Methods and systems for managing network infrastructure change including obtaining approval for the network infrastructure changes

• US 6,938,081 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mir, Majid
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue, Larry D.
• Application Number:
  US09/602,665
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/226, 717/171, 707/10, 707/102
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator

Abstract

The systems, methods, and means described herein are designed to promote the efficient and prompt approval of proposed changes to a network and the effective implementation of customer notification of those proposed changes among other things. Specifically, the systems, methods, and means described herein include steps for creating a change plan that comprises instructions that meet minimum requirements about how a change is to be performed, organizing a change into one of a plurality of change categories based on the nature of the change to be performed, providing said change plan to affected entities for approval, and implementing said change plan after said approval has been provided. In carrying out these steps, the change category provides rules about who should be selected as affected entities, how the affected entities should be notified of the change, and the structure that should be utilized for organizing the change.

Claims

1. A method for managing the changing of a network infrastructure, comprising:

opening a change ticket that includes a change plan having instructions about how a change is to be performed;

associating said change ticket with one of a plurality of change categories corresponding to a type of change that is described in the change plan;

providing said change ticket to affected entities for approval, wherein the affected entities comprise at least one entity other than a system administrator; and

implementing said change plan after the affected entities have approved the change ticket;

wherein said affected entities are selected based on, and said change ticket is approved in accordance with, rules related to each of said change categories into which said change ticket was associated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said affected entities are unknown to at least one other entity involved in said method.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said change ticket is accessible by a work-flow engine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said work-flow engine is implemented through use of a computer system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said affected entities comprise at least one of a customer, a duty manager, a change coordinator, a change approver, and an operations center.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said change categories include at least one of a scheduled change, an unscheduled change, and an event response.

7. A system for managing the changing of a network infrastructure, comprising:

a work-flow engine;

a change ticket comprising a change plan including instructions about how a change is to be performed, said change ticket being present in a form that can be used by said work-flow engine; and

responsible entities connected to said work-flow engine whose approval of the change ticket is required before said change plan can be implemented, wherein the responsible entities comprise at least one entity other than a system administrator;

wherein said change ticket is organized into one of a plurality of change categories based on the nature of said change, and said work-flow engine provides said change ticket to said responsible entities for approval.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said work-flow engine comprises a computer system.

9. A method for managing the changing a network infrastructure, comprising:

a change author having the duties of proposing a proposed change and authoring a change ticket;

a change sponsor having the duties of seeking approval for said proposed change from affected entities, which comprise at least one entity other than a system administrator;

a change coordinator having the duties of coordinating and carrying out the proposed change and;

an operations center having the duties related to the monitoring of said network;

wherein said change author authors said change ticket to include a change plan for implementing said proposed change, said change ticket being passed to said change sponsor when said change author has completed its duties, said change sponsor passing said change ticket to said change coordinator when said change sponsor has completed its duties, and said change coordinator passing on said change ticket to said operations center when said change coordinator has completed its duties, said operations center being responsible for closing said change ticket.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said change ticket is a computer construct which can be passed through electronic means.

11. A means for managing the changing of the infrastructure of a network comprising:

authoring means for generating a change ticket having a change plan that includes instructions about how a change is to be performed;

change matrix means for associating said change with one of a plurality of change categories;

communication means for providing said change ticket to affected entities for approval, wherein the affected entities comprise at least one entity other than a system administrator; and

agent means for implementing said change plan after the affected entities have approved the change ticket;

wherein said affected entities are selected based on, and said change ticket is approved in accordance with, rules related to said change category into which said change was associated.