Dynamic Configuration of Network Devices to Enable Data Transfers

Abstract

A system and method for optimizing the use of network resources is described. In one embodiment, an enterprise first requests provisioning of network resources for a particular transaction. Responsive to that request, network resources are dynamically configured to meet the enterprise's request. When the transaction is complete, the network resources are returned to a default state.

1 . A method for optimizing data transmissions, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request to move data via a path between a first point and a second point;    receiving a request for bandwidth between the first point and the second point for a particular length of time;    identifying at least a first network device configurable to assist in providing both the requested path and the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point;    retrieving at least a first configuration record from a central repository of configuration records that corresponds to the at least a first network device, wherein the retrieved configuration record includes configuration information about the at least a first network device;    altering the at least a first configuration record in accordance with the requested path and the requested bandwidth;    generating, using the altered configuration record, commands to configure the at least one network device so as to enable the at least one network device to assist in providing the requested path and the requested bandwidth; and    sending the commands to the at least a first network device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  including 
 verifying the request for bandwidth complies with a particular service level agreement in place for a customer requesting the bandwidth.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  including accessing service level agreement information responsive to a completion of the data moving from the first point to the second point, and configuring the identified at least a first network device to disable the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point as defined by the service level agreement information.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying includes identifying a plurality of network devices configurable to assist in providing both the requested path and the requested bandwidth, and wherein the retrieving includes retrieving a plurality of configuration records from the central repository of configuration records, each of the plurality of configuration records including information that is unique to a corresponding one of the plurality of network devices.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying at least a first network device comprises the step of: 
 identifying at least a first optical device.    
   
   
       6 . A method for optimizing data transmissions, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request to move data via a path between a first point and a second point;    receiving a request for bandwidth between the first point and the second point;    identifying at least a first network device configurable to assist in providing the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point;    retrieving at least a first configuration record that corresponds to the at least a first network device, wherein the retrieved configuration record includes configuration information about the at least a first network device;    altering the at least a first configuration record in accordance with the requested path and the requested bandwidth;    generating, using the altered configuration record, device-specific commands to the at least one network device;    configuring, using the commands, the identified at least a first network device so as to enable the at least a first network device to assist in providing the requested bandwidth and the requested path between the first point and the second point; and    responsive to a predefined event, configuring the identified at least a first network device to disable the requested path and the requested bandwidth between the first point and the second point in accordance with a customer service level agreement that governs the requests for the path and the bandwidth.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predefined event is a completion of the movement of the data from the first point and the second point.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the request for bandwidth includes a request for a select volume of data.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the request for bandwidth includes a request for a particular data priority.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the at least a first network device to assist in providing the path as a loosely defined path.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the at least a first network device to assist in providing the path as a strictly defined path.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the at least a first network device with an awareness of other source locations traffic needing to route traffic to its representative location; and 
 wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the at least a first network device with an awareness of other destination locations that it may need to route traffic to.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the identified at least a first network device an ability to designate traffic as a predefined type for movement through the network.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the identified at least a first network device an ability to designate the traffic as a predefined type in accordance with agreed and defined data types as required for routing through a network.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the identified at least a first network device an ability to designate the traffic as a predefined type for movement through the network in fulfillment of conditions in the customer service level agreement.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable at least a first network device an ability to filter traffic, wherein the filtering is carried out in accordance with a constraint selected from the group consisting of a predefined traffic priority and fulfillment of a condition in the customer service level agreement.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the generated device-specific commands are configured to enable the identified at least a first network device an awareness of predefined policies required for movement through the network in accordance with agreed and defined data designations or in fulfillment of a condition in the customer service level agreement.  
   
   
       18 . A system for managing a transmission of data in a network comprising: 
 a repository for a plurality of configuration records, wherein each of the plurality of configuration records includes configuration information for a corresponding one of a plurality of network devices in a network; and    a the network manager unit communicatively coupled to each of the network devices and to the repository of configuration records wherein the network management component is configured to: 
 receive a request for a path between a first point and a second point for the transmission of the data;  
 identify a collection of the plurality of network devices that are configurable to assist in providing the requested path;  
 retrieve and alter each of a portion of the plurality of configuration records in accordance with the requested path wherein each of the collection of the plurality of configuration records corresponds to one of the portion of the plurality of network devices;  
 generate using the altered configuration records, device-specific commands to configure each of the collection of the plurality of network devices so as to enable the collection of the plurality of network devices to assist in providing the requested path; and  
 send the device-specific commands to each of the collection of the plurality of network devices.  
   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the network manager unit is configured to receive a request to handle the transmission of the data with a particular priority, and wherein the network manager unit is configured to generate, in response to the particular priority complying with a service level agreement that governs the request, the device specific commands so as to enable each of the network devices in the collection of the plurality of network devices to assist the transmission of the data with the particular priority.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the network manager unit is configured to receive a request for a particular level of bandwidth for the transmission of the data, and wherein the network manager unit is configured to generate, in response to the particular level of bandwidth complying with a service level agreement that governs the request, the device specific commands so as to enable each of the network devices in the collection of the plurality of network devices to assist the transmission of the data with the particular level of bandwidth.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the network manager unit is configured to receive a request for a particular volume of data for the transmission of the data, and wherein the network manager unit is configured to generate, in response to the particular level of bandwidth complying with a service level agreement that governs the request, the device specific commands so as to enable each of the network devices in the collection of the plurality of network devices to assist the transmission of the data with the particular level of bandwidth.