Integrated management architecture for IP-based networks

IP telephony will bring about a dramatic change in the way IP services are planned, provisioned, managed, and billed. In order to build and retain a strong customer base for these new services, service providers need to meet, if not exceed, the customer expectations set by today´s traditional voice services. Acceptance of IP telephony will depend on the quality and efficiency with which service providers offer, deliver, and manage IP services. Installation, configuration, and activation must be rapid and error-free. Furthermore, customers will want direct control over the reconfiguration of services and real-time visibility into the impact change has on their operating costs. Once the service is activated, customers will want the provider to guarantee service quality as defined by industry standards. Corporate customers in particular will need to be assured that the provider is proactively monitoring performance to avoid problems and providing them visibility into the performance data collected. This article discusses an integrated management support system for IP-based networks illustrating the functions needed to support the unique challenges of managing VoIP services. An example of a service management system is also described.