Element management system with data-driven interfacing driven by instantiation of meta-model

• US 20040081308A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Network Communications Incorporated (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Levesque, Gilbert, Galou, Salim, Zaeh, Rick, Naik, Dharmendra
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/221.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0659 by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/247 Knowledge-based maintenance systems

Abstract

A network element management system which can exploit the customized interface features of a variety of versions of a variety of complex system products from a variety of manufacturers. This is done by maintaining a meta-model, which is not itself a model until instantiated, of the possible known product configurations to be interfaced to. Once the meta-model is instantiated, it provides configuration parameters which the interface program uses to build a correct configuration for the management and/or monitoring interface. This is particularly advantageous in the preferred embodiment of a telecommunications network element management system, but also has potential applicability to other large “supersystem” applications.

Claims

1. A computer/software system for managing telecommunication network elements, comprising:

one or more operator-driven processes which monitor and manage network elements in real time, using at least one telecommunications network control channel; and

an operator interface which, in response to operator selection of a particular network element, provides a data-driven representation of attributes of said particular element, including elements which are variable for the type of element to which said particular element actually belongs;

wherein said data-driven representation is customized by instantiating a meta-model which generates possible legal choices for a given topology, and which contains mutually inconsistent possibilities until instantiated.