Patent ID: 6903755
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by a computer to provide a graphical user interface to a network management system for configuring a network connection between a first service access point and a second service access point over a network including a plurality of subnets, each subnet having a corresponding element type and including at least one programmable element of that type, each element type having a corresponding element manager, the medium further comprising: instructions for providing a graphical user interface including at least one interface screen displaying information that directs a system user to graphically select the first and second service access points, and further directs the system user to graphically initiate a connection build, the displayed information including a provision screen that directs the system user to graphically select the first and second service access points and a network topology screen that illustrates the route over the network between the graphically selected first and second access points; and instructions for initiating the connection build in response to the graphical initiation from the system user by sending a message to the network management system, the message including information such that in response to receiving the message, the network management system determines a route made up of links over the network from the first point to the second point, wherein a network-to-network link connects a pair of adjacent subnets having elements of different types and a network logical link provides a path across a subnet, establishes a connection across each subnet on the route by sending a request to the corresponding element manager to program the at least one subnet element in accordance with the network logical link across that subnet, and establishes a network-to-network connection between adjacent subnets on the route in accordance with the network-to-network link between those adjacent subnets to provide the network connection between the first point and the second point.