System, method and article of manufacture for implementing a hybrid network

• US 6,611,867 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman-Amuah, Michel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Application Number:
  US09/386,898
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 709/237,224,223,226,220,217-218,235,249,201 455/428 370/352,353,354,355,356
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5029 Service quality level-based billing, e.g. dependent on measured service level customer is charged more or less
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• 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 41/5064 Customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5074 Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for implementing a hybrid network. Orders for network capacity are issued based on a forecasted demand in order to develop a hybrid network. The hybrid network is analyzed o identify network problems. Then, the hybrid network is provisioned in accordance with the network problems and service requests. Usage of the hybrid network is determined and network usage control functions are initiated based on the determined usage.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a hybrid network comprising the steps of:

(a) issuing orders for network capacity based on a forecasted demand in order to develop a hybrid network;

(b) analyzing the hybrid network for identifying network problems;

(c) provisioning the hybrid network in accordance with the network problems and service requests; and

(d) determining usage of the hybrid network and initiating network usage control functions based on the determined usage.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein provisioned portions of the hybrid network are assigned identifiers.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising the step of managing hardware of the hybrid network by performing duties selected from the group of duties consisting of installing the hardware of the hybrid network, performing work on the hardware of the hybrid network, and repairing the hardware of the hybrid network.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising the step of maintaining historic data of the network problems.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising the step of providing a notification of the usage of the hybrid network if said usage is above a predetermined amount.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of the method are performed using sub-processes including network capacity/trunk planning, software and data building management, scheduling management, logistics management, workforce management, security management, problem analysis and resolution, network performance monitoring and analysis, network traffic monitoring and analysis, network configuration and routing, network test management, network alarm and event correlation, and network usage data collection and consolidation.

7. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for implementing a hybrid network comprising:

(a) a code segment that issues orders for network capacity based on a forecasted demand in order to develop a hybrid network;

(b) a code segment that analyzes the hybrid network for identifying network problems;

(c) a code segment that provisions the hybrid network in accordance with the network problems and service requests; and

(d) a code segment that determines usage of the hybrid network and initiating network usage control functions based on the determined usage.

8. A computer program as recited in claim 7, wherein provisioned portions of the hybrid network are assigned identifiers.

9. A computer program as recited in claim 7, and further comprising a code segment that manages hardware of the hybrid network by performing duties selected from the group of duties consisting of installing the hardware of the hybrid network, performing work on the hardware of the hybrid network, and repairing the hardware of the hybrid network.

10. A computer program as recited in claim 7, and further comprising a code segment that maintains historic data of the network problems.

11. A computer program as recited in claim 7, and further comprising a code segment that provides a notification of the usage of the hybrid network if said usage is above a predetermined amount.

12. A computer program as recited in claim 7, wherein the code segments use sub-processes including network capacity/trunk planning, software and data building management, scheduling management, logistics management, workforce management, security management, problem analysis and resolution, network performance monitoring and analysis, network traffic monitoring and analysis, network configuration and routing, network test management, network alarm and event correlation, and network usage data collection and consolidation.

13. A system for implementing a hybrid network comprising:

(a) logic that issues orders for network capacity based on a forecasted demand in order to develop a hybrid network;

(b) logic that analyzes the hybrid network for identifying network problems;

(c) logic that provisions the hybrid network in accordance with the network problems and service requests; and

(d) logic that determines usage of the hybrid network and initiating network usage control functions based on the determined usage.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein provisioned portions of the hybrid network are assigned identifiers.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, and further comprising logic that manages hardware of the hybrid network by performing duties selected from the group of duties consisting of installing the hardware of the hybrid network, performing work on the hardware of the hybrid network, and repairing the hardware of the hybrid network.

16. A system as recited in claim 13, and further comprising logic that maintains historic data of the network problems.

17. A system as recited in claim 13, and further comprising logic that provides a notification of the usage of the hybrid network if said usage is above a predetermined amount.

18. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the logic uses sub-processes including network capacity/trunk planning, software and data building management, scheduling management, logistics management, workforce management, security management, problem analysis and resolution, network performance monitoring and analysis, network traffic monitoring and analysis, network configuration and routing, network test management, network alarm and event correlation, and network usage data collection and consolidation.