Multi-tenant service management in a VoIP network
A system and method for aggregating services within a VoIP network. The VoIP network comprises a plurality of vendors, resellers, and users, and each reseller aggregates a plurality of services from the vendors and other resellers. Each type of service may be organized into two or more tiers, with each tier including one or more services. Each tier is presented to downstream users as a single price and is re-branded with the reseller's branding elements. Downstream users can select a desired service from a given tier, and the tier may automatically select a service that maximizes the profit for the reseller.
1. A system for managing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network, the system comprising:
a database; and
a server coupled to the database;
wherein the server is configured to:
aggregate a plurality of services of a first type, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of services are procured from one or more vendors;
group the plurality of services into two or more tiers; and
provide access to the two or more tiers to downstream resellers,
wherein services are automatically selected from a given tier such that a margin is maximized for a first reseller.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to:
aggregate a plurality of services of a second type, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of services are procured from one or more vendors;
group the plurality of services of the second type into two or more tiers; and
provide access to the two or more tiers to downstream resellers.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first type of service is telephone number activation.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of services of the first type are supplied by the first reseller.
5. The system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the system further comprises a plurality of resellers providing VoIP service to resell VoIP services to other resellers.
6. The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein a second reseller has access to a first service of the first type through at least two separate paths, and wherein the server is configured to automatically select a path with a lowest cost for the first service.
7. A method comprising:
aggregating, by a server coupled to a database, a plurality of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services of a first type, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of VoIP services are procured from one or more vendors;
grouping, by the server, the plurality of VoIP services into two or more tiers; and
providing, by the server, access to the two or more tiers to downstream resellers, wherein VoIP services are automatically selected from a given tier such that a margin is maximized for a first reseller.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:
aggregating a plurality of VoIP services of a second type, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of VoIP services are procured from one or more vendors;
grouping the plurality of VoIP services of the second type into two or more tiers; and
providing access to the two or more tiers to downstream resellers.
9. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first type of VoIP service is telephone number activation.
10. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of VoIP services of the first type are supplied by the first reseller.
11. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising aggregating a plurality of VoIP services of the first type for provision by a second reseller, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of VoIP services are procured from the first reseller.
12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the second reseller has access to a first service of the first type through at least two separate paths, and the method comprises automatically selecting a path of the two separate paths with a lowest cost for the first service.
13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein when executed the program instructions are operable to:
aggregate a plurality of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services of a first type, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of VoIP services are procured from one or more vendors;
group the plurality of VoIP services into two or more tiers; and
provide access to the two or more tiers to downstream resellers, wherein VoIP services are automatically selected from a given tier such that a margin is maximized for a first reseller.
14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein when executed the program instructions are further operable to:
aggregate a plurality of VoIP services of a second type, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of VoIP services are procured from one or more vendors;
group the plurality of VoIP services of the second type into two or more tiers; and
provide access to the two or more tiers to downstream resellers.
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first type of VoIP service is telephone number activation.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of VoIP services of the first type are supplied by the first reseller.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein the second reseller has access to a first service of the first type through at least two separate paths, and the program instructions are operable to automatically select a path of the two separate paths with a lowest cost for the first service.