XML OVER TCP MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL WITH TUNNELED PROXY SUPPORT AND CONNECTION MANAGEMENT

• US 20060288092A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infinera Corp.
• Original Assignee: Infinera Corp.
• Inventors: Subramaniam, Narayanan
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks

Abstract

Network elements, which are network nodes in a transmission network, implement a proprietary XML agent which supports an XML over TCP network management protocol. The protocol permits tunneling of proxy management traffic, with connection management support, to a privately addressed subtending network element. This tunneling is performed via a publicly addressable gateway network element device without the need for configuration at the element management system software application relative to the subtending network element.

Claims

1. A method for providing a management protocol in a network, the method comprising:

employing an element management system (“

EMS”

) application within the network;

implementing an XML agent on a plurality of network elements, including at least one subtending network element, that monitors a first port to identify management data from the EMS application;

configuring a connection between the EMS application and a gateway network element;

delegating a proxy from the gateway network element to the at least one subtending network element to allow the at least one subtending network element to be addressed by the EMS application; and

tunneling proxy management traffic to at least one subtending network element from the gateway network element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first port receives data from the EMS to the gateway network element.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the XML agent monitors a second port receives data from the EMS to at least one subtending network element.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the management protocol comprises transmitting packets having multiple communication data fields.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the multiple communication data fields comprise information related to a Proxy IP, a Target IP, a Proxy Port and a Target Port.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the multiple communication data fields comprise information related to a start and end of the frame.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the multiple communication data fields comprise a control flag.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication protocol manages an optical long-haul network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of traffic on the gateway network element is monitored.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of delegating the proxy is performed in response to the amount of traffic on the gateway network element being above a threshold level.

11. A network system having a management protocol comprising:

an element management system (“

EMS”

) that manages a plurality of network elements, each having an XML agent;

a gateway network element communicatively coupled to the EMS through which traffic is sent to the plurality of network elements; and

a subtending network element, communicatively coupled to the gateway network element and having an associated proxy designation, that receives tunneled proxy management traffic without the need for a distinct configuration of the EMS related to the subtending network element.

12. The network system of claim 11 wherein the proxy is delegated to the subtending network element in response to the amount of traffic on the gateway network element being above a threshold.

13. The network system of claim 11 wherein the XML agents monitor a first port and a second port for XML management traffic from the EMS.

14. The network system of claim 13 wherein the XML management traffic includes request-response and unsolicited events commands.

15. The network system of claim 13 wherein XML management traffic is transmitted over the TCP protocol.

16. The network system of claim 11 wherein the network system is an optical long-haul network.

17. A subtending network element comprising:

a first port that receives tunneled XML management traffic from a gateway network element that originated from an element management system;

an XML agent that monitors the XML management traffic received on the first port; and

a delegated proxy address, assigned by the gateway network element, in response to the amount of traffic on the gateway network element exceeding a threshold level.

18. The subtending network element of claim 17 wherein the XML management traffic communicated over TCP protocol.

19. The subtending network element of claim 17 wherein a plurality of network elements are coupled to the subtending network element and receive information from the subtending network element.

20. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for communicating management data within a network, the computer program product comprising computer instructions for:

employing an element management system (“

EMS”

) application within the network;

implementing an XML agent on a plurality of network elements, including at least one subtending network element, that monitors a first port to identify management data from the EMS application;

configuring a connection between the EMS application and a gateway network element;

delegating a proxy from the gateway network element to the at least one subtending network element to allow the at least one subtending network element to be addressed by the EMS application; and

tunneling proxy management traffic to the at least one subtending network element from the gateway network element.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the first port receives data from the EMS to the gateway network element.

22. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the communication protocol manages an optical long-haul network.

23. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the step of delegating the proxy is performed in response to the amount of traffic on the gateway network element being above a threshold level.