WO2000030296A1 - Network management system - Google Patents

Network management system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000030296A1
WO2000030296A1 PCT/ZA1999/000123 ZA9900123W WO0030296A1 WO 2000030296 A1 WO2000030296 A1 WO 2000030296A1 ZA 9900123 W ZA9900123 W ZA 9900123W WO 0030296 A1 WO0030296 A1 WO 0030296A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tariff
services
gateway
bandwidth
end users
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA1999/000123
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jason Peter Berry
Original Assignee
Jason Peter Berry
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jason Peter Berry filed Critical Jason Peter Berry
Priority to AU15271/00A priority Critical patent/AU1527100A/en
Publication of WO2000030296A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000030296A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/80—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
    • H04M15/8083—Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1432—Metric aspects
    • H04L12/1439—Metric aspects time-based
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1453—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1453—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
    • H04L12/1467—Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network involving prepayment
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02—Details
    • H04L12/14—Charging, metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
    • H04L12/1485—Tariff-related aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2215/00—Metering arrangements; Time controlling arrangements; Time indicating arrangements
    • H04M2215/01—Details of billing arrangements
    • H04M2215/0184—Details of billing arrangements involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list

Definitions

  • THIS invention relates to communication networks and more
  • providers provide
  • the backbone may include interconnected data hubs and
  • End users are connected to these data hubs by
  • invention to provide a method of managing a communications network
  • the method comprising the steps of:
  • each slot being associated with a supply tariff on a scale
  • bit rate through the gateway; and managing the end users to utilize the services during slots
  • the managing step may include the step of incentivising or causing the
  • the managing step may include the step of the
  • the supply period may be a 24-hour day.
  • Each time slot may have a length and the lengths of the time slots and
  • associated tariffs are preferably dynamically varied in accordance with
  • the aforementioned incentivising step may comprise the step of
  • the bill may be composed of a substantial amount for said highest
  • the bill may also include a base charge in respect of
  • a gateway for providing end user sites with access to
  • gateway and in the communication paths
  • a bandwidth provisioning system including means for
  • each time slot being associated with a supply tariff on a
  • bandwidth provisioning system being operative to
  • predetermined bit rate level during slots associated with
  • the bandwidth provisioning system may further be operative to
  • the management system including:
  • a gateway for providing end user sites with access to
  • a bandwidth provisioning system including means for
  • each time slot being associated with a supply tariff on a
  • bandwidth provisioning system being operative to
  • figure 1 is a basic block diagram of a typical digital data network
  • figure 2 is a graph illustrating one end user's typical utilization of
  • the network in bits per second against time of day
  • figure 3 is a similar graph, but for a week
  • figure 4 is yet a further similar graph, but for a month; figure 5 is a graph providing a breakdown of the services or
  • figure 6 is a graph illustrating the provider's utilization of the
  • figure 7 is a similar graph, but for a week
  • figure 8 is a graph illustrating service provision tariffs against time
  • figure 9 is a graph of the average utilization in kbs '1 per time slot
  • figure 1 0 is a comparative graph of usage without the management
  • figure 1 1 is a graph illustrating the resulting costing
  • figure 1 2 is a block diagram of the management system according
  • the backbone comprises a plurality of datahubs 22 and superhubs 24
  • Each circuit may also include a back-up or top-up capability 28, to
  • superhubs 24 provide gateways 25 via communication circuits 30
  • the end users 1 2 to 20 are each connected by a dual way dedicated
  • last mile circuit to a data-hub 22.
  • the last mile circuits may
  • SMPT 55 POP 57
  • NNTP NNTP
  • gateway 25 are shown at 47 in figures 5 and 7.
  • the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user
  • the management system also allows the user to
  • the service provider may provide incentives, for example by the billing
  • One such a billing system is a so-called
  • the provider may also automatically and
  • Each time slot is associated with a tariff
  • figure 8 there is shown a graph wherein a day is divided into twelve ( 1 2) two-hour slots 44.1 to 44.1 2.
  • each slot may be associated with its own tariff.
  • This control may be any control
  • Figure 9 is a simulation of the usage of figure 2 and it also presents
  • the peak usage by the user during a billing period normally a month.
  • figure 1 2 is illustrated in figure 1 2, designated 1 00.
  • Components or elements are illustrated in figure 1 2, designated 1 00.
  • gateway 25 to an access
  • End user 1 2 is AP provider (AP) bandwidth (B/W) allocator 104.
  • End user 1 2 is AP provider (AP) bandwidth (B/W) allocator 104.
  • a bandwidth monitor 1 1 2 is connected to gateway 25 and to the
  • bandwidth monitor 1 1 2 in turn is connected to an AP bandwidth
  • An output of the provisioning system 1 1 6 is connected to an AP
  • bandwidth allocation system 1 20 which in turn controls the bandwidth
  • functionality 1 26 may input to the tariff and billing system 1 22.
  • a user bandwidth booking repository 1 28 may be connected between
  • the bandwidth provisioning system 1 1 6 includes the aforementioned
  • the management system 100 incentivizes the user to time shift
  • CAR quality of service
  • QOS quality of service
  • bandwidth limiter 108 serves to restrict the user to a pre-agreed

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

Abstract

A method of managing provision of digital communication services to at least one of a plurality of end users (12 to 20) comprises the steps of: connecting the end users to a provider (40, 40.1) via respective communication channels; the provider providing the end users with a gateway (25) to communication networks (34, 36, 38); dividing a supply period into a plurality of time slots; each slot being associated with a supply tariff on a scale ranging from a low tariff to a high tariff in proportion to a bit rate through the gateway; and managing the end users to utilize the services during slots associated with tariffs on the scale towards the low tariff.

Description

NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
THIS invention relates to communication networks and more
particularly to a method of and a management system for improving
utilization of a digital network.
BACKGROUND ART
It is well known that telecommunications channel access providers
and/or service providers (hereinafter referred to as "providers") provide
distributed end users with connections to a telecommunications
backbone. The backbone may include interconnected data hubs and
superhubs giving access to local, national and international networks,
including the Internet. End users are connected to these data hubs by
respective dedicated or non-dedicated connections, often referred to
as the last mile connections. The rest of the backbone is shared by
the various end users. The establishment and roll-out of the
backbone circuits are costly and are presently designed to
accommodate the sum of the peak traffics of the individual users and
must also provide for back-up or top-up. Experience has shown that
most users of digital data networks use these networks extensively
during normal office hours, resulting in high volumes during these hours and that during the night the networks are completely
underutilized, which in fact is a waste of costly infra-structure. This
unmanaged utilization of the infrastructure is costly both for the
provider and eventually also for the end users. Furthermore, quality
of service during peak periods may also not always be acceptable, due
to the slower access speeds. Accordingly it is an object of the present
invention to provide a method of managing a communications network
and a management system with which the applicant believes the
aforementioned disadvantages may at least be reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a method of managing
provision of digital communication services to at least one of a
plurality of end users, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting the end users to a provider via respective
communication channels;
the provider providing the end users with a gateway to
communication networks;
dividing a supply period into a plurality of time slots;
- each slot being associated with a supply tariff on a scale
ranging from a low tariff to a high tariff in proportion to a
bit rate through the gateway; and managing the end users to utilize the services during slots
associated with tariffs on the scale towards the low
tariff.
The managing step may include the step of incentivising or causing the
end users to change their behavioral patterns by time shifting
utilization of at least some of the services to slots associated with
tariffs on the scale towards the lower tariff.
Further or alternatively, the managing step may include the step of the
provider automatically and electronically time shifting some of the
services to slots associated with tariffs on the scale towards the low
tariff.
The supply period may be a 24-hour day.
Each time slot may have a length and the lengths of the time slots and
associated tariffs are preferably dynamically varied in accordance with
the bit rate through the gateway.
The aforementioned incentivising step may comprise the step of
periodically billing the end users on a basis of the highest mathematical product of average bit rate utilized by the end user over
a time period during any of the time slots during the supply period and
the tariff associated with the time periods.
The bill may be composed of a substantial amount for said highest
product and a smaller amount in respect of actual throughput during
the period. The bill may also include a base charge in respect of
equipment and communication port charges.
Also included within the scope of the present invention is a bandwidth
management system for a digital communication system, the
management system including:
a gateway for providing end user sites with access to
communication networks;
- a bandwidth monitoring system connected to the
gateway and to communication paths extending to the
end user sites to monitor a bit rate level through the
gateway and in the communication paths;
a bandwidth provisioning system including means for
dividing a service supply period into a plurality of time
slots; each time slot being associated with a supply tariff on a
scale ranging from a low tariff to a high tariff in
proportion to a bit rate through the gateway;
the bandwidth provisioning system being operative to
restrict utilization of the services at an end user site to a
predetermined bit rate level, during slots associated with
tariffs on the scale towards the high tariff.
The bandwidth provisioning system may further be operative to
manage shifting of services or utilization of services at the user site to
slots associated with tariffs on the scale towards the low tariff.
Yet further included within the scope of the present invention is a
bandwidth management system for a digital communication system,
the management system including:
a gateway for providing end user sites with access to
communication networks;
a bandwidth monitoring system connected to the
gateway and to communication paths extending to the
end user sites to monitor a bit rate level through the
gateway and in the communication paths; a bandwidth provisioning system including means for
dividing a service supply period into a plurality of time
slots;
each time slot being associated with a supply tariff on a
scale ranging from a low tariff to a high tariff in
proportion to a bit rate through the gateway;
the bandwidth provisioning system being operative to
manage shifting of services or utilization of services at a
user site to slots associated with tariffs on the scale
towards the low tariff.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DIAGRAMS
The invention will now further be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying diagrams, wherein:
figure 1 is a basic block diagram of a typical digital data network
providing end users with access to various other
networks;
figure 2 is a graph illustrating one end user's typical utilization of
the network in bits per second against time of day;
figure 3 is a similar graph, but for a week;
figure 4 is yet a further similar graph, but for a month; figure 5 is a graph providing a breakdown of the services or
protocols used by the end user;
figure 6 is a graph illustrating the provider's utilization of the
network in order to provide the end users with access, in
bits per second against time of day;
figure 7 is a similar graph, but for a week;
figure 8 is a graph illustrating service provision tariffs against time
divided into time slots, in accordance with the method of
invention;
figure 9 is a graph of the average utilization in kbs'1 per time slot
for the user in figure 2;
figure 1 0 is a comparative graph of usage without the management
method according to the invention and a graph of usage
in accordance with the management method according to
the invention;
figure 1 1 is a graph illustrating the resulting costing and the
advantages of the method according to the invention; and
figure 1 2 is a block diagram of the management system according
to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A network or backbone for providing end users (end user#1 to end
user #n + 1 ) designated 1 2, 14, 1 6, 1 8 and 20 with access to digital
data communication services or protocols is generally designated by
the reference numeral 1 0 in figure 1 .
The backbone comprises a plurality of datahubs 22 and superhubs 24
interconnected by medium capacity data communication circuits 26 to
provide for single or dual way data communications between them.
Each circuit may also include a back-up or top-up capability 28, to
handle excess traffic, if necessary, but of course at a premium. The
superhubs 24 provide gateways 25 via communication circuits 30
with back-up or top-up capability 32 to local networks 34,
international networks 36 and national networks 38. These networks
can carry voice, video, data and any other reticulatable
telecommunications medium.
The end users 1 2 to 20 are each connected by a dual way dedicated
so-called last mile circuit to a data-hub 22. The last mile circuits may
include laserbeam, microwave, ADSL and other suitable technologies,
depending on the data rate or capacity required and available services.
So for example, does laserbeam technology at present provide for a
data throughput capacity of 1 00 Mbs'1 in both directions and ADSL for 7 Mbs'1 in a direction to the end user and 1 .5 Mbs'1 in the opposite
direction.
The services that are being distributed under control of an access
provider 40.1 and/or a service provider 40 with whom the end user
enters into a provider agreement, are shown in figure 5 and include
voice, video, data, Internet services, broadcast services and other.
Examples of these services which by their nature are real time services
are: FTP 51 , TELNET, HTTP 53 and PROXY. Examples that are not
of a real time nature are SMPT 55, POP 57 and NNTP.
An analysis has shown that behavioral patterns dictate that most end
users utilize the services predominantly during normal office hours.
Outside of these hours the services are used to a much lesser extent.
This is illustrated in figures 2 to 4 showing graphs of end user
utilization against the hours of a day, over a week and over a month,
respectively. Use during office hours is designated 41 and that
outside of office hours is designated 43.
In figures 6 and 7 there are shown graphs of the service provider's
utiiization of the backbone against hours of the day and over a week,
respectively. As shown in figures 2 to 4, the relevant end user makes use of the full
capacity up to the maximum allowable about 450 kbs'1 (shown by line
42 in figures 2, 3 and 4) by his provider 40 in terms of the service
provider agreement. This throughput or bandwidth is utilized virtually
throughout his operating business day. This is also the behavioral
pattern of other users connected to the service provider. Comparison
of figures 2 and 3 on the one hand and figures 6 and 7 on the other
hand would reveal that these users hence utilize the network to their
respective full capacitates when the service provider is also at a peak
capacity (shown at 45 in figures 6 and 7), obviously to provide the
users with the services. This concurrent utilization of the backbone
during certain hours only may result in slow access speeds and will
result in higher costs, because of the infrastructure required to meet
the resulting peak demands. Low usage periods at the provider's
gateway 25 are shown at 47 in figures 5 and 7.
According to the invention this utilization of the network is managed
by the access provider and/or service provider and/or the end user, by
automatically time shifting or scheduling certain services to and/or
change behaviorism of the end users to utilize the services during
lower utilization periods, thereby to optimize utilization of the network
which will result in improved quality of service and lower costs for the end user. This without reducing the client's ability to increase his
demand required either manually or automatically on demand and with
a cost implication depending on the access provider's ability to deliver,
which in turn is dependent on the provider's peaks, top-up facilities
and costs to deliver. The management system also allows the user to
have greater speed of access in lower utilization periods at no
significant extra cost, as will be shown hereinafter.
The service provider may provide incentives, for example by the billing
system employed, to cause the users to change their behavioral
patterns to time shift or schedule utilization of non-real time services
and even certain real time services, to periods 47 of the day outside of
the service provider's peak periods, thereby to cause more effective
use of the infrastructure. One such a billing system is a so-called
utility based billing system. The provider may also automatically and
electronically schedule provision of certain non-real time services to
lower usage periods 47.
Hence, in the method according to the invention, a day is divided into
a plurality of time slots. Each time slot is associated with a tariff
(Dollars /Mbs"1) for the provision of services during that time slot. In
figure 8 there is shown a graph wherein a day is divided into twelve ( 1 2) two-hour slots 44.1 to 44.1 2. The tariff associated with the
first three slots (that is from 0:00 to 6:00) is low, with the fourth slot
44.4 is intermediate, with slots 44.5 to 44.9 is high, with slot 44.1 0
is intermediate and with slots 4.1 1 to 4.1 2 is low. It will be
appreciated that each day can be divided into many more slots and
each slot may be associated with its own tariff. These slots, their
lengths in time and their associated tariffs may be adjusted and
controlled dynamically in accordance with the utilization of the infra¬
structure and the object of this invention. This control may be
achieved by utilizing a combination of predictive control algorithms and
predictable trend analysis with closed loop control systems and real
time monitoring and analysis of the status of the provider's networks
referencing the provider's critical network circuits or elements.
Figure 9 is a simulation of the usage of figure 2 and it also presents
the peak usage by the user during a billing period, normally a month.
From figure 9 it is clear that the end user with the usage shown in
figure 2 and without the method according to the invention, pays for
services that peak virtually throughout the peak period of the service
period, as shown in figure 6. In the known billing systems, end users
are billed at a flat rate tariff which is independent of peak usage. Due
to the end user's behaviorism of utilizing the system during the peak periods, the services often are not of a desirable standard and the end
user in effect pays a premium for all services.
By incentivizing the user to change his behaviorism to shift the
provision or utilization of some services to time slots during off-peak
periods 47 and by structuring the billing system such that a large
percentage of the periodic bill is made up by an amount based on the
maximum peak usage during time slots during the service provider's
peak periods, plus a substantially smaller amount for actual data
throughput (Mbytes) plus an even smaller amount for on-site
equipment and port charges, more effective utilization of the
infrastructure may be achieved to the benefit of the end user (both in
terms of quality of service and cost) and the service provider.
In figure 10 there are shown a graph 46 of usage without the
management method according to the invention in comparison with a
graph 48 of usage with such a method. In graph 46, peak usage is
achieved during the service provider's peak period, with the
consequences hereinbefore described. On the other, hand in graph
48 at least some of the services and user usage are time shifted to
time slots not within the service provider's peak periods. It is hence
shifted to time slots 50.1 to 50.4 and 50.9 to 50.1 1 associated with substantially lower tariffs and substantially greater access speed and
therefore services.
The resulting cost calculations for the graphs 46 and 48 are shown in
figure 1 1 . Graph 52 illustrates the mathematical product of tariff
(shown in figure 8) and the managed usage shown at 48 in figure 1 1 .
The new and improved cost based on the peak usage when the
method according to the invention is utilized, is shown at 54 in figure
1 2, which although it is based on peak usage in the provider's peak
period, is substantially lower than the cost 56 of the present systems.
Yet in the example, twice as much service or traffic is delivered during
the usage depicted by graph 48 than during the unmanaged usage
depicted by graph 46, and at a lower cost.
A block diagram of the management system according to the invention
is illustrated in figure 1 2, designated 1 00. Components or elements
also shown in figure 1 are designated by like numerals. The networks
34, 36, 38 and 1 02 are connected via gateway 25 to an access
provider (AP) bandwidth (B/W) allocator 104. End user 1 2 is
connected to the access provider 40. 1 via a last mile circuit and
access point 1 06. At the end user site 1 2 there is provided a bandwidth limiter 108 for
controlling the bandwidth made available by the system to the end
user and a management system agent 1 10 which communicates with
various other elements of the management system 100.
A bandwidth monitor 1 1 2 is connected to gateway 25 and to the
channel 1 1 4 between the allocator 1 04 and access point 1 06. The
bandwidth monitor 1 1 2 in turn is connected to an AP bandwidth
provisioning system 1 1 6 and to an AP network reporting system 1 1 8.
An output of the provisioning system 1 1 6 is connected to an AP
bandwidth allocation system 1 20 which in turn controls the bandwidth
allocator 104 and the bandwidth limiter 108. The bandwidth
allocation system 1 20 is connected to a tariff and billing system 1 22
which issues the aforementioned periodic bills 1 24 based on peak
usage during the billing period. In some applications a prepaid
functionality 1 26 may input to the tariff and billing system 1 22.
A user bandwidth booking repository 1 28 may be connected between
the management agent 1 10 at the user site and the bandwidth
provisioning system 1 1 6. The bandwidth provisioning system 1 1 6 includes the aforementioned
predictive control algorithms, a neural network and usage profile
analysis means. It provides inputs to the allocation system 1 20 which
controls the bandwidth allocator 1 04 and bandwidth limiter 1 08,
while the bandwidth monitor 1 1 2 monitors in real time the usage
through the supply channels from the networks at gateway 25.
The management system 100 incentivizes the user to time shift
certain usages of the services to lower usage periods 47 while it also
automatically and electronically time shifts non-real time services to
lower usage periods. However, a predetermined committed access
rate (CAR) or quality of service (QOS) is guaranteed to the user. The
bandwidth limiter 108 serves to restrict the user to a pre-agreed
maximum usage during peak periods. However, the user may at any
time via the management agent 1 1 0 request the system to exceed the
pre-agreed bit rate for certain services. This utilization will of course
and in accordance with the invention influence the total cost of the
services over the billing period.
It will be appreciated that there are many variations in detail on the
method and system according to the invention without departing from
the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A method of managing provision of digital communication
services to at least one of a plurality of end users, the method
comprising the steps of:
connecting the end users to a provider via respective
communication channels;
the provider providing the end users with a gateway to
communication networks;
- dividing a supply period into a plurality of time slots;
each slot being associated with a supply tariff on a scale
ranging from a low tariff to a high tariff in proportion to a
bit rate through the gateway; and
managing the end users to utilize the services during slots
associated with tariffs on the scale towards the low
tariff.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the managing step
includes the step of incentivising or causing the end users to
change their behavioral patterns by time shifting utilization of at
least some of the services to slots associated with tariffs on the
scale towards the lower tariff.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the
managing step includes the step of the provider automatically
and electronically time shifting some of the services to slots
associated with tariffs on the scale towards the low tariff.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the
supply period is a 24-hour day.
5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each
time slot has a length and wherein the lengths of the time slots
and associated tariffs are dynamically varied in accordance with
the bit rate through the gateway.
6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the
incentivising step comprises the step of periodically billing the
end users on a basis of the highest mathematical product of
average bit rate utilized by the end user over a time period
during any of the time slots during the supply period and the
tariff associated with the time periods.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the bill is composed of
a substantial amount for said highest product and a smaller
amount in respect of actual throughput during the period.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the bill also includes a
base charge in respect of equipment and communication port
charges.
9. A bandwidth management system for a digital communication
system, the management system including:
a gateway for providing end user sites with access to
communication networks;
a bandwidth monitoring system connected to the
gateway and to communication paths extending to the
end user sites to monitor a bit rate level through the
gateway and in the communication paths;
a bandwidth provisioning system including means for
dividing a service supply period into a plurality of time
slots;
- each time slot being associated with a supply tariff on a
scale ranging from a low tariff to a high tariff in
proportion to a bit rate through the gateway; the bandwidth provisioning system being operative to
restrict utilization of the services at an end user site to a
predetermined bit rate level, during slots associated with
tariffs on the scale towards the high tariff.
0. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the bandwidth
provisioning system is operative to manage shifting of services
or utilization of services at the user site to slots associated with
tariffs on the scale towards the low tariff.
1 . A bandwidth management system for a digital communication
system, the management system including:
a gateway for providing end user sites with access to
communication networks;
- a bandwidth monitoring system connected to the
gateway and to communication paths extending to the
end user sites to monitor a bit rate level through the
gateway and in the communication paths;
a bandwidth provisioning system including means for
dividing a service supply period into a plurality of time
slots; each time slot being associated with a supply tariff on a
scale ranging from a low tariff to a high tariff in
proportion to a bit rate through the gateway;
the bandwidth provisioning system being operative to
manage shifting of services or utilization of services at a
user site to slots associated with tariffs on the scale
towards the low tariff.
2. A method of managing provision of digital communication
services to at least one of a plurality of end users, substantially
as herein described with reference to the accompanying
diagrams.
3. A bandwidth management system for a digital communication
system substantially as herein described with reference to the
accompanying diagrams.
PCT/ZA1999/000123 1998-11-16 1999-11-16 Network management system WO2000030296A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU15271/00A AU1527100A (en) 1998-11-16 1999-11-16 Network management system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA98/10145 1998-11-16
ZA9810145 1998-11-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000030296A1 true WO2000030296A1 (en) 2000-05-25

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WO (1) WO2000030296A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1322706C (en) * 2003-04-01 2007-06-20 华为技术有限公司 Method of realizing real time segmental charging

Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4241434A1 (en) * 1992-12-09 1994-06-16 Reinhard Dr Ing Georg Telecommunication network operating procedure - combining multiple step fixed tariff structure with dynamic network load-dependent tariff structure
EP0837578A2 (en) * 1996-09-20 1998-04-22 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for measuring and accounting for data traffic on networks

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4241434A1 (en) * 1992-12-09 1994-06-16 Reinhard Dr Ing Georg Telecommunication network operating procedure - combining multiple step fixed tariff structure with dynamic network load-dependent tariff structure
EP0837578A2 (en) * 1996-09-20 1998-04-22 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for measuring and accounting for data traffic on networks

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MACKIE-MASON J K ET AL: "PRICING CONGESTIBLE NETWORK RESOURCES", IEEE JOURNAL ON SELECTED AREAS IN COMMUNICATIONS,US,IEEE INC. NEW YORK, vol. 13, no. 7, 1 September 1995 (1995-09-01), pages 1141 - 1149, XP000577206, ISSN: 0733-8716 *

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1322706C (en) * 2003-04-01 2007-06-20 华为技术有限公司 Method of realizing real time segmental charging

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