METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING A NETWORK TOPOLOGY WITH ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION PATHS

• US 20080013453A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: WANG, JIN, CHIANG, MUNG, SPOSATO, STEPHEN, SAVOOR, RAGHVENDRA, OU, CANHUI
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/238
• 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

A method and apparatus for configuring a network topology with alternative communication paths. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a network identification element that identifies a tree topology of network elements in a communication system comprising a root node and a plurality of leaf nodes, a network configuration element that specifies a desired number of alternative communication paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node, and a network restructuring element that determines a configuration of additional lateral and vertical communication paths superimposed on a portion of the plurality of leaf nodes that achieves a desired cost objective according to the desired number of alternative paths and associated cost attributes. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions for:

identifying a logical tree topology of network elements in a communication system, wherein the logical tree topology comprises a root node and a plurality of leaf nodes;

identifying existing lateral and vertical communication paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes;

identifying a desired number of alternative paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node;

identifying cost attributes for adding at least one among lateral and vertical communication paths to each of the plurality of leaf nodes; and

determining a configuration of additional lateral and vertical communication paths superimposed on a portion of the plurality of leaf nodes that achieves a desired cost objective according to the existing lateral and vertical communication paths, and the desired number of alternative paths and associated cost attributes.

2. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein the root node comprises a central office, and wherein the plurality of leaf nodes comprises at least one among a corresponding plurality of gateways and distribution systems.

3. The storage medium of claim 2, wherein each gateway comprises a residential gateway, and wherein each distribution system comprises at least one among a service area interface (SAI), an optical network unit (ONU), and a routing terminal.

4. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for:

adding one or more leaf nodes to the logical tree topology; and

determining the configuration that achieves the desired cost objective according to the additional one or more leaf nodes, the existing lateral and vertical communication paths, and the desired number of alternative paths and associated cost attributes.

5. The storage medium of claim 1, wherein lateral and vertical communication paths comprise one among wireless and wireline communication links.

6. The storage medium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions for submitting a request to update the logical tree topology of network elements in the communication system according to the configuration.

7. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions for:

identifying a logical tree topology of network elements in a communication system, wherein the logical tree topology comprises a root node and a plurality of leaf nodes;

identifying existing lateral and vertical communication paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes;

identifying a cost threshold for adding lateral and vertical communication paths to the plurality of leaf nodes;

identifying cost attributes for adding at least one among lateral and vertical communication paths to each of the plurality of leaf nodes; and

determining a configuration of additional lateral and vertical communication paths superimposed on a portion of the plurality of leaf nodes that achieves a desired reliability objective for increasing a number of alternative paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node according to the existing lateral and vertical communication paths, and the identified cost threshold and cost attributes.

8. The storage medium of claim 7, wherein the root node comprises a central office, and wherein the plurality of leaf nodes comprises at least one among a corresponding plurality of gateways and distribution systems.

9. The storage medium of claim 8, wherein each gateway comprises a residential gateway, and wherein each distribution system comprises at least one among a service area interface (SAI), an optical network unit (ONU), and a routing terminal.

10. The storage medium of claim 7, comprising computer instructions for:

adding one or more leaf nodes to the logical tree topology; and

determining the configuration that achieves the desired reliability objective for increasing the number of alternative paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node according to the additional one or more leaf nodes, the existing lateral and vertical communication paths, and the identified cost threshold and cost attributes.

11. The storage medium of claim 7, wherein lateral and vertical communication paths comprise one among wireless and wireline communication links.

12. The storage medium of claim 7, comprising computer instructions for submitting a request to update the logical tree topology of network elements in the communication system according to the configuration.

13. A network management system (NMS), comprising:

a network identification element that identifies a tree topology of network elements in a communication system comprising a root node and a plurality of leaf nodes;

a network configuration element that specifies a desired number of alternative communication paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node; and

a network restructuring element that determines a configuration of additional lateral and vertical communication paths superimposed on a portion of the plurality of leaf nodes that achieves a desired cost objective according to the desired number of alternative paths and associated cost attributes.

14. The NMS of claim 13, wherein the root node comprises a central office, and wherein the plurality of leaf nodes comprises at least one among a residential gateway, a service area interface (SAI), an optical network unit (ONU), and a routing terminal.

15. The NMS of claim 13, comprising a network change element that adds one or more leaf nodes to the tree topology, wherein the network restructuring element determines the configuration that achieves the desired cost objective according to the additional one or more leaf nodes, and the desired number of alternative paths and associated cost attributes.

16. The NMS of claim 13, comprising a network request element that submits a request to update the tree topology of network elements in the communication system according to the configuration.

17. A network management system (NMS), comprising:

a network identification element that identifies a tree topology of network elements in a communication system comprising a root node and a plurality of leaf nodes;

a network configuration element that specifies a cost threshold for adding lateral and vertical communication paths to each of the plurality of leaf nodes; and

a network restructuring element that determines a configuration of additional lateral and vertical communication paths superimposed on a portion of the plurality of leaf nodes that achieves a desired reliability objective for increasing a number of alternative paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node according to the identified cost threshold and cost attributes associated with adding lateral and vertical communication paths to the plurality of leaf nodes.

18. The NMS of claim 17, wherein the root node comprises a central office, and wherein the plurality of leaf nodes comprises at least one among a residential gateway, a service area interface (SAI), an optical network unit (ONU), and a routing terminal.

19. The NMS of claim 17, comprising a network change element that adds one or more leaf nodes to the tree topology, wherein the network restructuring element determines the configuration that achieves the desired reliability objective for increasing the number of alternative paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node according to the additional one or more leaf nodes, and the identified cost threshold and cost attributes.

20. The NMS of claim 17, comprising a network request element that submits a request to update the tree topology of network elements in the communication system according to the configuration.

21. A method, comprising:

identifying a tree topology of network elements in a communication system, wherein the tree topology comprises a root node and a plurality of leaf nodes; and

determining a configuration of lateral and vertical communication paths superimposed on a portion of the plurality of leaf nodes that achieves at least one among a desired cost objective according to a desired number of alternative paths and cost attributes associated with adding lateral and vertical communication paths to the plurality of leaf nodes, and a desired reliability objective for increasing a number of alternative paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node according to a cost threshold for adding lateral and vertical communication paths to the plurality of leaf nodes, and the cost attributes.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising updating the tree topology of network elements in the communication system according to the configuration.