Systems and methods for policy-enabled communications networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for policy-based management of a multiprotocol label switching (“MPLS”) network. In an embodiment, a system includes a policy-based network administration system, and the policy-based network administration system includes a plurality of policies. The system also includes an MPLS network, which is coupled to the policy-based network administration system.

1 . A system for policy-based management of a label switching network, the system comprising: 
 a policy-based network administration system, the policy-based network administration system including a plurality of policies; and    the label switching network that is, coupled to the policy-based network administration system.    
   
   
       2 . The system of claim  0 , wherein the plurality of policies include a plurality of network operation policies.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of network operation policies include a virtual private network policy.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of network operation policies include a voice traffic policy.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of network operation policies include a first quality of service policy and a second quality of service policy, the first quality of service policy being different from the second quality of service policy.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the policy-based management system includes a policy decision point; and    the label switching network includes a policy enforcement point, the policy enforcement point being coupled to the policy decision point.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the policy-based management system includes a policy repository, the policy repository coupled to the policy decision point.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the policy-based management system includes a policy management console, the policy management console coupled to one or more of the policy decision point and the policy repository.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the policy enforcement point is a label switch router.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the label switch router is an edge label switch router.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the edge label switch router is part of a label switched path.  
   
   
       12 . A system for policy-based control of a label switching network carrying one or more of voice and data traffic, the system comprising: 
 a central office, the central office including a trunk gateway;    the label switching network, being coupled to the trunk gateway of the central office; and    a network administration system, the network administration system including a plurality of policies, each policy of at least a subset of the plurality of policies to control at least in part operation of the label switching network.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the gateway is one of a line gateway, a trunk gateway, and a service gateway.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the central office includes class five central office equipment.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the network administration system includes one or more of traffic management information and device provisioning information.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of policies include a plurality of traffic management policies.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a call control complex, the call control complex coupled to the network administration system and the label switching network.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the call control complex is to send voice service traffic data to the network administration system.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the network administration system is to send voice service label switched path provisioning policies to the label switching network.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the network administration system is to send virtual private network provisioning policies to the label switching network.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the label switching network is a multiprotocol label switching (“MPLS”), the system further comprising an SS7/AIN network coupled to the call control complex.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the SS7/AIN network and the MPLS network are part of a regional telecommunications company network.  
   
   
       23 . A method for policy-based control of a label switching network, the method comprising: 
 storing a policy to control operation of at least a portion of the label switching network;    retrieving the policy in response to a control input;    sending the policy to the label switching network; and    operating the label switching network based at least in part on the policy.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the policy is a network operation policy.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the network operation policy is a voice traffic policy.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the network operation policy is a virtual private network policy.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the network operation policy is a quality of service policy.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein storing the policy to control operation of at least a portion of the label switching network includes storing the policy in a policy repository.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the control input is received from a network device of the label switching network.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the control input is received from a policy management console.  
   
   
       31 - 36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . A system for policy-based management of a label switching network, the system comprising: 
 the label switching network; and    means for policy-based management of the label switching network, the means for policy-based management of the label switching network coupled to the label switching network.    
   
   
       38 . The system of claim  0 , wherein: 
 the means for policy-based management of the label switching network includes a policy decision point; and    the label switching network includes a policy enforcement point.    
   
   
       39 . The system of claim  0 , wherein the means for policy-based management of the label switching network includes a policy repository.  
   
   
       40 . The system of claim  0 , wherein the means for policy-based management of the label switching network includes one or more of a voice traffic policy, a virtual private network policy, and a quality of service policy.  
   
   
       41 - 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions to be executed by a processor for policy-based control of a label switching network, the plurality of instructions comprising instructions to: 
 store a policy to control operation of at least a portion of the label switching network;    retrieve the policy in response to a control input; and    send the policy to the label switching network.    
   
   
       44 . The computer-readable medium of claim  0 , wherein the policy is selected from the group consisting of a voice traffic management policy, a virtual private network management policy, and a quality of service management policy.  
   
   
       45 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions to monitor operations of the label switching network, the label switching network operating based at least in part on the policy.  
   
   
       46 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43  wherein the label switching network is a multiprotocol label switching (“MPLS”) network.  
   
   
       47 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions for operating at least a portion of the label switching network based at least in part on a first policy by operating at least a portion of the label switching network as one or more voice trunks based at least in part on a first voice traffic policy.  
   
   
       48 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions for operating at least a portion of the label switching network based at least in part on a first policy by operating at least a portion of the label switching network as one or more virtual private networks based at least in part on a first virtual network policy.