Service provision system for communications networks

A services management sys- tem, which can provide services to a mobile user, can do so via a com- bination of network platforms (10). The system uses "Co-operating In- telligent Software Agent" technol- ogy in a heterogeneous agent archi- tecture (25) to provide enough flex- ibility to deal with changing net- work constraints, for instance as the user moves. In an example, a fixed broadband network might be used in combination with radio transmitters of a mobile network. The agent architecture (25), in- volving autonomous agents work- ing co-operatively, forms a layered system using the underlying fixed network (1) for inter-agent commu- nication. In an application, a mo- bile user might move from a cell of the mobile network which can provide relatively wide bandwidth to one which can only provide lim- ited bandwidth. The service man- agement system can advise the user what services are available in ei- ther cell, at what price, based on current bandwidth usage at the two locations. If the user was already using a service which became unavailable in the new cell, the system will ad vise the user and, if appropriate, put the service effec tively on hold until the user enters a cell in which the service is available once mor e. A services management system, which can provide services to a mobile user, can do so via a combination of network platforms (10). The system uses "Co-operating Intelligent Software Agent" technology in a heterogeneous agent architecture (25) to provide enough flexibility to deal with changing network constraints, for instance as the user moves. In an example, a fixed broadband network might be used in combination with radio transmitters of a mobile network. The agent architecture (25), involving autonomous agents working co-operatively, forms a layered system using the underlying fixed network (1) for inter-agent communication. In an application, a mobile user might move from a cell of the mobile network which can provide relatively wide bandwidth to one which can only provide limited bandwidth. The service management system can advise the user what services are available in either cell, at what price, based on current bandwidth usage at the two locations. If the user was already using a service which became unavailable in the new cell, the system will advise the user and, if appropriate, put the service effectively on hold until the user enters a cell in which the service is available once more.