Dynamic virtual private networks

Modifications to a virtual private network's (VPN's) topology, security, service provisioning options, or quality of service (QoS) typically require an end-user request to their service provider, whose personnel currently perform the VPN management. This process incurs more provisioning delay and is more costly than user self-pro visioning. This paper presents a new service approach and dynamic virtual private network (D-VPN) technology that marries VPNs with directory enabled networking and Web-based subscriber service selection. It places VPN management into the hands of the user to produce instantaneous results, lowering service-provider operations costs, and subsequently reducing the cost to the end user. The paper also describes the target architecture and framework as well as the initial types of services that could be supported by D-VPN technology. (C) 2002 Lucent Technologies, Inc.