Communications network management

A method of configuring a communication network in response to a requirement for change in communications services available by means of said network, the network comprising a plurality of configurable nodes connected by links for carrying traffic, and the network being provided with a distributed control system comprising a plurality of software agents, at least one of said agents having control over the configuration of one or more nodes of said network to allocate links to respective services,

• wherein said software agents are provided with:
• a) communication means for communicating with other agents;
• b) data storage for storing data which is local to at least one agent, in respect of the network;
• c) updating means for updating in the data storage;
• d) at least one algorithm for use in configuring the network;
• and
• e) a control output for outputting control signals to a node or nodes, the method comprising the steps of:
• i) receiving an input comprising said requirement for a change at the management system;
• ii) negotiating among at least some of said software agents, by means of said communication means, to determining a node or nodes for configuration to provide said change, using said at least one algorithm;
• and
• iii) outputting a configuration control signal to the node or nodes so determined, to allocate links to provide said change.

A method of managing a communications network for the provision of communications services, said network comprising a plurality of nodes connected by links for carrying communications traffic, and being provided with a management system comprising a community of software agents, at least one of said software agents having control over the configuration of one or more nodes of said plurality of nodes to provide allocation of links to one or more of said services, at least two of said agents being provided with:

• a) communication means for communicating with other agents;
• b) data storage for storing data which is local to the agent, in respect of the network;
• c) updating means for updating data in the data storage;
• d) at least one algorithm for use in controlling configuration of said one or more nodes;
• e) failure detection means for detecting failure of an agent;
• and
• f) means for outputting a bid values, which method comprises:
• i) detecting failure of a software agent by means of said failure detecting means;
• ii) responding to said failure by initiating a bidding process in said community of software agents, at least one agent outputting a bid value F representing weighted values of parameters relevant to that agent in respect of taking over responsibility of the failed agent;
• iii) on completion of said bidding process, identifying the agent which has output the most favorable bid value F;
• and
• iv) transferring one or more responsibilities of said failed agent to the identified agent.