Information model for the specification of QoS agreements among ambient networks

The tendency of network operators to create multiservice networks based on different technologies represents, in a global environment, a challenge due to the lack of a uniform control plane. This global compatibility is needed to preserve the same quality assurances between networks as those provided within a given network. The concept of ambient networking supports the creation of such uniform control plane, providing a homogeneous view of heterogeneous networks. The management of such uniform control plane requires automatic cooperation between networks, based on a set of dynamic agreements that must support heterogeneous communication services and networks. This article describes an information model that supports dynamic agreements for different communication services between ambient networks with distinct QoS technologies. This information model encompasses a generic service level specification template and a description of how instantiations of such template may be signalled among ambient networks to control different communication services in a business-oriented approach. How service level specifications can be mapped into different QoS network technologies is also described