Data processing: software development – installation – and managem – Software program development tool – Translation of code
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-12
2001-04-03
Powell, Mark R. (Department: 2122)
Data processing: software development, installation, and managem
Software program development tool
Translation of code
C717S152000, C709S220000, C709S223000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212674
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention concerns a method and a control device for graphically controlling operations in a network management system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a network management system, operators design programs to create operations for controlling network elements. Such an operation is a sequence of application requests, of control functions, of assignments etc. in the network management system. To create the operations the operators use special script languages which enable an inexperienced programmer to define complex management tasks in a simple and understandable manner. Such script languages are proprietary and converting the statements of the script language into statements of a more comfortable higher programming language for execution of the management tasks requires the development of a special interpreter.
It is known from “Do it yourself TMN applications by visual programming methods” by C. Schmidt et al, International Switching Symposium April 1995, Volume 2, B 8.2, that the statements in the script language can be supported by optical programming techniques, such as by means of hypertext structures. In the known programming manner of the above article, predefined blocks (templates) are built and correspond to a statement in the script language. The blocks are displayed in hypertext on a screen and an operator can use a mouse to connect the blocks to each other in the desired manner. The operations for controlling the network elements are constructed in this way. The proposed optical programming technique only provides the operator with an indication of the operation by means of text and graphics. Processing the information of the individual operation steps, i.e. loops, conditions, etc. for linking the operation steps, must be created by the operator himself with the script language.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to enable a simple control of network elements by an operator in a network management system. This object is achieved by a method for graphically controlling a process with several operation steps in a network management system, wherein command templates are used to perform the respective operation steps, and control instructions to link the command templates; wherein the control instructions are carried out to build a program flow chart of the process on a display device; wherein those operation steps which can be performed on the basis of a specified process situation are identified; wherein the input for selecting one of the identified operation steps is received, and wherein the specific command template of the selected operation step is subsequently executed.
Because of the invention, it is advantageously no longer necessary for the operator to have knowledge of the linkage of the different operation steps to actually perform the operation.
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Alcatel
Powell Mark R.
Ware Fressola Van der Sluys & Adolphson LLP
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