(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2003/0005090 Al
Sullivan, JR. et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jan. 2,2003
(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
INTEGRATING NETWORK SERVICES
(76) Inventors: Robert R. Sullivan JR., Pleasanton,
CA (US); Dalibor F. Vrsalovic,
Sunnyvale, CA (US); Muhamed
Aganagic, San Jose, CA (US)
Correspondence Address:
Thomas C. Webster
BLAKELY, SOKOLOFF, TAYLOR & ZAFMAN
LLP
Seventh Floor
12400 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90025-1026 (US)
(21) Appl. No.: 09/895,999
(22) Filed: Jun. 30, 2001
Publication Classification (51) Int. CI.7 G06F 15/177
An integrated internetworking architecture for automating the configuration and control ol networks that operate according to standard layered protocols. The described architecture includes two major blocks: (1) a network; and (2) a controller coupled to the network that automatically configures the network by coordinating different resources to perform an action, such as providing an e-commerce shopping service. The controller may operate at a layer above the standard network protocols so as to abstract away the visible complexity of the network, thus allowing a human user to control, configure and operate the network as if it were a single host (e.g., computer) via a simple user interface. A tool set may also be provided to simulate and evaluate the interaction of the various networked components using the properties and provisioning information maintained within the controller.
