Abstract: Leased lines are provisioned over an internet protocol communications network by providing bandwidth tallies at each node and link in the network. Traffic to be sent over the leased line is labelled as high priority at the entry point to the leased line. Differentiated services mechanisms are set up at each node in the route to allow high priority traffic on the leased line to be processed before other traffic. A customer requests a leased line between two points and with a specified bandwidth and quality of service. Bandwidth tallies are checked along the chosen path to ensure that the requested bandwidth is available. As well as this checks are made to ensure that no more than a threshold level of high priority traffic will be present at any one node or link. Once the network is configured such that sufficient bandwidth is available and high priority traffic levels will not exceed the threshold level, the leased line is available for use.

Abstract: A method of managing a communications network is described which makes use of information about the current state of the network and in addition, information about past and/or future states of the network. Information about the current state of the network is stored in a management information base (MIB) and the information about the past/future states is either stored in this MIB, or separate past/future MIBs are created. The information about the past/future states is stored in a way such that it can be operated on in the same way as the information about the current state of the network. By storing the information in this way management of the network is improved. For example, future states of the network can be tested before being implemented. Also, information about past states can be used to predict future states. Fault management, configuration management, accounting management and performance management can all be improved by using the information about past/future states.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing at least part of a communications network and particularly for managing a customer network, for example, within an asynchronous transfer mode communications network. A predictor is used to predict parameters such as bandwidth levels and to predict when the parameter(s) will exceed capacity or previously agreed thresholds. These agreed levels may be specified for example in a service level agreement between a service provider and a customer. The predictor also predicts, how much excess there will be and how long this will occur for. This information is provided to the service provider/customer and also can be provided to an agent which comprises a computer system. This agent negotiates on behalf of either the customer (for example) with another agent acting on behalf of the service provider (for example) and in this way new terms for an agreement between the two parties is obtained.