Multiplex communications – Data flow congestion prevention or control – Control of data admission to the network
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-20
2001-08-07
Kizou, Hassan (Department: 2662)
Multiplex communications
Data flow congestion prevention or control
Control of data admission to the network
C370S235000, C370S252000, C382S156000, C706S021000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272110
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing at least part of a communications network and particularly for managing a customer network.
2. Description of the Prior art
Customers who make extensive use of a service provider's network are often provided with a “virtual private network”. This enables them to control part of the service provider's network under an agreement such as a “service level agreement”. The service level agreement typically specifies the bandwidth levels that the customer is allowed to use and other factors such as quality factors. If this bandwidth level is exceeded at any time by the customer, data can effectively be “discarded”. However, it is very difficult for the customer to predict bandwidth requirements in advance in order to negotiate for a larger bandwidth when this is required. Also, if the service provider allows the agreed bandwidth level to be exceeded by allocating additional resources then penalty payments may be invoked.
If the agreed bandwidth level is exceeded by the customer there is also a problem for the service provider. The service provider has to decide whether to allocate extra resources to the customer and determine whether this is possible and how it can be achieved. Once the decision is made it needs to be implemented. This involves analysis of the communications network to see what bandwidth is available. These decisions are complex because they depend on many factors, such as costs, effects on other customer's allocated resources, and the possibility of charging the customer more for the extra bandwidth to be allocated.
Because different customers have different priorities and requirements it is difficult to develop a generic method of managing a customer network. Also, the customer himself requires to use the method of managing his network and so the method must be simple and easy to use.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for managing at least part of a communications network and particularly for managing a customer network which overcomes or at least mitigates one or more of the problems noted above.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of managing at least part of a communications network comprising the steps of:
(i) predicting a plurality of sequential future values of a time series of data relating to the communications network; and
(ii) comparing each future value with at least one threshold value to produce a result.
A corresponding computer system for managing a communications network comprises:
(i) a predictor arranged to predict a plurality of sequential future values of a time series of data relating to the communications network; and
ii) a comparator arranged to compare each future value with at least one threshold value to produce a result.
A corresponding communications network comprises:
(i) a computer system for managing at least part of the communications network; said computer system comprising:
(ii) a predictor arranged to predict a plurality of sequential future values of a time series of data relating to the communications network; and
(iii) a comparator arranged to compare each future value with at least one threshold value to produce a result.
This provides the advantage that future values of for example, data, video or voice traffic levels in a customer's virtual private network, can be predicted and it can be determined whether these exceed the bandwidth levels agreed (for example, in the service level agreement). The customer is then able to take action in advance of the agreed levels being exceeded. For example, this could involve preventing over use of the communications network or asking the service provider for more resources. Also the service provider has an advantage in that he knows in advance that the agreed levels may be exceeded and he can analyse the network in advance to see if extra bandwidth can be allocated. The service provider could then make an offer to sell extra bandwidth to the customer. Equally, if the agreed bandwidth levels will be under-utilised by the customer then both parties can make use of this information in a similar way.
Preferably, said communications network comprises at least two agents, each agent comprising a computer system provided with at least one communication link to another agent, said computer system being arranged to accept the results of the comparison and further comprising information about the threshold value, a set of criteria and a set of actions. It is also preferred that the method further comprises the steps of:
(i) using the agents to determine a second threshold value on the basis of the result of the comparison, the first threshold value and each agent's set of criteria and set of actions; and
(ii) replacing the first threshold value by the second threshold value. This provides the advantage that the results of the prediction can be used by the agents to renegotiate resources, for example via the service level agreement, on behalf of the customer and the service provider. This simplifies the customer's network management task and enables him to make efficient and cost effective use of his virtual private network. The customer obtains predicted values for his bandwidth levels, for example, and this information is used automatically by his agent on his behalf to renegotiate the service level agreement. Also, the service provider's network management task is simplified and he is able to make efficient and cost effective use of his communications network resources. The same method can be used by different types of customer who have different requirements and priorities by adjusting the set of actions and criteria in the customer's agent. Similarly, the service provider's agent can be modified.
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Cross Stephen Charles
Edwards Timothy John
Kendon Gillian Barbara
Tunnicliffe Andrew
Kizou Hassan
Lee, Mann, Smith, McWilliam Sweeney & Ohlson
Nortel Networks Limited
Pezzlo John
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