Methods and systems for provisioning logical circuits for intermittent use in a data network

• US 8,509,118 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, William, Massengill, David, Hollingsworth, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Chirag
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIVERS, ASHLEY L
• Application Number:
  US13/690,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20130156042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/10 Routing in connection-oriented networks, e.g. X.25 or ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/3065 for real time traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling

Abstract

A customer order is received for routing data for a time period, and provisioning a logical circuit for routing the data during the time period. The logical circuit is provisioned through a first LATA, an IEC, and a second LATA. The logical circuit includes first variable communication paths that automatically reroute from a first set of switches to a second set of switches of the first LATA while maintaining the logical circuit, second variable communication paths to route the data through the second LATA, and fixed communication paths to route the data between the first LATA, the second LATA, and the IEC. The second set of switches form a route associated with the first variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting. The logical circuit is added to a deletion batch, and disconnected at the end of the time period.

Claims

1. A machine accessible storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

receiving a customer order for routing data in a data network for a time period;

provisioning a logical circuit in the data network for routing the data during the time period, wherein provisioning the logical circuit comprises, without manual intervention, provisioning the logical circuit through a first local access and transport area, an inter-exchange carrier, and a second local access and transport area, and wherein the logical circuit includes first variable communication paths to route the data through the first local access and transport area in which the first variable communication paths automatically reroute from first input and output ports of a first set of switches of the first local access and transport area to second input and output ports of a second set of switches of the first local access and transport area while maintaining the logical circuit, second variable communication paths to route the data through the second local access and transport area, and fixed communication paths to route the data between the first local access and transport area, the second local access and transport area, and the inter-exchange carrier, the second set of switches forming a route associated with the first variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting;

adding the logical circuit to a deletion batch; and

disconnecting the logical circuit at the end of the time period.

2. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 1, wherein provisioning the logical circuit comprises provisioning the logical circuit prior to the start of the time period.

3. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 2, wherein provisioning the logical circuit prior to the start of the time period comprises:

determining a maintenance window prior to the start of the time period; and

provisioning the logical circuit during the maintenance window.

4. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 1, wherein disconnecting the logical circuit at the end of the time period comprises disconnecting the logical circuit following the end of the time period.

5. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 4, wherein disconnecting the logical circuit following the end of the time period comprises:

determining a maintenance window following the end of the time period; and

disconnecting the logical circuit during the maintenance window.

6. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises generating trap data for the logical circuit during the time period, wherein the trap data comprises utilization statistics for the logical circuit.

7. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 6, wherein the utilization statistics comprise the percent utilization of the logical circuit during the time period.

8. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 1, wherein the customer order comprises a quality of service parameter for the logical circuit.

9. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 8, wherein the quality of service parameter comprises at least one of:

an unspecified bit rate;

a variable bit rate; and

a committed bit rate.

10. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 1, wherein the logical circuit is a permanent virtual circuit.

11. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 1, wherein the logical circuit is a switched virtual circuit.

12. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second customer order for routing second data in the data network for a second time period, wherein the customer order is received at a first time of receipt and the second customer order is received at a second time of receipt;

selecting a first maintenance window to provision the logical circuit based on the first time of receipt being within a first time of receipt range corresponding to the first maintenance window;

when the second time of receipt corresponding to the second customer order is within the first time of receipt range, selecting the first maintenance window to provision a second logical circuit corresponding to the second customer order; and

when the second time of receipt corresponding to the second customer order is not within the first time of receipt range, selecting a second maintenance window to provision the second logical circuit.

13. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 12, wherein the first maintenance window occurs during a time range during which a plurality of logical connections assigned to the first maintenance window are provisioned based on customer orders corresponding to the plurality of logical connections having been received during the first time of receipt range.

14. A machine accessible storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

receiving a customer order for routing data in a data network during the time period;

determining a maintenance window prior to the start of the time period;

provisioning a logical circuit during the maintenance window, wherein provisioning the logical circuit comprises, without manual intervention, provisioning the logical circuit through a first local access and transport area, an inter-exchange carrier, and a second local access and transport area, and wherein the logical circuit includes first variable communication paths to route the data through the first local access and transport area in which the first variable communication paths automatically reroute from first input and output ports of a first set of switches of the first local access and transport area to second input and output ports of a second set of switches of the first local access and transport area while maintaining the logical circuit, second variable communication paths to route the data through the second local access and transport area, and fixed communication paths to route the data between the first local access and transport area, the second local access and transport area, and the inter-exchange carrier, the second set of switches forming a route associated with the first variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time at which the first variable communication paths are automatically rerouted;

determining a maintenance window following the end of the time period; and

disconnecting the logical circuit during the maintenance window.

15. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second customer order for routing second data in the data network for a second time period, wherein the customer order is received at a first time of receipt and the second customer order is received at a second time of receipt;

selecting a first maintenance window to provision the logical circuit based on the first time of receipt being within a first time of receipt range corresponding to the first maintenance window;

when the second time of receipt corresponding to the second customer order is within the first time of receipt range, selecting the first maintenance window to provision a second logical circuit corresponding to the second customer order; and

when the second time of receipt corresponding to the second customer order is not within the first time of receipt range, selecting a second maintenance window to provision the second logical circuit.

16. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 15, wherein the first maintenance window occurs during a time range during which a plurality of logical connections assigned to the first maintenance window are provisioned based on customer orders corresponding to the plurality of logical connections having been received during the first time of receipt range.

17. A machine accessible storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

establishing a communications path for a logical circuit in a data network;

provisioning the logical circuit for routing data during a time period based on a customer order, wherein provisioning the logical circuit comprises, without manual intervention, provisioning the logical circuit through a first local access and transport area, an inter-exchange carrier, and a second local access and transport area, and wherein the logical circuit includes first variable communication paths to route the data through the first local access and transport area in which the first variable communication paths automatically reroute from first input and output ports of a first set of switches of the first local access and transport area to second input and output ports of a second set of switches of the first local access and transport area while maintaining the logical circuit, second variable communication paths to route the data through the second local access and transport area, and fixed communication paths to route the data between the first local access and transport area, the second local access and transport area, and the inter-exchange carrier, the second set of switches forming a route associated with the first variable communication paths that is not predefined and that is dynamically defined at a time of automatic rerouting of the first variable communication paths;

adding the logical circuit to a deletion batch; and

disconnecting the logical circuit following the end of the time period.

18. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 17, wherein provisioning the logical circuit comprises provisioning the logical circuit prior to the start of the time period.

19. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 18, wherein provisioning the logical circuit prior to the start of the time period comprises:

determining a maintenance window prior to the start of the time period; and

provisioning the logical circuit during the maintenance window.

20. The machine accessible storage device or storage disc of claim 17, wherein disconnecting the logical circuit following the end of the time period comprises:

determining a maintenance window following the end of the time period; and

disconnecting the logical circuit during the maintenance window.