duration of time to collect network performance information over that duration of time.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein initiating the trace route signal includes initiating a trace route signal that extends over an entire call path.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein initiating the trace route signal causes the trace route signal to be communicated over a second packet network.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising receiving feedback from the second packet network in response to receiving the trace route signal.

13. A system for provisioning resources of a packet network, said system comprising:

a database configured to store network performance information of a packet network;

an input/output (I/O) unit in communication with said packet network and configured to communicate commands to network resources operating on the packet network; and

a processing unit in communication with said database and I/O unit, said processing unit configured to;

monitor at least one network performance information parameter associated with communications of data packets;

compare the at least one network performance information parameter with at least one first respective threshold value indicative of degradation of communications of the data packets;

determine that the at least one network performance information parameter crosses the at least one first respective threshold value;

provision a network resource to compensate for the degradation of communications of the data packets in response to the at least one network performance information parameter crossing the at least one respective threshold value, wherein provisioning the network resource includes stopping communications of data packets that include non-real-time content and sending a message to another communications carrier to notify the other communications carrier of degradation in the packet network;

determine that the at least one network performance information parameter crosses back over the at least one respective threshold value; and

unprovision the network resource in response to the at least one network performance information parameter crossing back over the at least one respective threshold value.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further configured to monitor at least one network performance information parameter associated with communications of data packets including real-time content.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further configured to load balance communications of the data packets across multiple network resources.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further configured to slow rate of communications of data packets including non-real-time content.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further configured to notify an operator of the network of a network resource causing the degradation of communications of the data packets.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

compare the at least one network performance information parameter with at least one second respective threshold value indicative of communications of the data packets; and

provision a second network resource to compensate for the degradation of communications of the data packets in response to the at least one network performance information parameter crossing the at least one second respective threshold value.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further configured to initiate a trace route signal to determine a specific network resource that has deteriorated.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said processing unit is further configured to modified trace route signal that includes at least one performance information packet communicated over a duration of time to collect network performance information over that duration of time.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the trace route signal includes a trace route signal that extends over an entire call path.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the trace route signal is communicated over a second packet network.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said processing unit is further configured to receive feedback from the second packet network in response to receiving the trace route signal and store the feedback in said storage unit.