Patent ID: 7580994
Filing Date: 2009-08-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system comprising a service architecture comprising: a hierarchy of service layers including a service user layer comprising an interface by which a user builds a service instance, a service access layer for controlling access to service instances by the user, a service capability layer comprising service capability instances associated with the service instances and a service element layer comprising elements available to the service capability instances, wherein each service instance is a self-managed aggregation of service capabilities delivered to the user via assigned service components according to a service level agreement; and a plurality of hierarchically linked management agents, at least one management agent associated with each one of the service layers, for cooperatively managing, with other management agents associated with a service layer, a plurality of service layer components of the service instance at and below the associated service layer including discovering, monitoring and, in the event of detection of a degradation of performance of the service instance, replacing service layer components associated with a service instance at and below the associated service layer.