US6446200B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Service management
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
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Filing: 1999-03-25
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Granted: 2002-09-03
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Expires: 2019-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A system for collecting and aggregating data from network entities for a data consuming application is described. The system includes a data collector layer to receive network flow information from the network entities and to produce records based on the information. The system also includes a flow aggregation layer fed from the data collection layer and coupled to a storage device. The flow aggregation layer receiving records produced by the data collector layer and aggregates received records. The system can also include an equipment interface layer coupled to the data collector layer and a distribution layer to obtain selected information stored in the storage device and to distribute the select information to a requesting, data consuming application.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Ball
- 👤 Darryl P. Black
- 👤 Donald Opperman
- 👤 Kevin Farrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/14; H04L12/1403; H04L12/1485; H04L41/00; H04L41/50; H04L41/5003; H04L41/5029; H04L41/5041; H04L41/5054; H04L41/5061; H04L43/00; H04L43/02; H04L43/026; H04L43/06; H04L43/062; H04L43/08; H04L43/0823; H04L43/0829; H04L43/50; H04L43/55; H04L43/04; H04L43/045; H04L43/10; H04L43/106; H04L43/12; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A computer implemented method for managing network service level, the method comprising: receiving, from a subscriber, a request for a level of network service, determining from the request for a selected service configuration characteristics, for configuring network devices to provide the requested level of network service to the subscriber, configuring the network resources with the determined configuration characteristics to provide the selected service; and monitoring the service provided.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A computer implemented method for managing network service level, the method comprising: receiving, from a subscriber, a request for a level of network service, determining from the request for a selected service configuration characteristics, for configuring network devices to provide the requested level of network service to the subscriber, configuring the network resources with the determined configuration characteristics to provide the selected service; and monitoring the service provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining further comprises: decomposing by a policy server, a service contract that specifies the level of service, to produce a template that defines the service represented by the service contract; sending the template to a service provisioning application that produces the configuration file; and configuring further comprises: sending the configuration file out to the network to configure the network for the level of service based upon that contract.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring further comprises: collecting data from the network and producing a flow description of the subscribers use of the network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the request is provided by a service agreement that specifies the level of service and which is decomposed, to produce a template that defines the service represented by the service contract.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein configuring comprises: provisioning a service to send requests to obtain an appropriate active policy, rules and domain information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 wherein configuring comprises: deployed configuration information at the various network devices at point where the service is produced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 5 wherein monitoring comprises: using an accounting process to monitor the level of service by producing appropriate network accounting records; comparing the policies to the actual levels of service provided to the customer by examining network accounting records that are produced by the customer's usage of the network; and billing the subscriber based on the provided service rather than the requested service.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 wherein using the accounting process uses the policy information to determine information that can be sent to a billing system or to a chargeback system to adjust billings for the service.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the policy is a set of rules; and wherein the method further comprises: using the rules to determine what kind of network accounting records to generate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the information produced by using the accounting process is described using data flows.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
60 words
A system comprising: a policy enabled network server that can decompose a request for a level of service for the network and produce a template that defines the service; a service provisioning process to produce a network configuration from the template that defines the service; and an accounting process that monitors the level of service and produces network accounting records.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
60 words
A system comprising: a policy enabled network server that can decompose a request for a level of service for the network and produce a template that defines the service; a service provisioning process to produce a network configuration from the template that defines the service; and an accounting process that monitors the level of service and produces network accounting records.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the network accounting records are used by a billing application to adjust billing based on the level of service provided as determined by the accounting process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the template from the policy server is fed to the service provisioning process to produce a configuration file that is sent out to a network to configure network for the level of service based upon the request.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the request is provided by a service agreement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the service provisioning process sends requests to the policy server to obtain an appropriate active policy, and obtaining rules and domain information from the policy server.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the configuration is deployed at the various network devices at point where the service is produced.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the accounting process monitors the level of service by producing appropriate network accounting records; and compares the policies produced by the policy server to the actual levels of service provided to the customer by examining network accounting records that are produced by the customer's usage of the network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the accounting process uses the policy information from the policy server to deliver billing information to a billing system or to a chargeback system that can may adjustments to billings for the service.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the policy server produces a set of rules; and communicates the rules to the accounting process so that the accounting process can determine what kind of records to generate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the information produced by the accounting process is described using data flows.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-02 | 2006-03-04 | 2006-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-02 | 2010-03-04 | 2010-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-02 | 2014-03-04 | 2014-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |