Assistant server and path connection control method for service provider's network

Abstract

In a communication network having a communication node connected to a plurality of service providers' networks, a network controller connected to the communication node, and a server for supplying network control information to the network controller, the server stores definition information of communication services provided by the service providers. When a service request specifying a communication path to be assured is received from the user terminal, the server retrieves communication service definition information matched with the service request and notifies the search result to the user terminal. In response to a notification of agreement from the user terminal, the server transmits network control information for setting a communication path to the network controller and the network controller supplies communication path control information generated on the basis of the network control information to the communication node.

1 . A communication path setting method performed by a network control system for setting a communication path between a first terminal connected to a first communication equipment and a second terminal connected to a second communication equipment, through at least one of communication networks that belong to different telecommunication companies and are connected between said first and second communication equipment, the method comprising the steps of: 
 storing communication service information indicative of a definition of a communication service provided through each of said communication networks for each of said telecommunication companies;    storing communication demand information indicative of a definition of a communication path to be set between said first and second terminals upon receiving a communication service request from said first terminal;    comparing said communication demand information with said communication service information;    selecting a specific one of said communication networks if the communication path defined with said communication demand information is satisfied by the communication service defined with the communication service information for the specific communication network;    generating control information for setting the communication path between said first and second terminals through the specific communication network; and    controlling said first and second communication equipment in accordance with the control information.    
   
   
       2 . The communication path setting method according to  claim 1 , wherein a set of communication networks are selected if the communication path defined with said communication demand information is satisfied by a combination of communication service defined with the communication service information for the set of communication networks; and 
 generating control information for setting a plurality of communication paths equivalent to the communication path defined with said communication demand information between said first and second terminals through the set of communication networks.    
   
   
       3 . The communication path setting method according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said communication service information and said communication demand information includes information indicative of communication bandwidth, and 
 wherein said set of communication networks are selected if the total of communication bandwidths defined by the communication service information for the set of communication networks is equal to or more than that of the communication path defined in said communication demand information.    
   
   
       4 . The communication path setting method according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication demand information includes time information indicative of communication time period for which the communication path should be set between said first and second terminals, and 
 wherein said control information for setting the communication path is generated at a timing determined in accordance with the time information.    
   
   
       5 . The communication path setting method according to  claim 4 , wherein said communication service information includes time information indicative of service period available the communication service for each of said communication networks, and 
 wherein said specific one of said communication networks is selected if the communication time period defined in said communication demand information is satisfied by the service period defined in the communication service information for the specific communication network.    
   
   
       6 . The /com path setting method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 notifying said first terminal of a name of a communication company and contents of communication service defined with the communication service information corresponding to said selected communication network.    
   
   
       7 . The communication path setting method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 notifying said first terminal that a requested communication service is not available when there is no communication service information that can satisfy the communication path defined with said communication demand information.    
   
   
       8 . The communication path setting method according to  claim 1 , wherein said network control system comprises a network controller connected to said first and second communication equipment and a control server connected to receive said service request from said first terminal and to communicate with said network controller, 
 wherein said control server transmits said control information to said network controller, and said network controller controls said first and second communication equipment according to the control information so that data packets transmitted from said first terminal to said second terminal are forwarded from said first communication equipment to said second communication equipment via said selected specific communication network.