Systems and methods for forming and operating robust communication networks for an enterprise
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are described for forming and operating communication networks that support the needs of an enterprise. These systems and methods include: establishing a plurality enterprise network nodes overlaid on one or more common carrier networks; establishing independence between the enterprise network and the common carrier networks; designing services provided by the enterprise network to be consistent with the current modes of operation of the common carrier networks and employing existing services of the common carrier networks to transport enterprise data; employing redundancy in communications among enterprise network nodes and in the storage of enterprise data. Compared to current enterprise networks, a network based on these methods and systems is easier to implement, is less expensive, and could be deployed more quickly. This network is not limited by the coverage and services provided by any particular carrier. With the systems and methods of this invention, the impact on the common carrier networks of providing services for an enterprise network are minimized. The redundancy associated with the systems and methods of this invention enables an enterprise network to quickly recover from a disaster and support the continuity of business operations.
1. A method, comprising:
generating an enterprise network by incorporating a plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks communicating through a plurality of common carriers, each enterprise sub-network including a plurality of edge nodes interfacing with users and a core node;
separating the enterprise network from the plurality of common carriers by providing to the enterprise network from the plurality of common carriers agnostic transport services for the communications through the plurality of common carriers; and
enabling redundancy in the communications among the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks at least by:
connecting at least a subset of the edge nodes of a same geographically separated enterprise sub-network to the core node of another geographically separated enterprise sub-network and
distributing enterprise data among the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks to enable autonomous transaction execution by any edge node of a respective geographically separated enterprise sub-network when that respective geographically separated enterprise sub-network is disconnected from the enterprise network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein incorporating the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks includes interconnecting the core node of a first of the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks to the core node of at least a second of the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks through the plurality of common carriers by a plurality of physical and virtual connections through the plurality of common carriers.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein separating the enterprise network from the plurality of common carriers further includes:
utilizing common carrier interfaces and common carrier equipment that are separate from the services of the plurality of common carriers to support the communications through the plurality of common carriers, and
enabling the enterprise network to transport and support the communications through the plurality of common carriers independent of control by the plurality of common carriers.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the enterprise data includes distributing the enterprise data throughout the core nodes.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the enterprise network includes interconnecting the core nodes by a SONET/SDH ring through the plurality of common carriers.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the enterprise data includes distributing at least a subset of the enterprise data to the edge nodes and their corresponding core nodes.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
independently operating and independently supporting the enterprise network and the plurality of common carriers.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the enterprise data includes distributing to, and storing at, the edge nodes at least a subset of the enterprise data.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, in an edge node, that at least one of a connection to the core nodes is disabled and the enterprise network is disabled; and
autonomously executing at least one transaction in the edge node.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enterprise data includes data associated with transaction processing of the enterprise data that is distributed to at least one of the enterprise nodes and is non-local to the at least one of the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks.
11. A system configured to:
generate an enterprise network through an incorporation of a plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks that communicate through a plurality of common carriers, each enterprise sub-network including a plurality of edge nodes that interface with users and a core node;
separate the enterprise network from the plurality of common carriers via agnostic transport services for communicating through the plurality of common carriers, the agnostic transport services being provided by the plurality of common carriers to the enterprise network; and
enable redundancy in the communicating among the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks at least by:
connections between at least a subset of the edge nodes of a same geographically separated enterprise sub-network and the core node of another geographically separated enterprise sub-network and
a distribution of enterprise data among the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks to enable autonomous transaction execution by any edge node of a respective geographically separated enterprise sub-network when that respective geographically separated enterprise sub-network is disconnected from the enterprise network.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the incorporation of the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks includes the system being configured to interconnect the core node of a first of the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks to the core node of at least a second of the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks through the plurality of common carriers by a plurality of physical and virtual connections through the plurality of common carriers.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system separates the enterprise network from the plurality of common carriers, the system being further configured to:
utilize common carrier interfaces and common carrier equipment that are separate from the services of the plurality of common carriers to support the communications through the plurality of common carriers, and
enable the enterprise network to transport and support the communications through the plurality of common carriers independent of control by the plurality of common carriers.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the distribution of the enterprise data includes a distribution of the enterprise data throughout the core nodes.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system generates the enterprise network by being further configured to interconnect the core nodes by a SONET/SDH ring through the plurality of common carriers.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the distribution of the enterprise data includes a distribution of at least a subset of the enterprise data to the edge nodes and their corresponding core nodes.
17. The system of claim 11 , being further configured to independently operate and independently support the enterprise network and the plurality of common carriers.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the distribution of the enterprise data includes a distribution and storage of at least a subset of the enterprise data at the edge nodes.
19. The system of claim 11 , being further configured to:
detect, in an edge node, that at least one of a connection to the core nodes is disabled and the enterprise network is disabled; and
autonomously execute at least one transaction in the edge node.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the enterprise data includes data associated with a transaction process that is distributed to at least one of the enterprise nodes and is non-local to the at least one of the plurality of geographically separated enterprise sub-networks.