Network Management Method, a System and a Device

• US 20080307080A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monarch Networking Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Stephan, Emile
• Granted Patent: US 9,100,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

A device manages a management database in the form of objects to be managed that are referenced according to a reference specification. Equipment exchanges management data in the form of data structures indicated by patterns each corresponding to a respective referenced object and being assigned a respective identifier. In order to manage a given object, the device and the equipment store synchronization information associating the reference of the given object and the corresponding pattern identifier. In order to manage a given object, the equipment sends the corresponding pattern assigned the respective identifier and a data ticket which has a structure indicated by said pattern and is assigned said identifier. The device translates the pattern into the respective referenced object as a function of the identifier of said pattern and the synchronization information, and then stores the data from the received ticket in the management database.

Claims

1. A method of managing an equipment by a management device in a communications network, said management device managing a management information base in the form of referenced objects conforming to a reference specification, said equipment exchanging management data in the form of data structures indicated by patterns each of which corresponds to a respective referenced object and is assigned a respective identifier, wherein, for managing a given object, the management device and the equipment store same synchronization information associating the reference of the given object and the identifier of the corresponding pattern, said method comprising the following steps for managing the given object:

sending from the equipment to the management device the corresponding pattern to which the respective identifier is assigned and a data ticket having a structure indicated by said pattern and assigned said identifier;

translating the pattern received by the management device into the respective referenced object as a function of said synchronization information and then, on the basis of the translation, storing the data of the received ticket in the management information base of the device.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the following the steps for managing the given object:

translating the management device by the given object into the respective pattern to which is assigned the respective identifier as a function of the synchronization information;

sending from the management device to the equipment, said pattern to which is assigned the respective identifier and at least a data ticket having a structure indicated by said pattern and to which is assigned said identifier;

receiving on the equipment and storing the data of the received ticket as a function of the pattern to which is assigned the same identifier as said ticket.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information is received and stored on starting up the management device and/or on starting up the equipment.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information is received and stored periodically by the management device and/or the equipment.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the equipment indicates synchronization information to the management device, respectively the management device indicates synchronization information to the equipment, in accordance with the following steps:

from the equipment, respectively from the management device, sending a synchronization pattern indicating a field relating to an object reference and another field relating to a pattern identifier and sending a synchronization ticket comprising said synchronization information;

storing the data from the synchronization ticket received by the management device, respectively by the equipment.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the equipment further manages management data in the form of objects to be managed referenced in accordance with the reference specification and, wherein before the sending step, the equipment also translates the object to be managed into the respective pattern to which is assigned a particular identifier as a function of the synchronization information.

7. A system for managing equipment in a communication network comprising a management device managing a management information base in the form of objects to be managed, said objects being referenced in accordance with a reference specification, and a managed equipment exchanging management data in the form of data structures indicated by patterns each corresponding to a respective referenced object and to which a respective identifier is being assigned, wherein the management device and the managed equipment each comprise:

a memory for storing synchronization information associating the identifier of a pattern and the reference of the corresponding object;

an interface unit for sending and/or receiving a pattern assigned an identifier and a data ticket having a structure indicated by said pattern assigned said identifier; and

wherein the device further comprises;

a translator comprising means for to translating a received pattern into the respective referenced object as a function of the identifier of said pattern and said synchronization information.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the translator further comprises means for translating an object to be administered into a respective pattern assigned an identifier as a function of the synchronization information.

9. A translator comprising means adapted to operate in a management system according to claim 7.

10. A network management device for managing a management information base in the form of objects to be managed referenced in accordance with a reference specification, said device being adapted to manage an equipment exchanging management data in the form of data structures indicated by patterns each corresponding a respective referenced object and being assigned a respective identifier, said device comprising:

a memory for storing synchronization information associating the identifier of a pattern and the reference of a corresponding object;

an interface unit for sending and/or receiving a pattern to which is assigned an identifier and a data ticket having a structure indicated by said pattern and assigned said identifier;

a translator for translating a received pattern into the respective referenced object as a function of the identifier of said pattern and the synchronization information.

11. A management device according to claim 10, wherein the translator is further adapted to translate an object to be managed into a respective pattern assigned a particular identifier as a function of the synchronization information.

12. A network equipment adapted to be managed by a management device managing a management information base in the form of objects to be managed, said objects being referenced in accordance with a reference specification;

an equipment exchanging management data in the form of data structures indicated by patterns each corresponding to a respective referenced object and to which a respective identifier is being assigned, said equipment comprising;

a memory for storing synchronization information associating the identifier of a pattern and the reference of a corresponding object; and

an interface unit for sending and/or receiving a pattern assigned an identifier and a data ticket having a structure indicated by said pattern and assigned said identifier.

13. An equipment according to claim 12, wherein management data is managed in the form of objects to be managed referenced in accordance with the reference specification, said equipment further comprising a translator having means for translating an object to be managed into a respective pattern and/or a respective pattern into an object to be managed, to said pattern being assigned an identifier.