US Patent 7969879 Supporting network self-healing and optimization

A method of managing a network includes configuring nodes and applications of the network to refer to the same framework of predefined network capabilities. Each of the applications is configured to implement one or more of the capabilities. Each of the applications also is configured to negotiate, as to each of the capabilities, with the nodes to obtain a network resource to support the capabilities. Each node is configured to negotiate, after an application obtains a network resource, with other nodes to optimize network resource allocation. This method provides a framework for application self-healing and network optimization that can improve network performance.