Systems, devices and methods of establishing a closed feedback control loop across multiple domains

• US 9,130,760 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Openet Telecom Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Openet Telecom Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lehane, Bart, McNamee, Alan, Dunne, Cameron Ross, Hogan, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US13/452,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20120275573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/1.04, 379/394, 379/88.22, 379/100.05, 379/9.04, 379/403, 705/7.41, 705/54, 705/26.64, 705/7.38, 705/7.39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/55 Testing of service level quality, e.g. simulating service usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system

Abstract

The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems for establishing a closed feedback loop across multiple heterogeneous networks within a telecommunications system, which may include measuring a first attribute of a communication in a first telecommunications domain and sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to a server. The server may receive the first request message, identify a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication based on information in the first request message, generate a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication, and send the second request message to the second telecommunications domain. A computing device in the second telecommunications domain may receive the second request message and adjust the second attribute of the communication to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information across multiple heterogeneous networks within a telecommunications system, comprising:

measuring a first attribute of a communication in a first telecommunications domain that exposes a first public interface for communicating with the first telecommunications domain;

comparing the measured first attribute to an expected value;

sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to a server processor;

receiving the first request message in the server processor;

identifying a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication in response to receiving the first request message, the second telecommunications domain exposing a second public interface for communicating with the second telecommunications domain;

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain;

sending the second request message to the second public interface of the second telecommunications domain;

receiving the second request message in the second public interface; and

adjusting the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

comparing the measured first attribute to an expected value comprises computing a difference value from the measured first attribute and the expected value, the difference value having a sign and a magnitude; and

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain comprises generating the second request message to include information for adjusting the second attribute based on the sign and the magnitude of the difference value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

measuring a first attribute of a communication on a first telecommunications domain comprises measuring a value indicative of a quality of service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication; and

comparing the measured first attribute to an expected value comprises comparing the value indicative of the quality of service with a value indicative of an intended quality of service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

measuring a first attribute of a communication on a first telecommunications domain comprises measuring a charging value indicative of charge associated with a service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication; and

comparing the measured first attribute to an expected value comprises comparing the charging value with a value indicative of an allowed charge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain comprises adjusting a quality of service provided by the second telecommunications domain for the communication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain comprises transferring functionality of the first or second telecommunications domains to another telecommunications domain.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

identifying a third telecommunications domain capable of implementing the functionality to be transferred;

generating a third request message that includes information for transferring the functionality to the third telecommunications domain; and

sending the third request message to the third telecommunications domain to cause the functionality to be transferred to the third telecommunications domain.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

comparing the measured first attribute to an expected value comprises comparing the measured first attribute to an expected value in the first telecommunications domain; and

sending a first request message to a server processor comprises sending a first request message to a server processor when the measured first attribute is not equal to the expected value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

sending a first request message to a server processor comprises sending the first request message to a continuum orchestrator;

sending the second request message to the public interface of the second telecommunications domain comprises sending the second message from the continuum orchestrator; and

the method further comprises forming a closed feedback loop between the first public interface, the second public interface and the continuum orchestrator.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeatedly performing the operations of measuring an attribute of a communication in a first telecommunications domain that exposes a first public interface for communicating with the first telecommunications domain and sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to a server processor.

11. A computing device, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first request message including information relating to a measurement of a first attribute of a communication measured in a first telecommunications domain exposing a first public interface for communicating with the first telecommunications domain;

identifying a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication in response to receiving the first request message, the second telecommunications domain exposing a second public interface for communicating with the second telecommunications domain;

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain; and

sending the second request message to the second public interface of the second telecommunications domain to adjust the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain and alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that identifying a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication in response to receiving the first request message comprises comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value comprises computing a difference value from the information relating to the measurement and the expected value, the difference value having a sign and a magnitude; and

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain comprises generating the second request message to include information for adjusting the second attribute based on the sign and the magnitude of the difference value.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

receiving a first request message including information relating to a measurement of a first attribute of a communication comprises receiving a request message containing a value indicative of a quality of service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication; and

comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value comprises comparing the value indicative of the quality of service with a value indicative of an intended quality of service.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

receiving a first request message including information relating to a measurement of a first attribute of a communication comprises receiving a request message containing a charging value indicative of charge associated with a service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication; and

comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value comprises comparing the charging value with a value indicative of an allowed charge.

16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain comprises generating a request message that includes information for transferring a functionality of the first or second telecommunications domains to another telecommunications domain.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

identifying a third telecommunications domain capable of implementing the functionality to be transferred;

generating a third request message that includes information for transferring the functionality to the third telecommunications domain; and

sending the third request message to the third telecommunications domain to cause the functionality to be transferred to the third telecommunications domain.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations for communicating information across multiple heterogeneous networks within a telecommunications system, the operations comprising:

receiving a first request message including information relating to a measurement of a first attribute of a communication measured in a first telecommunications domain exposing a first public interface for communicating with the first telecommunications domain;

identifying a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication in response to receiving the first request message, the second telecommunications domain exposing a second public interface for communicating with the second telecommunications domain;

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain; and

sending the second request message to the second public interface of the second telecommunications domain to adjust the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain and alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that identifying a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication in response to receiving the first request message comprises comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that:

comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value comprises computing a difference value from the information relating to the measurement and the expected value, the difference value having a sign and a magnitude; and

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain comprises generating the second request message to include information for adjusting the second attribute based on the sign and the magnitude of the difference value.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that:

receiving a first request message including information relating to a measurement of a first attribute of a communication comprises receiving a request message containing a value indicative of a quality of service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication; and

comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value comprises comparing the value indicative of the quality of service with a value indicative of an intended quality of service.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that:

receiving a first request message including information relating to a measurement of a first attribute of a communication comprises receiving a request message containing a charging value indicative of charge associated with a service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication; and

comparing the information relating to the measurement of the first attribute to an expected value comprises comparing the charging value with a value indicative of an allowed charge.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain comprises generating a request message that includes information for transferring a functionality of the first or second telecommunications domains to another telecommunications domain.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a third telecommunications domain capable of implementing the functionality to be transferred;

generating a third request message that includes information for transferring the functionality to the third telecommunications domain; and

sending the third request message to the third telecommunications domain to cause the functionality to be transferred to the third telecommunications domain.

25. A communication system, comprising:

a first computing device comprising a first device memory and a first device processor coupled to the first device memory;

a second computing device comprising a second device memory and a second device processor coupled to the second device memory; and

a communications server comprising a server memory and a server processor coupled to the server memory,

wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

measuring a first attribute of a communication in a first telecommunications domain that exposes a first public interface for communicating with the first telecommunications domain; and

sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to the communications server,

wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving the first request message from the first public interface of the first telecommunications domain;

identifying a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication in response to receiving the first request message, the second telecommunications domain exposing a second public interface for communicating with the second telecommunications domain;

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain; and

sending the second request message to the second public interface of the second telecommunications domain to adjust the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain and alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain, and

wherein the second device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving the second request message in the second public interface of the second telecommunications domain; and

adjusting the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain.

26. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising comparing the measured first attribute to an expected value to generate a difference value having a sign and a magnitude, and wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to the communications server comprises sending a request message including the difference value to the communications server.

27. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that measuring a first attribute of a communication on a first telecommunications domain comprises measuring a value indicative of a quality of service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication.

28. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that measuring a first attribute of a communication on a first telecommunications domain comprises measuring a charging value indicative of charge associated with a service received in the first telecommunications domain for the communication.

29. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that:

identifying a second telecommunications domain involved in the communication comprises comparing the information relating to the measured first attribute included in the received first request message to an expected value to compute a difference value having a sign and a magnitude; and

generating a second request message that includes information for adjusting a second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain comprises generating the second request message to include information for adjusting the second attribute based on the sign and the magnitude of the difference value.

30. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the second device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that adjusting the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain comprises adjusting a quality of service provided by the second telecommunications domain for the communication.

31. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the second device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that adjusting the second attribute of the communication in the second telecommunications domain to alter the first attribute of the communication in the first telecommunications domain comprises transferring functionality of the first or second telecommunications domains to another telecommunications domain.

32. The communication system of claim 31, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

identifying a third telecommunications domain capable of implementing the functionality to be transferred;

generating a third request message that includes information for transferring the functionality to the third telecommunications domain; and

sending the third request message to the third telecommunications domain to cause the functionality to be transferred to the third telecommunications domain.

33. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to the communications server comprises sending the first request message to a continuum orchestrator.

34. The communication system of claim 25, wherein the first device processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

repeatedly performing the operations of measuring an attribute of a communication in a first telecommunications domain that exposes a first public interface for communicating with the first telecommunications domain and sending a first request message including information relating to the measured first attribute to the communications server.