IP Library Granted Patent US 11,646,936
Granted Patent B2
US 11,646,936 · App. 17/698,259 · Granted May 9, 2023

Adaptive virtual services

Inventors: Adam Saenger (Castle Pines, CO); Matthew Holway (Round Tree, VA); Len Brannen (Evergreen, CO); Gene Clark (Marysville, OH); Anil Simlot (Sterling, VA); Zubin Ingah (Centennial, CO); Johan J. Shane (Newton, MA); Michael Gibson (Evergreen, CO); Cory Sawyer (Hudson, MA); Rich Cerami (Denver, CO); Kurt Deshazer (Larkspur, CO)
Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
H04L41/0813G06F8/62G06F9/45558G06F21/602H04L12/4641H04L41/0806G06F2009/45595
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,646,936
App. No.
17/698,259
Granted
May 9, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods relating to adaptive virtual services. In an example, a user specifies a device configuration for a platform device. As a result, a service provider installs selected virtual-network functions and defines network connections as specified by the device configuration. Management software may also be installed, thereby enabling the service provider to communicate with and remotely manage the platform device. The installed virtual-network functions are activated on the platform device once it is delivered to the user. In some instances, the user changes the device configuration. For example, the user may install new virtual-network functions, reconfigure or remove existing virtual-network functions, or change defined network connections. As a result, the service provider reconfigures the platform device accordingly. Thus, the user need not purchase new specialized hardware in order to change the available functions of the computer network.

Claims (48)

1. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the system to perform a set of operations, the set of operations comprising:

receiving, from a user computing device, a device configuration for a platform-device type;

evaluating the received device configuration based on the platform-device type to determine whether the device configuration is valid; and

based on determining that the device configuration is valid, initializing a platform device associated with the platform-device type based at least in part on the received device configuration,

wherein initializing the platform device further comprises:

evaluating at least one specification of the platform device using a set of expected specifications to determine whether the at least one specification is valid;

based on determining the at least one specification is not valid, reconfiguring the platform device;

installing, to the platform device, a virtual-network function specified by the device configuration;

providing, to the platform device, an indication to generate a network connection for the virtual-network function;

installing, to the platform device, a management agent;

generating cryptographic data for the platform device; and

providing at least a part of the cryptographic data to the platform device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of operations further comprises:

receiving, from the platform device, an online indication; and

in response to the online indication, activating the platform device.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein activating the platform device comprises:

providing, to the platform device, an indication to activate the virtual-network function.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein activating the platform device comprises:

providing, to the platform device, an indication to install a custom virtual-network function specified by the device configuration from an on-premises data store.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of operations further comprises:

receiving, from the user computing device, a changed device configuration for the platform-device type;

evaluating the received device configuration based on the platform-device type to determine whether the device configuration is valid; and

when the device configuration is valid, providing, to a management agent of the platform device, an indication relating to the changed device configuration.

6. A method for initializing a platform device according to a device configuration, comprising:

receiving, from a user computing device, a device configuration for a platform-device type;

evaluating the received device configuration based on the platform-device type to determine whether the device configuration is valid; and

based on determining that the device configuration is valid, initializing a platform device associated with the platform-device type based at least in part on the received device configuration,

wherein initializing the platform device further comprises:

evaluating at least one specification of the platform device using a set of expected specifications to determine whether the at least one specification is valid;

based on determining the at least one specification is not valid, reconfiguring the platform device;

installing, to the platform device, a virtual-network function specified by the device configuration;

providing, to the platform device, an indication to generate a network connection for the virtual-network function;

installing, to the platform device, a management agent;

generating cryptographic data for the platform device; and

providing at least a part of the cryptographic data to the platform device.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving, from the platform device, an online indication; and

in response to the online indication, activating the platform device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein activating the platform device comprises:

providing, to the platform device, an indication to activate the virtual-network function.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein activating the platform device comprises:

providing, to the platform device, an indication to install a custom virtual-network function specified by the device configuration from an on-premises data store.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving, from the user computing device, a changed device configuration for the platform-device type;

evaluating the received device configuration based on the platform-device type to determine whether the device configuration is valid; and

when the device configuration is valid, providing, to a management agent of the platform device, an indication relating to the changed device configuration.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0749 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2022
From: SAENGER, ADAM; HOLWAY, MATTHEW; BRANNEN, LEN; CLARK, GENE; SIMLOT, ANIL; INGAH, ZUBIN; SHANE, JOHAN J.; GIBSON, MICHAEL; SAWYER, CORY; CERAMI, RICH; DESHAZER, KURT
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059325/0895 →