Communications network including intelligent network service manager

A network management system included in a multi-function communications network, the network management system comprising:

• a network manager controller in signal communication with a plurality of network element adapters, each network element adapter in signal communication with a respective network element included in at least one communication node installed in the multi-function communications network, the network element selected among different types of network elements including an antenna, a terminal, a modem, and a sensor;
• an intelligent network services manager (ISM) controller in signal communication with the network manager controller, the ISM controller configured to determine at least one course of action (CoA) based on an operating disruption of an affected node including a failed discrete network element unable to perform a respective communication service among the at least one communication node, and to generate reconfiguration parameters for reconfiguring at least one of the network elements based at least in part on the at least one CoA,
• wherein the reconfiguration parameters instruct the affected node to communicate with a non-affected node among the at least one communication node and to utilize a non-failed discrete network element included in the non-affected node that matches the failed discrete network element to perform the respective communication service, and
• wherein the reconfiguration parameters dynamically establishes a signal path directly between the non-failed discrete network element included the non-affected node and a non-failed discrete network element included in the affected node such that the non-failed discrete network element of the non-affected node and the non-failed discrete network element of the affected node exchange data directly with one another to perform the respective communication service.

A method of operating a multi-function communications network comprising:

• exchanging data between a plurality of communication nodes and front-end communications network, each communication node among the plurality of communication nodes including a plurality of different types of discrete network elements, the plurality of different types of discrete network elements including at least two elements selected among an antenna, a terminal, a modem, and a sensor;
• exchanging data between a plurality of network element adapters and a respective network element among the plurality of discrete network elements;
• and
• generating, via a network management system in signal communication with the plurality of network element adapters, reconfiguration parameters in response to an operating disruption of at least one affected node among the plurality of communication nodes, the operating disruption comprising a failed discrete network element unable to perform a respective communication service;
• and
• reconfiguring at least one of the non-affected discrete network element included in the at least one affected node based at least in part on the reconfiguration parameters so as to dynamically establish a signal path directly between the reconfigured at least one non-affected discrete network element and a non-failed discrete network element included in a non-affected node among the plurality of communication nodes;
• and
• exchanging data, via the dynamically established signal path, directly between the reconfigured at least one non-affected discrete network element included the affected node and the non-failed discrete network element included in the non-affected node so as to perform the respective communication service.