System and method for implementing maintenance functions for a switch

• US 20040085359A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel Canada Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel Canada Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Carroll, George A., Steg, Sean C., Yue, David, Smith, Tracee
• Granted Patent: US 7,284,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/771
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput

Abstract

In the invention, a system and method providing maintenance functions for an electronic device is provided. The system and method utilize configurable software tools to provide executable routines for a maintenance function related to the electronic device. The system and method employ a scripting module for building a script from a selection of tools utilizing a graphical user interface and for initiating activation of tools in the selection from selectable triggering events via the graphical user interface. The system and method utilize a script display module for generating a graphical representation of a script illustrating the selection of tools, relationships relating to triggering events of tools within the selection and a flow of execution of the scripts in the selection.

Claims

1. A system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of configurable software tools, each tool of said plurality of software tools providing an executable routine for a maintenance function related to said electronic device;

a scripting module for building a script from a selection of tools from said plurality of software tools utilizing a graphical user interface and for initiating activation of tools within said selection of tools from selectable triggering events via said graphical user interface.

2. The system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a script display module for generating a graphical representation of said script illustrating said selection of tools, relationships relating to said triggering events of said tools within said selection of tools and a flow of execution of said selection of tools.

3. The system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electronic device is a communication switch and said system operates on a computer associated with said communication switch.

4. The system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a script execution module providing a graphical representation of a script session comprising said script and another script operating on said electronic device and a status of operation of said script and said another script.

5. The system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said script execution module provides selectable activation and termination of said script and said another script via another graphical user interface.

6. The system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said each tool of said plurality of tools is associated with a first file providing a set of programmable parameters of operation and a second file providing limits on said set of programmable parameters of operation and said scripting module utilizes said first file and said second file to list scripting options to a user of said system.

7. The system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein

one function of said maintenance functions is a upgrade function for a software element;

and

said script utilizes tools in said plurality of tools to

evaluate hardware requirements of said communication device for said software element;

download said software element to an appropriate storage location;

activate operation of said software element; and

evaluate performance of said software element.

8. The system for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each tool of said plurality of tools operates in a UNIX environment on said computer.

9. A method for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device, comprising:

utilizing a plurality of configurable software tools to provide executable routines for a maintenance function related to said electronic device;

utilizing a graphic-based scripting module operating on a computer associated with said electronic device to build a script from a selection of tools from said plurality of software tools and to initiate activation of tools within said selection of tools from selectable triggering events.

10. The method for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device, as claimed in claim 9 further comprising utilizing a graphic-based script display module operating on said computer to generate a graphical representation of said script illustrating said selection of tools, relationships relating to said triggering events of said tools within said selection of tools and a flow of execution of said selection of tools.

11. The method for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising utilizing a script execution module operating on said computer to generate a graphical representation of a script session comprising said script and another script operating on said electronic device and a status of operation of said script and said another script.

12. The method for providing maintenance functions for an electronic device, as claimed in claim 11 wherein said each tool of said plurality of tools accesses a first file providing a set of programmable parameters of operation and a second file providing limits on said set of programmable parameters of operation and said scripting module utilizes said first file and said second file to list scripting options to a user of said system.