Abstract:
A method and system for managing network infrastructure circuits is provided. The method includes selecting a primary circuit having terminations assigned to the end points of the overall network connection and interconnecting the primary circuit to at least one secondary circuit according to predetermined linkage rules. A circuit manage system is configured to cross correlate the primary circuit and the at least one secondary circuit according to linkage relationships stored in a management database. In another embodiment, a computer readable media including computer executable instructions for maintaining circuit identifiers, managing endpoint location information and tracking circuit linkage relationships is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of communication networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for managing network infrastructure circuits.  
           [0003]    2. State of the Art  
           [0004]    A communication circuit comprises a discrete path between two or more points along which a signal may be carried. The signal may be carried along a physical path comprising one or more cables, or alternatively, along a wireless path. The communication circuit may further comprise intermediate switching points to route the signal among the two or more points in the circuit. A communication network may comprise a series of points or nodes interconnected by one or more communication circuits. As used herein, a communication network may comprise any suitable communications system, such as a telephone circuit, a cellular telephone system, a cable television system, a satellite link, a local area network (hereinafter, “LAN”), a wide area network (hereinafter, “WAN”), the Internet, or any other appropriate analog or digital transmission system. A communication network may be characterized by the type of data transmission employed (e.g., voice, data, or both), by access to the network (e.g., public or private), by the usual nature of the network&#39;s connections (e.g., dial-up (switched), dedicated (non-switched), or virtual), and by the type of physical links employed (e.g., optical fiber, coaxial cable, or unshielded twisted pair).  
           [0005]    Large communication networks are typically created when one or more Inter-eXchange Carrier (hereinafter, “IXC”), Local eXchange Carrier (hereinafter, “LEC”), or private LAN owner enter into sharing and exchange arrangements. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a network  8  comprising a first LAN  10  and a second LAN  12  interconnected via a plurality of communication circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18 . The first LAN  10  and second LAN  12  may be physically located relative to one another in different parts of a city, state, country or region and may each comprise a substantial internal network infrastructure owned by a user. Alternatively, at least a portion of the first LAN  10  and the second LAN  12  may be leased from LEC A and LEC B. LEC A and LEC B may each represent a local telecommunications company. The first LAN  10  may connect to an IXC&#39;s central office (hereinafter, “CO”)  20  located at one end of the overall connection (shown as the A end) via a circuit segment  14  owned by LEC A. Likewise, the second LAN  12  may connect to the IXC&#39;s CO  22  located at the other end of the overall connection (shown as the Z end) via a circuit segment  18  owned by LEC B. Circuit segments  14  and  18  may each be leased or otherwise procured by the IXC for termination in the respective geographic locations of the first LAN  10  and the second LAN  12 . The IXC may provide the first LAN  10  and the second LAN  12  with Internet backbone connectivity via a circuit segment  1   6  connecting a point-of-presence (hereinafter, “POP”) at the CO  20  located at the A end and a POP located at the CO  22  at the Z end.  
           [0006]    The end-to-end circuit connection of the network  8  comprises overall endpoints at the first LAN  10  and the second LAN  12  interconnected via physical links or segments comprising communication circuits  14 ,  16  and  18 . Further, each circuit segment  14 ,  16 ,  18  comprises endpoints or nodes. Thus, LEC A&#39;s circuit segment  14  comprises endpoints at the first LAN  10  and the CO  20  at the A end; LEC B&#39;s circuit segment  18  comprises endpoints at the second LAN  12  and the CO  22  at the Z end; and the IXC circuit segment  16  comprises endpoints at the CO  20  at the A end and the CO at the Z end. As the communication network  8  expands, it becomes more complex. Thus, it is increasingly difficult for a user to manage information relative to the network&#39;s  8  infrastructure assets and inventories as the relevant information is exchanged among the shared endpoints or nodes of each of the circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  as well as between the circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  and communication equipment (not shown). The communication equipment may include, by way of example only and not by limitation, asynchronous transfer mode (hereinafter, “ATM”) switch ports, frame relay switch ports, router interfaces, and private branch exchange (hereinafter, “PBX”) ports.  
           [0007]    Historically, managing network infrastructure assets and inventories has been approached from either a billing administration perspective or an engineering perspective. Typically, billing administration perspectives and engineering perspectives have had differing, and sometimes opposing, objectives. Communication networks influenced by a billing administration perspective are typically designed around charges associated with individual circuits with a focus on cost accounting. Such networks may provide some information in the form of line item billing entities with no relational information between the line items. For example, the network management scheme may provide a plurality of line items, such as circuit identifiers, with charges associated with each line item, but without a relationship between each of the line items sufficient enough to allow a network designer or manager to analyze whether any of the plurality of line items are part of the same end-to-end circuit connection. Further, there may be no way to correlate a bill for toll free service with circuit charges associated with its endpoints or terminations. Thus, there may be no way of quickly ascertaining how much a carrier-provided service may actually be costing the user. Therefore, it is difficult for a user to perform true consumption management because the user lacks information regarding the effect of specific changes or disconnects on other services or circuits within the network&#39;s infrastructure.  
           [0008]    Communication networks influenced by an engineering perspective are less concerned about billing and more concerned with factors such as capacity planning, management and support. However, engineering solutions are typically complicated and tend to cannibalize numerous hours of engineering resources to maintain the management database. Further, engineering solutions typically exhibit ineffective billing and reporting capabilities. Thus, prior attempts to manage network infrastructure circuits fail to balance utility versus content and are unsuccessful in maximizing data integrity and minimizing data entry time. Moreover, conventional asset management solutions typically employ a generic approach to quantifying what assets are available, how many assets are available, and where the assets are located. Thus, conventional asset management solutions typically require massive customization that results in large investments of time and money. Even with such investment, communication network designers typically fail to understand both the billing administration and engineering perspectives necessary to design a solution incorporating both.  
           [0009]    Therefore, there is a need for a circuit management system that provides complete information about an end-to-end circuit so that each individual circuit segment&#39;s role and relationship to interconnected circuit segments is known for the entire end-to-end connection.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    A method and apparatus are described for managing network infrastructure circuits. The method includes selecting a primary circuit having terminations assigned to the endpoints of the overall network connection and interconnecting the primary circuit to at least one secondary circuit according to predetermined linkage rules.  
           [0011]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a circuit management system is configured to cross-correlate the primary circuit and the at least one secondary circuit according to linkage relationships stored in a management database.  
           [0012]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a computer readable media including computer executable instructions for maintaining circuit identifiers, managing endpoint location information and tracking circuit linkage relationships is provided.  
           [0013]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art through a consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a network comprising a plurality of circuit segments interconnecting two overall network endpoints;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit management system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic of a circuit management linkage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 4 through 8 are schematic representations of networks circuit segments interconnected according to linkage rules, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 illustrates, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a block diagram of a circuit management system  30  configured to inventory and manage a user&#39;s network infrastructure. The circuit management system  30  comprises computer circuitry  32  electrically connectable to circuit segment information  40  provided by a communication network (not shown), such as the communication network  8  shown in FIG. 1. The computer circuitry  32  is configured to perform computer functions such as executing software to perform desired calculations and tasks. The computer circuitry  32  may include a processor  34  and a computer readable medium  36 . The computer readable medium  36  may comprise a management database  38  and computer executable code  39  for performing circuit management operations, as described in more detail below.  
         [0020]    The circuit management system  30  may further comprise an external data storage device  44 , an input device  46  and an output device  48 . The external data storage device  44  may include, by way of example only, drives that accept hard and floppy discs, tape cassettes, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The input device may include by way of example only, an Internet or other network connection, a mouse, a keypad or any device that allows an operator to enter data into the computer circuitry  32 . The output device  48  may include, by way of example only, a printer or a video display device.  
         [0021]    The circuit segment information  40  is configured to provide selected billing and physical link information for a plurality of circuit segments and/or communication equipment. The billing and physical link information may include, by way of example only and not by limitation, endpoint geographical location information, endpoint demark information, equipment identification, circuit identification, order information, trunk group information, and toll free and dial plan information. Alternatively, at least a portion of the billing and physical link information may be stored in the management database. As used herein, demark information refers to information specifying a physical location, such as building, floor or room identification information, of a communication circuit or communication equipment.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit management system  30  is configured to track the interconnected communication paths or circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  leased from telecommunication providers (i.e., LEC A, LEC B and IXC) that bridge together the shared nodal endpoints (i.e., at  20  and  22 ) to form an end-to-end network connection between the overall endpoints (i.e., at  10  and  12 ) of the network  8 . The circuit management system  30  is configured to create “circuit linkage” relationships between the circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  so that any one of the individual circuit segments may be cross-correlated to respective interconnected circuit segments in the overall circuit connection. The circuit linkage relationships manage the complex, horizontal and vertical relationships between the circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  as well as between the circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  and any terminating communication equipment (not shown) connected thereto.  
         [0023]    In one embodiment of the present invention, three basic circuit linkage relationships, referred to herein as “peer,” “parent/child” and “parallel,” are used by the circuit management system  30  for segmentation and hierarchical circuit management. A peer circuit linkage relationship comprises a horizontal linkage between circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  of equal size and circuit type (e.g., twisted pair, DS0, FT1, T1, T3, E1, E3, OCx, etc.) which connect on the same hierarchical level or plane. A parent/child circuit linkage relationship comprises a vertical linkage between two circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  wherein a parent circuit is hierarchically superior (i.e., at a circuit layer or level above) to a child circuit.  
         [0024]    A parallel circuit linkage relationship comprises a linkage between circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18  of equal size, of equal circuit type, and having the same endpoints that are connected in parallel to form a larger circuit with bandwidth equal to the sum of the bandwidth of the individual links. Although parallel circuit linkage relationships may extend to other circuit types, a parallel circuit linkage relationship preferably creates a relationship between inverse multiplexed access (hereinafter, “IMA”) T1 circuits and preserves the relationships between each circuit in the bundle of IMA T1 circuits wherein the circuit bandwidths are combined to serve as a larger access circuit to terminate one or more permanent virtual circuit (hereinafter, “PVC” circuit) or channelized sub-rate circuit.  
         [0025]    An equipment linkage relationship is an additional linkage relationship unlike the three basic linkage relationships described above. The equipment linkage relationship is used by the circuit management system  30  to link a primary circuit segment (described below) to telecommunications equipment such as an ATM switch port, a frame relay switch port, a router interface, or a PBX port.  
         [0026]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit and/or equipment linkage relationships described above manage the complex relationships between the circuit segments  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and/or any terminating communication equipment connected thereto, through linkage rules that govern the use of circuit types (e.g., twisted pair, DS0, FT1, T1, T3, E1, E3, OCx, etc.) and linkage permissions allowed for each circuit type.  
         [0027]    Each circuit type may also be characterized according to a topological category. As used herein, a circuit topology defines a logical route of a circuit that specifies how information traverses the circuit&#39;s endpoints. For example, a circuit may be categorized as having a ring circuit topology or a point-to-point circuit topology. Although not discussed herein, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention includes characterizing circuits and circuit types according to other known circuit topologies, such as a star topology wherein nodes are connected to a central hub.  
         [0028]    A ring circuit topology comprises a configuration of diverse, concentric fiber rings connecting two or more distinct endpoint locations or nodes wherein the last node is connected to the first node to form a loop. As used herein, the term “circuit segment” does not refer to the connections between the distinct endpoint locations or nodes in a ring circuit. To form an overall end-to-end circuit connection, a ring circuit may be configured to carry smaller point-to-point circuit segments (described below) in a parent/child linkage relationship. A ring circuit may be configured to have a peer linkage relationship with other ring circuits of equal size. A ring circuit may also be configured to have a parent/child linkage relationship with a point-to-point circuit segment or other ring circuits of different sizes.  
         [0029]    A point-to-point circuit topology comprises a connection between two distinct endpoint locations using a single route. Point-to-point circuit topologies may comprise a plurality of circuit segments comprising analog, digital, optical (e.g., OCx), or virtual (e.g., PVC) links. Point-to-point circuit topologies may utilize peer and parallel circuit linkages to create relationships with other point-to-point circuits of equal size as well as parent/child circuit linkages to create relationships to hierarchically superior or inferior point-to-point circuits or ring circuits.  
         [0030]    To classify a point-to-point circuit segment&#39;s role in an overall circuit connection, each point-to-point circuit segment may be classified as a “primary” or “secondary” circuit segment. A primary classification is assigned to classify circuit segments that control the overall circuit or carry child circuits or channel services. Thus, primary circuit segments are master circuit segments with respect to the other linked circuit segments that make up the overall end-to-end circuit connection. A primary circuit segment controls the service or channel services utilized by the overall end-to-end circuit and may comprise an IXC circuit segment or an LEC circuit segment when only a local circuit is required for the connection. Primary circuit segment endpoints are defined as the same as the overall end-to-end circuit connection endpoints even though the overall circuit connection endpoints may differ from the actual physical endpoints of the primary circuit segment.  
         [0031]    Primary circuit segments may be channelized (i.e., partitioned into a fixed number of sub-rate time slots or channels) or non-channelized (i.e., having only one partition per circuit segment) depending on the linkage rules selected for the circuit type of the primary circuit segment. Examples of primary circuit segments include, but are not limited to: a channelized IXC T1 circuit for providing voice connectivity for a site location; a point-to-point data circuit; an ATM or frame relay T3 access circuit; a point-to-point fractional T1 circuit; a PVC circuit between two user locations; an integrated service digital network (hereinafter, “ISDN”) basic rate interface (hereinafter, “BRI”) or digital subscriber line (hereinafter, “DSL); or a 56 KB data circuit.  
         [0032]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, primary circuit segments are further classified according to a selected service property. Thus, the circuit management system  30  shown in FIG. 1 may be configured to group circuit segments into service categories. A service category of a primary point-to-point circuit segment may be selected from the group comprising a data circuit, a voice circuit, a video circuit, an access circuit, or any other circuit related to a service property of a communication network.  
         [0033]    A data circuit is configured to transport data services via a non-channelized facility across its circuit segment. Examples of data circuits include, but are not limited to: a 56 KB, DSL or ISDN line over a twisted pair; a PVC; or a non-channelized WAN/MAN OCx or DSx circuit that transports data from one site location to another. A voice circuit is configured to provide voice communication across its circuit segment and is preferably restricted to channels on a T1 circuit having a bandwidth of 64 KB allotted thereto. A video circuit preferably comprises a T1 or fractional T1 circuit configured to provide video or videoconferencing connectivity.  
         [0034]    An access circuit is configured to terminate the traffic of one or more individual child or peer circuits and preferably traverses between a CO/IXC and a user endpoint location. However, an access circuit may be used as tie trunks connecting two user endpoint locations. For example, tie trunks for voice call re-routing between a plurality of PBXs. An access circuit may be configured to be channelized or non-channelized. Examples of access circuits include, but are not limited to: non-channelized and channelized OCx and DSx circuits connecting a CO/IXC and a site location used to terminate PVCs or other sub-rate circuits; site-to-site channelized or non-channelized tie trunks; and T1 circuits that terminate channel services and/or fractional T1 circuits.  
         [0035]    A secondary classification is assigned to circuit segments that terminate the payload or traffic of a single primary circuit segment. Secondary circuits may not be channelized and are configured to provide unaltered transport for a primary circuit segment&#39;s payload to and from the secondary circuit&#39;s endpoints. Secondary circuits preferably have peer linkage relationships only with a primary circuit segment and their endpoints are defined by their physical endpoints. Examples of secondary circuit segments include, but are not limited to: a point-to-point T1 circuit provisioned on a ring at a network hub site to terminate an IXC circuit; or any LEC circuit segment that is used to terminate an IXC circuit. Note, however, that whether a user decides to track an LEC circuit used to terminate an IXC circuit will depend on internal provisioning management fundamentals.  
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment, local loop or LEC circuits that are procured or leased by the IXC are not tracked because the LEC circuit identifiers (hereinafter, “IDs”) are often not received from the IXC. Also, when the LEC circuit fDs are inserted into the circuit database, it often creates confusion as to whether the user of the LEC actually supports the local circuit. Further, entering the entire circuit including all segments and linkages may be time consuming and too much information is often worse than not enough information. The circuit management system, according to the preferred embodiment, is centered on tracking only the circuit segments that the user receives a bill for and ultimately supports. Thus, it may be advantageous to track the minimum amount of information necessary to assist with capacity planning and system management as well as to support the circuit, its connection, and the cost associated with it.  
         [0037]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the circuit management system  30  shown in FIG. 2 is configured for nodal management of endpoints wherein each terminating location of a circuit is tracked and managed. Nodal management of endpoints provides information about an overall circuit connection as well as each individual circuit connection it comprises. Preferably, an overall end-to-end circuit connection comprises one primary circuit segment having the same endpoint nodes and being on the same hierarchical level as the overall circuit. The overall end-to-end circuit may further comprise at least one parent primary circuit segment and at least one peer secondary circuit segment. Thus, each segment in the end-to-end circuit connection will either be the dominant segment (i.e., primary), or a support segment (i.e., secondary). The primary circuit segment utilizes the same endpoints as the overall connection because everything stems off the primary circuit segment. Thus, all circuit linkage relationships relate back to the primary circuit segment including circuit linkage relationships between all secondary segments and to any equipment linkages.  
         [0038]    The primary circuit segment also utilizes the same endpoints as the overall end-to-end circuit connection to provide a modular, incremental approach to circuit management. By having the primary circuit segment assume the endpoints of the overall connection, its presence in the overall circuit provides sufficient information to support and manage the end-to-end circuit without any knowledge of secondary circuit segments or linkages. In contrast to primary circuit segments, secondary circuit segments reflect their actual physical endpoint locations and preferably do not link to demark information. Thus, data entry time is minimized through the establishment of primary and secondary circuit segments wherein circuit inventories in a network infrastructure may be built in stages. Each stage of the network infrastructure acts like a branch on a tree in that it expands the breadth of information and linkage relationships of the overall connection. Thus, users may start with a basic inventory of basic information and slowly build upon it by adding circuit linkage relationships and communication devices, defining endpoints, building relationships to trunk groups, setting up billing allocations, and tying circuits to service request information as more information is gathered and/or becomes available.  
         [0039]    As discussed above, a ring circuit is a complete circuit and has two or more endpoint locations. Preferably, ring circuits do not directly participate in an overall point-to-point connection. Rather, a ring circuit&#39;s point-to-point child circuit segments are utilized as primary or secondary circuit segments between any two of the ring circuit&#39;s endpoint nodes. To track specific termination information, the primary circuit segment may contain, at one or both ends, demark information at the user or non-carrier locations.  
         [0040]    All physical locations that are involved in a point-to-point circuit connection may be inventoried and uniquely categorized by the combination of their city, state (if applicable), street, and site type. A portion of these locations, representing user-owned locations, may also comprise at least one demark identified to provide additional detail about physical termination locations of specific circuits. Any non-carrier location may utilize demark information. However, demark information may not be required for carrier locations including LEC COs and IXC POPs.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of a circuit management linkage  60  according to the present invention. The circuit management linkage  60  is configured to manage relationships between interconnected circuit segments (not shown) of an overall end-to-end circuit connection (not shown). The circuit management linkage  60  is also configured to manage relationships between the circuit segments and any terminating communication equipment (not shown) connected thereto. The circuit management linkage  60  may be in the form of computer executable code, such as the computer executable code  39  shown in FIG. 2. The circuit management linkage  60  is configured to manage selected billing and physical link information, including demark information, for the circuit segments and/or communication equipment. At least a portion of the billing and physical link information may be stored in an electronic database, such as the management database  38  shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0042]    The circuit management linkage  60  comprises a master country list table  62 , a master city list table  64 , a master location table  66 , a master demark table  68 , a circuit location information table  70 , a master equipment list table  72 , a device linkage information table  74 , a circuit information table  76 , a circuit linkage information table  78 , a link to order information table  80 , a trunk group linkage table  82 , and a trunk group information table  84 . Each table  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 , and  84  comprise the data fields necessary to track and manage its respective billing and/or physical link information.  
         [0043]    The circuit information table  76  is configured to maintain all individual circuit information, such as circuit identifiers. The master country list table  62 , master city list table  64 , master location table  66 , and master demark table  68  are configured to manage endpoint location information including first level location information (e.g., physical address information) and second level location information (e.g., demark information). The master equipment list table  72  and device linkage information table  74  are configured to track equipment linkages to primary circuits at their endpoint locations. The circuit location information table  70  maintains pointers to location and demarcation information for each qualifying circuit endpoint. The circuit linkage information table  78  is configured to track all circuit linkages between individual circuits, including peer linkages, parent/child linkages and parallel (i.e., IMA) linkages.  
         [0044]    The trunk group linkage table  82  and trunk group information table  84  are configured, for circuits that are part of dedicated voice trunk groups, to map circuits to the trunk group and map the trunk group to toll free termination or dial plan ranges. The link to order information table  80  is configured to link installed circuits back to the orders associated with them. Thus, the link to order information table  80  is configured to interface with an order information element and the trunk group linkage table  82  and trunk group linkage table  84  are configured to link to toll free and dial plan information elements. Thus, the circuit management linkage  60  tracks and manages relative billing and physical link information required for billing administrators and system managers.  
         [0045]    Thus, in a general sense, valuable information about an end-to-end circuit may be tracked and managed through horizontal and vertical linkage relationships between circuit segments so that each individual circuit segment&#39;s role and relationship to its peers, parents and children are known. Further, data entry time is minimized by allowing circuit inventories to be built modularly or in stages. A primary segment of an overall circuit provides information for billing and support as it has the same endpoints as the overall circuit and controls the service and bandwidth of the connection. Also, Trunk groups linked to dedicated dial plan ranges or toll free routing terminations allows the voice and data network infrastructure to be bridged together and billing reports may show detailed consumption usage by location, demark, overall circuit, or billing allocation.  
         [0046]    As discussed above, circuit and/or equipment linkages manage the complex relationships between interconnected circuit segments, and/or any terminating communication equipment connected thereto, through linkage rules that govern the existence of circuit types and linkage permissions allowed for each circuit type. TABLE 1 below describes a set of linkage rules for each of a plurality of circuit types, according to one embodiment of the present invention. TABLE 1 also provides a description and behavior summary for each of the plurality of circuit types listed. The linkage rules for each circuit type may be in the form of computer executable code, such as the computer executable code  39  shown in FIG. 2.  
                             TABLE 1                           Circuit Type Linkage Rules            Type               Category   Description and Behavior   Linkage Rules               Twisted Pair   Point-to-point circuit   No peer linkages       Circuits   Supports two wire twisted pair   allowed           data circuits   No parent/child linkages           Supports multiple bandwidth   allowed           configurations   Equipment linkages           56 K circuits over twisted pair (2   allowed           wire)   No IMA linkages           Basic Rate ISDN (BRI) of 128 KB   allowed           bandwidth maximum and D           channel for communication           Even though ISDN BRI circuits           may support compressed digital           voice on one of its two B channels,           the circuit is still considered to be           exclusively data           DSL circuits may have different           upstream and downstream           bandwidth throttles       DS0 Circuits   Point-to-point circuit   No peer linkages           64 KB voice or data channels riding   allowed           a T1 or E1 circuit   May be a child in a           Includes voice channels for   parent/child linkage to:           terminating telephone calls   T1 circuits           Includes D channels on 24 channel   May not be a parent in a           of ISDN PRI circuit   parent/child linkage           Includes data channels that are   No equipment linkages           used by carriers for complex   allowed           routing   No IMA linkages               allowed       FT1 Circuits   Point-to-point circuit   No peer linkages       (or Fractional T1)   Fractional DS1 circuits may have   allowed           bandwidth = n × 64 KB, where n = 1   May be a child in a           to 24   parent/child linkage to:           FT1 circuits ride parent DS1   T1 circuits           circuits and may occupy 1 to many   May not be a parent in a           channels on a T1 or E1   parent/child linkage           FT1 circuits may not be   Equipment linkages           channelized   allowed               No IMA linkages               allowed       T1 Circuits   Point-to-point circuit   Peer linkages allowed to           Most commonly used digital line   other T1 or E1 circuits           in the U.S., Canada and Japan   May be a parent in a           T1 circuit bandwidth is 1.544 MB   parent/child linkage to:           (non-channelized) and 1.536 MB   DS0 circuits           (channelized)   FT1 circuits           T1 circuits may be channelized to   May be a child in a           carry 24 sub-rate DS0 channel   parent/child linkage to:           circuits or a combination of DS0   T3 circuits           channel circuits and FT1 circuits   OC3 circuits           T1 circuits may ride on a parent   Equipment linkages           ring and point to point DS3 and   allowed           OCx circuits (rare)   IMA linkages allowed           T1 circuits typically ride a parent           T3 that may in turn ride a parent           OCx circuit       E1 Circuits   Point-to-point circuit   Peer linkages allowed to           European Digital Transmission   other T1 or E1 circuits           format used by many in Europe   May be a parent in a           and Canada   parent/child linkage to:           E1 circuit bandwidth is 2.048 MB   DS0 circuits           E1 circuits may be channelized to   FT1 circuits           carry 32 sub-rate DS0 channel   May be a child in a           circuits or a combination of DS0   parent/child linkage to:           channel circuits and FT1 circuits   E3 circuits               Equipment linkages               allowed               IMA linkages allowed       T3 Circuits   Point-to-point circuit   Peer linkages allowed to           Commonly used by Internet   other T3 or E3 circuits           Service Providers (ISPs) and for   May be a parent in a           backbone intranet connections   parent/child linkage to:           T3 bandwidth is 44.736 MB   T1 circuits           T3 circuits may ride parent OCx   May be a child in a           ring (where x = 3, 12, 48, etc.) and   parent/child linkage to:           occupy a single slot on an OCx   OCx ring or           ring circuit   point to point           T3 may be channelized to carry 28   circuits           T1 circuits   Equipment linkages               allowed               No IMA linkages               allowed       E3 Circuits   Point-to-point circuit   Peer linkages allowed to           Not a commonly used circuit, but   other T3 or E3 circuits           is still used sparingly in Europe   May be a parent in a           E3 bandwidth is 34.368 MB   parent/child linkage to:           E3 may be channelized to carry 16   E1 circuits           E1 circuits   May not be a child in a               parent/child linkage               Equipment linkages               allowed               IMA linkages allowed       OCx Circuits   Point-to-point or ring circuit   Point-to-point OC3 peer       Where x = 3,   OCx circuits ride fiber optic cable   linkages allowed       12, 48, 96, 192   and may ride x number of   between point to point           contiguous channels on a parent   OC3 circuits           ring circuit   Ring OC3 linkages peer           OC3 bandwidth (non-channelized) = 155 MB   allowed between ring           OC3 may ride parent OC12 ring   OC3 circuits           and up   Can be a parent in a           OC3 may be channelized to carry 3   parent/child linkage to:           T3 circuits   Any smaller           OC12 bandwidth (non-   OCx circuit           channelized) = 620 MB   T3 circuits           OC12 may be channelized to carry   T1 circuits (OC3           4 OC3s, 12 T3s, or a valid   only)           combination of both   Can be a child in a           OC12 may ride parent OC48 ring   parent/child linkage to:           and up   Any larger OCx           Ring circuits are concentric fiber   circuit           routed circuits with a primary and   Equipment linkages           secondary (in case primary fails)   allowed           route for fault tolerance   No IMA linkages           Ring circuits connect two or more   allowed           locations           Ring circuits may carry smaller           ring and point to point circuits                  
 
       EXAMPLES  
       [0047]    The following examples illustrate how linkage rules are used, according to an aspect of the present invention, to track and manage billing and physical link information in an overall end-to-end circuit comprising a plurality of circuit segments. Specifically, each of the examples below illustrates the use of the linkage rules shown in TABLE 1. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the examples.  
       Example 1  
       [0048]    [0048]FIG. 4 illustrates a network  100  comprising a first LAN  102  and a second LAN  104  interconnected via circuit segments  108  and  110 . The first LAN  102  and the second LAN  104  each represent an internal network infrastructure owned by “user A” at a distinct location. In this example, the first LAN  102  and the second LAN  104  are each located in different cities. Circuit segment  108  comprises a ring circuit (not shown) owned by user A having a T1 circuit owned by “LEC C” riding thereon. LEC C&#39;s T1 circuit terminates at IXC&#39;s CO POP  106 . User A has contracted with the IXC to provide a T1 data circuit  110  for Internet/Intranet connectivity between the first LAN  102  and the second LAN  104 . The WXC has also entered into sharing and exchange agreements with “LEC C” for termination in the geographical area of the first LAN  102  and with “LEC D” for termination on its local loop (not shown) in the geographical area of the second LAN  104 . For clarity, a POP at the connection between the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  110  and the local loop leased or procured from LEC D by the IXC is not shown.  
         [0049]    Since the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  110  is providing the Internet/Intranet connection, it is defined as the primary circuit segment. Thus, as described above, the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  110  has the same logical endpoints as the overall end-to-end circuit at the first LAN  102  and the second LAN  104 . LEC C&#39;s T1 point-to-point circuit segment  108  (riding user A&#39;s ring circuit) is tracked as a secondary circuit segment because it is necessary for user A&#39;s support, capacity planning and management activities and because it is riding user A&#39;s ring circuit and cannot be leased or procured by the IXC. Since the local loop is leased or procured by the IXC from LEC D, it is not necessary to track LEC D&#39;s local loop.  
         [0050]    The following information may be entered into a management database, such as the management database  38  shown in FIG. 2, for use by a circuit management system. The IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  110  is entered into a circuit table as the primary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  102  and the second LAN  104 . The IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  110  is peer linked to LEC C&#39;s T1 circuit  108 . LEC C&#39;s T1 circuit  108  will be entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  102  and the CO/IXC POP  106 . Although not shown, LEC C&#39;s T1 circuit  108  is linked to a parent T3 circuit (which in turn rides on the ring circuit) in a parent/child linkage on an appropriate channel. Optionally, LEC D&#39;s local loop circuit may also be entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the second LAN  104  and another IXC POP (not shown). If LEC D&#39;s circuit is thus entered, it is peer linked to the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  110 .  
       Example 2  
       [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 illustrates a network  120  comprising a LAN  122  connected to an IXC POP  124  via a T1 circuit  126  owned by the IXC. In this example, the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  126  is provisioned to provide channelized voice services to “user B.” The network  120  may also comprise a local loop (not shown) leased from “LEC E” by the IXC for termination at the LAN  122 .  
         [0052]    Since the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  126  is an access circuit configured to provide termination for voice channels, the overall endpoints of the A XC&#39;s T1 circuit  126  will be at the IXC&#39;s POP  124  and the LAN  122 . As a circuit management system may not be configured to track demark information at the IXC&#39;s POP  124 , the LAN  122  is the only endpoint eligible to maintain demark information. As there may be more than one demark available at the LAN  122 , it is necessary to track which demark (i.e., building, floor and room) at user B&#39;s physical address the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  126  terminates in. Circuits that contain demark information often terminate to a piece of communication equipment (not shown) located in a particular rack, mounted on a designated shelf, and assigned a port. In this example, a PBX port may be linked to the primary circuit segment  126  via an equipment linkage. Note that multiple pieces of equipment may be linked by equipment linkages. Equipment linkages may be optional, as required by user B.  
         [0053]    The following information may be entered into a management database, such as the management database  38  shown in FIG. 2. The IXC&#39;s T1 circuit segment  126  is entered into a circuit table as the primary circuit with endpoints at the LAN  122  and the IXC&#39;s POP  124 . Optionally, LEC E&#39;s local loop circuit may also be entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the LAN  122  and a second IXC POP (not shown). If LEC E&#39;s circuit is thus entered, it is peer linked to the IXC&#39;s T1 circuit  126 .  
       Example 3  
       [0054]    [0054]FIG. 6A illustrates a network  128  comprising a first LAN  130  interconnected to a second LAN  132 . The first LAN  130  and the second LAN  132  each represent an internal network infrastructure owned by “user C” at a distinct location. In this example, the first LAN  130  is located in a first city (on the “A end”) and the second LAN is located in a second city (on the “Z end”). The network  128  further comprises an IXC point-to-point T1 data circuit  140  between the first city and the second city. A local loop  138  is provided by “LEC F” in the first city. A local loop  142  is provided by “LEC G” in the second city. Neither local loop  138 ,  142  resides on a private ring or is owned by user B.  
         [0055]    The overall network  128  physically has three segments  138 ,  140 ,  142 . However, since both local circuits  138 ,  142  do not reside as child circuits on ring circuits or other access equipment owned by user B, the IXC may lease or procure both local circuits  138 ,  142  and roll up the charges into its own circuit bill under the circuit identifier (hereinafter, “ID”) for the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 . Therefore, only the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit segment  140  needs to be tracked or entered into a management database. However, if tracking the circuit IDs associated with the local circuits  138 ,  142  is necessary, the local circuits  138 ,  142  may be entered into the management system as secondary circuits linked in a peer relationship to the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 .  
         [0056]    The following information may be entered into a management database, such as the management database  38  shown in FIG. 2. The IXC&#39;s carrier circuit segment  140  is entered into a circuit table as the primary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  130  and the second LAN  132 . Optionally, LEC F&#39;s local circuit segment  138  may also be entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  130  and CO/IXC POP  134 . If LEC F&#39;s local circuit  138  is thus entered, it is peer linked to the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 . Further, LEC G&#39;s local circuit segment  142  may also be optionally entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the second LAN  132  and CO/IXC POP  136 . If LEC G&#39;s local circuit  142  is thus entered, it is peer linked to the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 6B illustrates the network  128  of FIG. 6A modified to show what the circuit management system would track if the local circuits  138 ,  142  were not entered into the management database.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 6C illustrates how the network  128  of FIG. 6A would be tracked and managed if the IXC used a pre-existing channelized T3 circuit  144  to terminate the IXC&#39;s carrier T1 circuit  140 . Segmentation of the network  128  is the same as described above since there is still only one circuit segment, the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 , at the primary circuit level. However, a parent/child relationship now exists the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140  (the child) and the IXC&#39;s T3 circuit  144  (the parent). Since the parent/child linkage relationship changes the dynamics of the overall network  128 , it is necessary to define the topology of the connection and enter the parent/child relationship into the management database.  
         [0059]    The following information may be entered into the management database. The IXC&#39;s carrier circuit segment  140  is entered into the circuit table as the primary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  130  and the second LAN  132 . If the IXC&#39;s T3 circuit  144  does not already exist in the circuit management system, then the IXC&#39;s T3 circuit  144  is entered into the circuit table as a primary T3 circuit with endpoints at the second LAN  132  and the CO/IXC POP  136 . The IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140  (child) is linked to the IXC&#39;s T3 circuit (parent) in a parent/child linkage relationship. Optionally, LEC F&#39;s local circuit segment  138  may also be entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  130  and the CO/IXC POP  134  shown in FIG. A. If LEC F&#39;s local circuit  138  is thus entered, it is peer linked to the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 6D illustrates how the network  128  of FIG. 6A would be tracked and managed if the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140  is terminated on a ring circuit  150  in the first city. The ring circuit  150  comprises four nodes at the first LAN  130 , a third LAN  146 , a fourth LAN  148  and the CO/ IXC POP  134 . In this example, the IXC carrier circuit  140  terminates on a child point-to-point T1 circuit  152  riding a parent point-to-point channelized T3 circuit  154  owned by LEC F, which in turn rides on the ring circuit  150  owned by user C. Demark information is only supplied for the endpoint locations of the primary circuit, the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 . The management system knows that the T1 circuit segment  152  is a secondary circuit linked to the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140  and shows the overall circuit connection as such.  
         [0061]    The management database may be updated by entering the following information. The IXC&#39;s carrier circuit segment  140  is entered into the circuit table as the primary circuit with endpoints at the ring circuit  150  and the second LAN  132 . The T1 circuit segment  152  is entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at ring circuit  150  and the CO/IXC POP  134 . If LEC F&#39;s T3 circuit  154  does not already exist in the circuit management system, then the IXC&#39;s T3 circuit  154  is entered into the circuit table as a primary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  130  and the CO/IXC POP  134 . LEC F&#39;s T3 circuit  154  (child) is linked to the ring circuit  150  (parent) in a parent/child linkage relationship. Optionally, the T1 circuit segment  152  is entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  130  and CO/IXC POP  134 . If the T1 circuit segment  152  is thus entered, it is peer linked to the IXC&#39;s carrier circuit  140 .  
       Example 4  
       [0062]    [0062]FIG. 7A illustrates a network  160  comprising a first LAN  162  and a second LAN  164  interconnected via a point-to-point 256 KB fractional T1 circuit  170  provided be an IXC. The first LAN  162  and the second LAN  164  each represent an internal network infrastructure owned by “user D” at a distinct location. The IXC&#39;s fractional T1 circuit  170  differs from most conventional circuits in that it must use a parent access T1 segment to deliver its payload at each terminating location. Thus, the IXC&#39;s fractional T1 circuit  170  interconnects with a channelized T1 access circuit  168  provided by the IXC at a CO/IXC POP  178  at the “B end” and with a channelized T1 access circuit  172  provided by the IXC at a CO/IXC POP  180  at the “Y end.” 
         [0063]    Both of the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuits  168 ,  172  are configured to be multiplexed into 24 channels that provide 64 KB of bandwidth per channel. Therefore, the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuits  168 ,  172  may each be configured to provide the required 256 KB of bandwidth by using four contiguous channels. For this example, the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  168  is configured to use contiguous channels five through eight and the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  172  is configured to use contiguous channels fourteen through seventeen. Thus, to accurately inventory the network  160 , the IXC&#39;s fractional T1 circuit  170  is linked as a child on channels five through eight of the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  168  and as a child on channels fourteen through seventeen of the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  172 . Therefore, the primary segment (i.e., the IXC&#39;s fractional T1 circuit  170 ) is the only segment on its circuit level, but it is using two hierarchically superior primary access circuits (i.e., the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuits  168 ,  172 ) to deliver its payload.  
         [0064]    In this example, both endpoints of the overall network  160  terminate on ring circuits (not shown) provided by “LEC H” at the first LAN  162  and by “LEC I” at the second LAN  164 . Thus, the network  160  further comprises a child point-to-point T1 circuit  166  riding a parent point-to-point T3 circuit  167 , which in turn rides on LEC H&#39;s ring circuit. Also, the network  160  further comprises a child point-to-point T1 circuit  174  riding a parent point-to-point T3 circuit  175 , which in turn rides on LEC I&#39;s ring circuit.  
         [0065]    The following information may be entered into a management database, such as the management database  38  shown in FIG. 2. The IXC&#39;s fractional T1 circuit  170  is entered into a circuit table as a primary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  162  and the second LAN  164 . The IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  168  is entered into the circuit table as a primary access circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  162  and the CO/IXC POP  178 . The IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  172  is entered into the circuit table as a primary access circuit with endpoints at the second LAN  164  and the CO/IXC POP  180 . The IXC&#39;s fractional T1 circuit  170  (child) is linked to channel five of the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  168  (parent) and to channel fourteen of the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  172  (parent) in a parent/child linkage. Note that the system will determine the number of slots or channels actually used depending on the bandwidth of the IXC&#39;s fractional T1 circuit  170 .  
         [0066]    The T1 circuit  166  is entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  162  and a CO/IXC POP  176  at the “A end.” The T3 circuit  167  is entered into the circuit table as a primary T3 circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  162  and the CO/IXC POP  176 . The T3 circuit  167  (child) is linked to LEC H&#39;s ring circuit (parent) in a parent/child linkage. The T1 circuit  166  (child) is linked to the T3 circuit  167  (parent) in a parent/child linkage. The T1 circuit  166  is then peer linked to the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  168 .  
         [0067]    The T1 circuit  174  is entered into the circuit table as a secondary circuit with endpoints at the second LAN  164  and a CO/IXC POP  182  at the “Z end.” The T3 circuit  175  is entered into the circuit table as a primary T3 circuit with endpoints at the second LAN  164  and the CO/IXC POP  182 . The T3 circuit  175  (child) is linked to LEC I&#39;s ring circuit (parent) in a parent/child linkage. The T1 circuit  174  (child) is linked to the T3 circuit  175  (parent) in a parent/child linkage. The T1 circuit  174  is then peer linked to the IXC&#39;s T1 access circuit  172 .  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 7B illustrates how the network  160  of FIG. 7A would be tracked and managed if the IXC employed a PVC T1 circuit  170 ′ rather than the fractional T1 circuit  170  shown in FIG. 7A to create an ATM PVC network  160 ′. In the example shown in FIG. 7B, the IXC employs T3 access circuits  168 ′ and  172 ′ rather than the T1 access circuits  168  and  172  shown in FIG. 7A. Further, T3 circuit segments  166 ′ and  174 ′ are employed rather than the T1 circuit segments  166  and  174  shown in FIG. 7A.  
         [0069]    Generally, fractional circuits are similar to PVC circuits except that PVC circuits do not utilize a channelization scheme. Instead, PVC circuits employ a bandwidth percentage allocation. As shown in FIG. 7B, the IXC&#39;s PVC T1 circuit  170 ′ occupies a percentage of the bandwidth of the IXC&#39;s T3 access circuits  168 ′,  172 ′ rather than a channel range. In this example, 52% of each of the IXC&#39;s T3 access circuits  168 ′,  172 ′ is occupied by the IXC&#39;s PVC T1 circuit&#39;s  170 ′ bandwidth needs. Note that if the network  160 ′ had been a frame relay PVC riding T1 access circuits, the only difference with the fractional T1 circuit example shown in FIG. 7A would be that the access circuits  168 ′,  172 ′ utilize an unfixed fraction of the bandwidth or Committed Information Rate (or, “CIR”) as opposed to a range of channels.  
       Example 5  
       [0070]    [0070]FIG. 8 illustrates a ring circuit  180  owned by “LEC J” and configured to provide interconnectivity between a first LAN  184 , a second LAN  186 , a third LAN  188 , and a fourth LAN  190 . Each LAN  184 ,  186 ,  188 ,  190  represents an internal network infrastructure owned by “user E” at a distinct location. The ring circuit  180  further comprises a first CO  192  and a second CO  194 , each owned by LEC J. In this example, each LAN  184 ,  186 ,  188 ,  190  and each CO  192 ,  194  may be located in different cities. For clarity, this example will only discuss tracking and managing an interconnection between the first LAN  184  and the fourth LAN  192  through the first CO  192 . However, similar principles may be applied for each possible interconnection in the ring circuit  180 .  
         [0071]    As shown in FIG. 8, a voice T1 tie trunk  182  riding on two parent channelized T3 circuits  196  and  198  is used to interconnect the first LAN  182  and the fourth LAN  190  without leaving the ring circuit  180 . This technique may be used to provide PBX trunking between PBX switches (not shown) at the first LAN  184  and the fourth LAN  190  by utilizing available bandwidth on existing point-to-point T3 circuits  196 ,  198  riding on the ring circuit  180 . Thus, voice calls may be transferred between the PBX switches at the first LAN  184  and the fourth LAN  190  using the T3 circuit  196  between the first LAN  184  and the first CO  192  and the T3 circuit  198  between the first CO  192  and the fourth LAN  190 .  
         [0072]    While the voice T1 tie trunk  182  rides on two separate parent T3 circuits  196 ,  198 , it is still only one circuit segment between the first LAN  184  and the fourth LAN  190 . Therefore, the voice T1 tie trunk  182  may be defined as the primary circuit segment with endpoints at the first LAN  184  and the fourth LAN  190 . All linkages are parent/child linkages with the voice T1 tie trunk  182  as a child to the parent T3 circuits  196 ,  198 .  
         [0073]    Assuming that the access T3 circuits  196 ,  198  riding the ring circuit  180  already exist in a management database, such as the management database  38  shown in FIG. 2, the following information may be entered into the database for use by a circuit management system. The voice T1 tie trunk  182  is entered into a circuit table as the primary circuit with endpoints at the first LAN  184  and the fourth LAN  190 . The voice T1 tie trunk  182  (child) is linked to the T3 circuit  196  (parent) and to the T3 circuit  198  (parent) on the appropriate channels in a parent/child linkage.  
         [0074]    While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.