Patent ID: 7801995

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for end-to-end control of data transport means through a software programmable, intelligent packet, cell or frame based network, wherein said data transport means are disposed in a network bearer plane and said control performed by at least one management controller and at least one cognitive controller disposed at least in part in a functional plane distinct from the bearer plane, the method comprising: continuously determining the current state of said network; receiving a reservation request for a data transport session, wherein said reservation request contains a desired class of communication service through said network; obtaining at least one currently compliant end-to-end route through said network, the current state of said route being continually compliant with said requested class of communication service based on said continuously determined state of said network; and controlling said data transport session via said management and cognitive controllers such that data is forced to travel along said at least one obtained currently compliant route through said network based on continuously determined current bearer plane characteristics; communicating between said at least one management controller and said data transport means via an out-of-bearer -plane dedicated physical circuit or an in-bearer-plane dedicated virtual circuit; and communicating between said at least one cognitive controller and said at least one management controller via an out-of-bearer-plane dedicated physical circuit or an in-bearer-plane dedicated virtual circuit.