Method and apparatus for cloud provisioning of communication services

• US 9,749,224 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bitar, Nabil N.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUOC H
• Application Number:
  US14/230,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20150281046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 709238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

An approach for cloud provisioning of consumer services based on requested services. The approach uses customer request for services and current network utilization patterns to most efficiently and effectively provision network resources. For example, a network manager establishes one or more terms for a cloud provider based on one or more provider network provisions. The network manager further determines a customer profile subscription based on customer credentials, cloud provider credentials, and a combination thereof. Then, the network manager delivers one or more credentials based on the cloud provider, and generates a routing path to the cloud provider based on the subscription and/or service request.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing one or more terms of service for each customer of a cloud provider based on requirements associated with each customer and one or more cloud provider network provisions;

receiving, from a customer of the cloud provider, a request for one or more communication services provided by the cloud provider;

determining a customer profile corresponding to the customer based on customer identification included in the request;

identifying the one or more terms of service for the customer based on the customer profile;

identifying one or more credentials based on the customer profile;

validating the one or more credentials through the cloud provider; and

generating, in response to validating the one or more credentials, a routing path to the cloud provider based on the requested one or more communication services, the one or more terms of service for the customer, and current network utilization associated with the cloud provider.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the routing path is generated based further on one or more of:

the one or more provider network provisions, the cloud provider, a traffic level, a traffic direction, or a traffic type.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more provider network provisions include one or more of:

a customer identifier, a shared secret, or service profile information.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the service profile information includes one or more of:

one or more services that can be connected, one or more services that are connected, a location, or a bandwidth.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the customer profile is additionally based on one or more of:

a customer identification, one or more networks, or one or more devices.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more credentials is additionally based on the one or more provider network provisions.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

regenerating the routing path based on one or more changes in a usage of the provider network.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the one or more changes in the usage include one or more of:

a router error, a traffic level having been met, or a subscription change.

9. A method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a notification of changes in the usage of the provider network to management systems, nodes, or routers of the provider network.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to;

establish one or more terms of service for each customer of a cloud provider based on requirements associated with each customer and one or more cloud provider network provisions;

receive, from a customer of the cloud provider, a request for one or more communication services provided by the cloud provider;

determine a customer profile corresponding to the customer based on customer identification included in the request;

identify the one or more terms of service for the customer based on the customer profile;

identify one or more credentials based on the customer profile;

validate the one or more credentials through the cloud provider; and

generate, based on validating the one or more credentials, a routing path to the cloud provider based on the requested one or more communication services, the one or more terms of service for the customer, and current network utilization associated with the cloud provider.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the routing path is generated additionally based on one or more of:

the one or more provider network provisions, the cloud provider, a traffic level, a traffic direction, or a traffic type.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more provider network provisions include one or more of:

a customer identifier, a shared secret, or service profile information.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein the service profile information includes one or more of:

one or more services that can be connected, one or more services that are connected, a location, or a bandwidth.

14. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the customer profile is additionally based on at least one or more of:

a customer identification, one or more networks, or one or more devices.

15. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more credentials are identified additionally based on the one or more provider network provisions.

16. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

regenerate the routing path based on one or more changes in the provider network usage.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more changes in the provider network usage include one or more of:

a router error, a traffic level having been met, or a subscription change.

18. A system comprising:

a network manager, implemented in hardware, configured to;

establish one or more terms of service for each customer of a cloud provider based on requirements associated with each customer and one or more cloud provider network provisions;

receive, from a customer of the cloud provider, a request for one or more communication services provided by the cloud provider;

determine a customer profile corresponding to the customer based on customer identification included in the request;

identify the one or more terms of service for the customer based on the customer profile;

identify one or more credentials based on the customer profile;

validate one or more credentials based on the cloud provider; and

generate, based on validating the one or more credentials, a routing path to the cloud provider based on the requested one or more communication services, the one or more terms of service for the customer, and current network utilization associated with the cloud provider.

19. A system of claim 18, wherein the routing path is generated based further on one or more of:

the one or more provider network provisions, the cloud provider, a traffic level, a traffic direction, or a traffic type.

20. A system of claim 18, wherein the one or more provider network provisions include one or more of:

a customer identifier, a shared secret, or service profile information.