Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-07-31
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
C709S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269397
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to network element management in a telecommunications network, particularly to the management of known Q1-managed network elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The management systems of telecommunications networks in accordance with the newest standards, such as SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) networks, have been defined in international standards, in order that network elements by different manufacturers, located in the same network, may be easily managed through the same network management workstations, or network management products by different manufacturers may be used to manage any network. Generic models for different types of equipment are stored in the management system, and thus equipment by different manufacturers can be managed from the same system if said equipment is in accordance with the generic model.
On the other hand, the management of network elements representing older-generation systems (also new equipment) is more problematic, since there are far more manufacturer-related and equipment-specific variations in the management interfaces. For this reason, specific commercial management products are not available either.
FIG. 1
illustrates the principle on which for example the Applicant's PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) equipment is presently managed. A workstation WS
1
of the network management system or a service man's portable workstation WS
2
includes software with e.g. a graphical user interface having a Q1 interface and an electrical connection in accordance with ITU-T recommendation V.11 through which data can be transferred asynchronously at rates 75 . . . 19200 bit/s.
Q1 is a master-slave management protocol that is used for the management of the Applicant's PDH network elements. The network elements NE to be managed are coupled on a common management bus MB. The management workstation (WS
1
or WS
2
) is connected either directly to the local management interface of the managed network element or to a desired network element through the management interface of another network element and a management bus of the telecommunications network. The management workstation serves as a master that sends commands to the network element. The network element (slave) does not send anything on its own accord, but only responds to queries sent by the management workstation. The exchange of information between the management workstation and the network element takes place asynchronously in 11-bit frames. Longer messages are divided into several successive frames. A message to be sent may comprise 1 . . . 26 frames. Each message sent by the master element starts with an address frame containing the address of the network element for which the message is intended. Each message sent by the network element again starts with an address frame containing the address of that network element.
As will yet be stated hereinbelow, the management protocol used by the network elements may vary. Nevertheless, the Q1 protocol employed for managing conventional PDH equipment will be used as an example in the following.
In the Q1 protocol, network element management is based on character-based menus. The network elements have a generic main menu for the management thereof; the menu is the same for all Q1-managed equipment. When one alternative is selected from the main menu, the managed network element sends as a response to the management workstation a data structure determining the menu structure that said network element uses under said alternative.
FIG. 2
illustrates such a procedure. All network elements may for example have a main menu M
1
as shown in the figure, and when it is desired e.g. to look up statistics for a given network element, said network element can return to the management workstation a submenu M
2
as shown in the figure, for instance, wherefrom the user can further select the desired alternative. Hence, navigation in the menu tree of the network element takes place in such a way that the user selects from the menu the desired item, information on the selection is forwarded to the network element, which returns in response a new menu wherefrom the user can again select the desired alternative, etc.
Depending for example on the type of the network elements or the version of a given type, there may be differences in the menus used by the network elements. Thus, the management software must be altered according to the manufacturer, type and version of the network element. The menu to be used also varies according to the language used by the network element. The problem with the known management procedure is therefore that it is difficult to maintain the management software at the management workstations, as changes to the management software must be made at numerous management workstations depending on what the managed network element is like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to eliminate the above-described drawback and to provide, in a hardware environment of the kind described above, a method by means of which the management can be implemented far more simply than heretofore.
This object is achieved with the solution defined in the independent claims.
The idea of the invention is to manage network elements of the above kind through a server in the Internet or in an Intranet, said server being coupled in addition to said network also on a management bus and preferably having stored therein the common menu structure of the network elements. In this way, all the special features that were previously needed at the different management workstations can be transferred to the server which is common to a large number of network elements and management workstations.
On account of the solution in accordance with the invention, any known browser can be used at the management workstation for managing the network elements. Thus, there is no need for the service man's computer to include any equipment-specific or manufacturer-related software or software upgrades, but the service man can easily manage any network element using merely a commercial browser.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5285494 (1994-02-01), Sprecher et al.
patent: 5794039 (1998-08-01), Guck
patent: 5848415 (1998-12-01), Guck
patent: 6070188 (2000-05-01), Grant et al.
patent: 6112246 (2000-08-01), Horbal et al.
patent: 686 540 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 0 753 821 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 95/34975 (1995-12-01), None
patent: 96/15635 (1996-05-01), None
patent: 97/23988 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 97/50210 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 98/21668 (1998-05-01), None
patent: 98/33302 (1998-07-01), None
International Search Report for PCT/FI98/00384.
“Network Management/Analysis” Larsen, Data Communications, Jan. 1997, pp. 116-128.
“The Next Web Wave: Network Management” Larsen, Data Communications, Jan. 1996, pp. 31-34.
Altera Law Group LLC
Chang Jung Won
Maung Zarni
Nokia Networks Oy
LandOfFree
System and method for network element management in a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for network element management in a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for network element management in a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2558289