Managing switched virtual circuits in a network

A computer program product including computer readable logic recorded thereon for managing a switched virtual circuit in a virtual circuit switched network, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• and
• a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising
• means for determining that said switched virtual circuit has been established in said network by said network access device,
• means for monitoring said switched virtual circuit while said switched virtual circuit is active, and
• means for storing duration and bandwidth information for said switched virtual circuit upon termination of said switched virtual circuit.

A method for managing a switched virtual circuit in a virtual circuit switched network, said method comprising:

• receiving at a management system a request from a network access device for establishing said switched virtual circuit;
• said management system generating connection parameters for establishing said switched virtual circuit in said virtual circuit switched network;
• said management system communicating said connection parameters to said network access device;
• said network access device establishing said switched virtual circuit;
• and
• said management system storing usage information for said switched virtual circuit upon termination of said switched virtual circuit.

A network management system for a virtual circuit switched network, said system comprising:

• a gateway having an interface to a network access device in said virtual circuit switched network;
• a rule engine communicatively coupled to said gateway and operable to generate switched virtual circuit connection parameters in response to a switched virtual circuit provisioning request received from said network access device via said gateway;
• and
• logic for storing usage information for a switched virtual circuit upon termination of said switched virtual circuit.