Network Tools for Analysis, Design, Testing, and Production of Services
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device publishes a test service profile to a group of communications devices, in which the test service profile provides for beta testing of the test service profile for a service on a network, and the test service profile includes service policy settings; and monitors use of the service by the group of communications devices based on the test service profile.
1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, at a service design system, service plan elements of a first service plan, the service plan elements for defining service capabilities of a remote communications device to access a network service;
generating a policy based on the service plan elements, the policy for assisting in the control of the service capabilities of the communications device to access the network service;
translating the policy to instructions;
providing the instructions to the communications device, the communications device capable of implementing the policy; and
providing information about the policy to an access integrity element capable of monitoring the implementing of the policy by the communications device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the policy includes an access policy that defines privileges to access the network service, an accounting policy for accounting use of the network service, and a notification policy that defines when to provide notifications corresponding to the network service.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information about the policy includes instructions capable of enabling the access control integrity element to monitor the implementing of the policy by the remote communications device.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the information about the policy identifies instructions capable of enabling the access control integrity element to monitor the implementing of the policy by the remote communications device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the access control integrity element is on the communications device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the access control integrity element is on a server device remote from the communications device.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the service capabilities includes intermediate device access network service forwarding capabilities; and
the access control integrity element is capable of monitoring whether the device is implementing the policy of intermediate device access network service forwarding.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the access control integrity element monitors whether the device is intermediate device access network service forwarding.
9 . A system comprising:
a user interface capable of receiving service plan elements of a first service plan from a user, the service plan elements for defining service capabilities of a remote communications device to access a network service;
logic capable of generating a policy based on the service plan elements, the policy for assisting in the control of the service capabilities of the communications device to access the network service, and capable of translating the policy to instructions; and
a communications interface capable of providing the instructions to the communications device, the communications device capable of implementing the policy, and capable of providing information about the policy to an access control integrity element capable of monitoring the implementing of the policy by the communications device.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the policy includes an access policy that defines privileges to access the network service, an accounting policy for accounting use of the network service, and a notification policy that defines when to provide notifications corresponding to the network service.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the information about the policy includes instructions capable of enabling the access control integrity element to monitor the implementing of the policy by the remote communications device.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the information about the policy identifies the instructions capable of enabling the access control integrity element to monitor the implementing of the policy by the remote communications device.
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the access control integrity element is on the communications device.
14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the access control integrity element is on the a server device remote from the communications device.
15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein
the service capabilities includes intermediate device access network service forwarding capabilities; and
the access control integrity element is capable of monitoring whether the device is implementing the policy of intermediate device access network service forwarding.
16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the access control integrity element monitors whether the device is intermediate device access network service forwarding.