Path based network management method and apparatus for data communication networks

• US 20050180335A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Ho-Keung
• Granted Patent: US 7,944,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication

Abstract

Network analysis in a network management system for a data network is improved by mapping the communication paths established in the network. Queries are sent by the network management system to each network element in the network. Queries are triggered by events within the network, for example, after notification by a network element that a communication path is being set up. Each query sent by the network management system requests certain connection and topology information from the network elements. Using this information, the network management system constructs the overall network topology and performs a path analysis to map completely each communication path through the network. When the communication path mapping is complete, various types of analyses are performed using the communication path information. These analyses include but are not limited to network capacity analysis, network performance analysis, and network fault analysis. Through the use of a network analysis engine module communicating with the network elements, the present network management system can interpret multiple networking protocols and different routing protocols.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing network characteristics comprising the steps of:

querying a network element in a communication network for local network information;

receiving the local network information from the network element in response to querying, the local network information comprising one or more items selected from the group including topology information, connection information, and performance information;

analyzing the local network information received to map a communication path established in the network;

responsive to the local network information received and the communication path mapped in the analyzing step, selecting a next network element for querying; and

if the next network element has been selected, iterating the method from the querying step for the next network element.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a notification signal from one or more network elements, the notification signal indicative of a network event, and wherein the step of querying is initiated in response to receiving said notification signal.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of determining network capacity using communication path data from the analyzing step.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of determining network performance using the communication path data from the analyzing step.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting network faults using communication path data from the analyzing step.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the topology information includes a routing table and wherein the connection information includes a connection table.

14. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of storing the communication path established through the communication network.

7. A computer readable medium storing a software program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method comprising the steps of:

querying a network element in a communication network for local network information;

receiving the local network information from the network element in response to querying, the local network information comprising one or more items selected from the group including topology information, connection information, and performance information;

analyzing the local network information received to map a communication path established in the network;

responsive to the local network information received and the communication path mapped in the analyzing step, selecting a next network element for querying; and

if the next network element has been selected, iterating the method from the querying step for the next network element.

8. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 further comprising the step of receiving a notification signal from one or more network elements, the notification signal indicative of a network event, and wherein the step of querying is initiated in response to receiving said notification signal.

9. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 further comprising the step of determining network capacity using communication path data from the analyzing step.

10. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 further comprising the step of determining network performance using communication path data from the analyzing step.

11. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 further comprising the step of detecting network faults using communication path data from the analyzing step.

12. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 wherein the topology information includes a routing table and wherein the connection information includes a connection table.

15. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 further including the step of storing the communication path established through the communication network.

13. A method for analyzing network characteristics comprising the steps of:

receiving a notification signal from a network element, said notification signal indicative of a new communication path set-up by the network element and including circuit identifier information;

querying a network element in a communication network for connection information;

receiving the connection information from the network element in response to querying;

comparing the connection information with the circuit identifier information to determine a match condition;

if the match condition occurs in the comparing step, querying the network element for routing information;

receiving routing information from the network element;

analyzing the routing information received to map the new communication path established in the network;

selecting a next network element to query along the new communication path;

if the next network element has been selected, fetching from the received circuit identifier information associated with the next network element and iterating the method from the step of querying for the next network element.

16. The method as defined in claim 13 further including the step of storing the communication path established through the communication network.

17. Apparatus for analyzing network characteristics in a network including a plurality of network elements interconnected together to form a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

means for querying a network element in the communication network for local network information, the local network information comprising one or more items selected from the group including topology information, connection information, and performance information;

means, responsive to receipt of the local network information, for analyzing the local network information received to map a communication path established in the network; and

means, responsive to the local network information received and the communication path mapped in the analyzing means, for selecting a next network element for querying;

wherein the means for querying is responsive to a notification that the next network element has been selected.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the querying means further comprises means for receiving a notification signal from one or more network elements, the notification signal indicative of a network event, and wherein the querying means is responsive to receiving said notification signal.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 further comprising means for determining network capacity using the communication path from the analyzing means.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 further comprising means for determining network performance using the communication path from the analyzing means.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 further comprising means for detecting network faults using the communication path from the analyzing means.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein the topology information includes a routing table and wherein the connection information includes a connection table.