System and method for voice based network management

• US 20050038658A1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sladden, Darryl
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/270.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13378 Speech recognition, speech analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for voice based network management. A network management system uses voice based scripts that allow network management operations to be performed over a phone. In one embodiment, the voice based scripts use a Voice Extensible Markup Language (VXML). However, the voice based script can be any form of communication that allows a user to conduct network management operations using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signaling or speech commands.

Claims

1. A network management system comprising:

a network management device configured to use voice-based scripts for conducting network management operations.

2. A system according to claim 1 including a speech component for converting network management speech requests into electronic text.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the speech component includes a text to speech converter to convert network management information retrieved from a network component into speech.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein network management requests to the network management device are made using a phone.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the network management requests comprise DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) signaling or speech.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the network management device uses the voice-based scripts to generate verbal prompts for initiating the network management operations and to communicate network component configuration information responsive to the network management operations.

7. A system according to claim 1 including a component access device for querying network components for status information.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the component access device is part of the network management device or a stand alone server.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein the component access device includes a lookup table identifying IP addresses for the network components and associated access protocols used for conducting the network management operations.

10. A system as in claim 1 including a file server containing the voice based scripts for verbally identifying the network management operations and reporting results of the network management operations.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the voice based scripts are in VxML (Voice Extensible Markup Language).

12. A method of performing a network management operation, comprising:

using voice scripts to identify and initiate network management operations for a network processing device;

conducting network management operations on the network processing device according to phone responses to the voice scripts; and

using voice scripts to report the results of the network management operations back to the phone.

13. A method according to claim 12 including using the voice scripts to generate speech verbally presenting the network management options over the phone.

14. A method according to claim 13 including using a VxML (Voice Extensible Markup Language) for generating the voice scripts.

15. A method according to claim 12 including receiving speech or DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) signals as responses to the voice scripts.

16. A method according to claim 15 including converting the voice stream or DTMF signals into computer readable text and using the text for conducting the network management operation on the network processing device.

17. A method according to claim 16 including identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the network processing device in the text and using the IP address to identify a network management query protocol supported by the network processing device.

18. A method according to claim 17 including using the query protocol to obtain status information for the network processing device, converting the status information into speech, and sending the speech to the phone.

19. A method according to claim 12 including using the voice based scripts and voice commands from the phone to identify operating status and load conditions for an IP router.