Patent ID: 7142530

Claim:
A method for defining a path through an overall network for communications service between a unit and a service provider, comprising: storing a topology of an overall network including elements and at least one link among the elements; receiving a service order for provision of the communications service between the unit and the service provider; and using information from the service order with the topology to select particular elements from the elements of the overall network and to select at least one particular link between the particular elements as the path for the communications service through the overall network, wherein the overall network comprises at least a first type of network and a second type of network; wherein the overall network comprises a digital subscriber line (DSL) network or an asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) network; wherein using the information from the service order with the topology comprises using the information to select a particular element from the DSL network or the ADSL network as a part of the path for the communications service through the overall network; wherein the digital subscriber line (DSL) network or the asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) network comprises a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM); wherein using the information to select the particular element from the DSL network or the ADSL network comprises using the information to select the DSLAM as the part of the path; and wherein the digital subscriber line (DSL) network of the asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) network comprises a mini-ram (MR).