Brokering network resources

Abstract

A method of brokering a network resource 10 includes providing a service broker processor 12 and a service broker registry 13. On receiving a request at the service broker processor to register a network resource to provide a network service, the service broker processor authenticates the request and authorises registration in the service broker registry. A network client 14 is updated with the availability of the registered network resource so that on receiving a third party request for the network service, the network client requests allocation of the registered network resource. A bearer path 54 is set up between the third party 21 and the network resource 10 to provide the requested network service.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A service broker comprising:
 at least one network interface;   at least one processor; and   at least one storage element storing instructions for execution by the at least one processor, the instructions comprising:
 instructions executable to maintain a service broker registry, and 
 instructions, responsive to receipt at the at least one network interface of a request to register in the service broker registry a network resource for providing a network service, to register the network resource in the service broker registry to establish a registered network resource. 
   
     
     
         51 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to bill a third party based on use of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         52 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to monitor use of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         53 . The service broker of  claim 52 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to bill a third party based on monitored use of the selected network resource. 
     
     
         54 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to authenticate the request before registering the network resource in the service broker registry. 
     
     
         55 . The service broker of  claim 54 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to authorize registration after authentication of the request and before registering the network resource in the service broker registry. 
     
     
         56 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to update at least one network client regarding the availability of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         57 . The service broker of  claim 56 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to check a status of the registered network resource before updating the at least one network client. 
     
     
         58 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to monitor availability of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         59 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to receive from a network client a request for allocation of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         60 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to select a registered network resource in response to a request for allocation of the registered network resource received from a network client at the at least one communication interface. 
     
     
         61 . The service broker of  claim 60 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to identify the selected network resource to the network client. 
     
     
         62 . The service broker of  claim 60 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to assign the selected network resource. 
     
     
         63 . The service broker of  claim 61 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to apply a resource policy to the received request. 
     
     
         64 . The service broker of  claim 63 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to receive resource policy information from a policy management infrastructure. 
     
     
         65 . The service broker of  claim 61 , configured to receive a request for allocation of the registered network resource from a network client which is one of a network switch and a network operator application. 
     
     
         66 . The service broker of  claim 50 , configured to register a network resource which provides at least one of a telecommunication service, an information technology service, a teleconferencing service, a multimedia conferencing service, a telephony service, a call forwarding service, a voicemail service, an internet telephone service, an interactive voice response service, a user validation service, a billing service, a gaming service, a database service and a data back-up service. 
     
     
         67 . The service broker of  claim 50 , wherein the instructions comprise a network resource management application. 
     
     
         68 . A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions for execution by at least one service broker processor, the instructions comprising:
 instructions executable to maintain a service broker registry; and   instructions, responsive to receipt at a network interface of a request to register in the service broker registry a network resource for providing a network service, to register the network resource in the service broker registry to establish a registered network resource.   
     
     
         69 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to bill a third party based on use of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         70 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to monitor use of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         71 . The storage medium of  claim 70 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to bill a third party based on monitored use of the selected network resource. 
     
     
         72 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to authenticate the request before registering the network resource in the service broker registry. 
     
     
         73 . The storage medium of  claim 72 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to authorize registration after authentication of the request and before registering the network resource in the service broker registry. 
     
     
         74 . The storage medium of claim  19 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to update at least one network client regarding the availability of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         75 . The storage medium of  claim 74 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to check a status of the registered network resource before updating the at least one network client. 
     
     
         76 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to monitor availability of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         77 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to receive from a network client a request for allocation of the registered network resource. 
     
     
         78 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to select a registered network resource in response to a request for allocation of the registered network resource received from a network client at the at least one communication interface. 
     
     
         79 . The storage medium of  claim 78 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to identify the selected network resource to the network client. 
     
     
         80 . The storage medium of  claim 78 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to assign the selected network resource. 
     
     
         81 . The storage medium of  claim 80 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to apply a resource policy to the received request. 
     
     
         82 . The storage medium of  claim 81 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to receive resource policy information from a policy management infrastructure. 
     
     
         83 . The storage medium of  claim 80 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to receive a request for allocation of the registered network resource from a network client which is one of a network switch and a network operator application. 
     
     
         84 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise instructions executable to register a network resource which provides at least one of a telecommunication service, an information technology service, a teleconferencing service, a multimedia conferencing service, a telephony service, a call forwarding service, a voicemail service, an internet telephone service, an interactive voice response service, a user validation service, a billing service, a gaming service, a database service and a data back-up service. 
     
     
         85 . The storage medium of  claim 68 , wherein the instructions comprise a network resource management application.