Managing Architecture And Diagnostic Method For Remote Configuration Of Heterogeneous Local Networks

• US 20090034424A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Jiann-Liang, Lien, Kuo-Chen, Huang, Bing-Jie, Lu, Hsi-Feng
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration

Abstract

Disclosed is a managing architecture and diagnostic method for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, which includes at least one sub-network agent, a local area network (LAN) management module and a remote LAN module. Each sub-network agent manages its sub-networks via its own management protocol, and collects the sub-networks'"'"' information. The LAN management module receives the requests from heterogeneous local networks via these sub-network agents, and converts the information associated with each request into a common information module (CIM) to seek a solution for each request. The remote LAN module receives the unsolved requests from the LAN management module via a channel, configures the heterogeneous local networks and uses compatible interface at a remote side to accomplish the management and diagnosis for the heterogeneous local networks.

Claims

1. A managing architecture for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising:

one or more sub-network agents, each of said one or more sub-network agents using its own managing protocol to manage its connected sub-networks, and collecting information of said connected sub-networks;

a local area network (LAN) management module, coupled respectively to said one or more sub-network agents and a channel, receiving one or more requests from one or more said heterogeneous local networks through said one or more sub-network agents, translating information accompanying said one or more requests into a common information model for finding a solution to problem of said one or more requests; and

a remote LAN module, through said channel for receiving the requests for unsolved problems from said LAN management module, remotely accessing and configuring one or more said heterogeneous local networks and using the interface compatible to said one or more heterogeneous local networks to realize the management and diagnosis for said one or more heterogeneous local networks.

2. The management architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said LAN management module further includes a LAN control module, a network protocol conversion module, a network information module, a common information storage media, a user interface and a security module.

3. The management architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote LAN module further includes a remote LAN control module, a remote network information module, a remote common information storage media, a remote user interface, and a remote security module.

4. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more heterogeneous local networks are chosen from any one combination of home networks and business networks.

5. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information of said one or more sub-networks is basic information, management information, or any combination of the above.

6. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said one or more sub-network agents provides automatic warning and returns information of related events.

7. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information of said one or more sub-networks is the information on each node of said one or more sub-network, information on between said nodes, and other related network information, or any combination of the above.

8. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said managing protocol of each of said one or more sub-network agents is one of Simple Network Management Protocol or Common Management Information Protocol.

9. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said LAN control module provides basic network management functions, network diagnosis process, algorithms for solving network problems and network information update process, and communicates with said remote LAN module.

10. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said network protocol conversion module is responsible for communicating with said one or more sub-network agents and obtaining said basic information or management information of said connected sub-networks.

11. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said network protocol conversion module provides service registration and announcement functions.

12. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said information accompanying said one or more requests is converted by said network protocol conversion module into a common information.

13. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein network information module analyzes and organizes said common information, and then selects and defines said common information model suitable for storing network information.

14. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein security module and said remote security module both have security authentication mechanism, data encryption mechanism, protecting internal information access mechanism, and billing mechanism.

15. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said user interface and said remote user interface provide network information display to inform the user of the network information or for user to issue management instructions.

16. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 15, wherein said network information at least includes network topology conditions, network traffic, network speed, at least a node information, and information on software installed on each node, or any combination of the above.

17. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remote LAN control module, said remote network information module, said LAN control module, said network information module, said network protocol conversion module and each of said one or more sub-network agents all provide functions supporting dynamic update.

18. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 17, wherein said functions supporting dynamic update include at least adding a new sub-network agent, network information update, and a plurality of object types of said remote network information module and said network information module to update version or expand new module according to the demands.

19. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 18, wherein said functions supporting dynamic update match the format of open service gateway initiative bundle.

20. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remote LAN control module inherits the functions of said LAN control module, has the information of said LAN control module, and utilizes global data.

21. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 20, wherein said global data includes the detailed information requested from said LAN control module, said detailed information is stored temporarily in said remote common information storage media to assist in solving the unsolved problem of said LAN control module.

22. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 20, wherein said information of said LAN control module includes identification data of one or more LANs, and individual information of the service class owned by a corresponding LAN.

23. A managing architecture for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising:

one or more sub-network agents;

a remote local area network (LAN) module; and

a LAN management module, providing said remote LAN module with Internet connection through a channel, and receiving management information and network information from one or more said heterogeneous local networks through said one or more sub-network agents, translating information into a common information model for providing said remote LAN module of unified management information and operation;

where said LAN management module first searching for a solution when said one or more heterogeneous local networks encountering a problem, and when said LAN management module failing to find a solution, said LAN management module sending a request to said remote LAN module or a remote manager for assistance to realize the management and diagnosis of said one or more heterogeneous local networks.

24. A diagnosis method for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising the steps of:

through one or more sub-network agents to detect whether any sub-network connected to said sub-network agent encountering any problem;

when detecting at least a sub-network of said one or more sub-networks encounter a problem, collecting management information and network information of an associated sub-network with the problem, and transmitting said information to a local area network (LAN) management module;

through said LAN management module to convert said management information and said network information of said associated sub-network with problem into a common information module, and performing diagnosis to determine whether a solution is provided;

when said LAN management module unable to provide a solution, requesting a remote LAN module or a remote management for assistance to realize he management and diagnosis of said associated sub-network with the problem; and

returning a diagnosis message to a user interface or an associated sub-network agent of said associated sub-network with the problem.

25. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the collection of said management information and said network information is obtained from periodic information or dynamic information.

26. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said periodic information is obtained by the extract instruction issued by said LAN management module, and is stored in a common information storage media.

27. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said dynamic information is the information returned by at least a network device of LAN when an event set in accordance with the diagnosis and management demands occurs.

28. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 24, wherein when detecting at least a said sub-network encountering a problem, said LAN management module performing the following steps of:

obtaining basic information or management information of said sub-network with the problem, and converting into a common information;

analyzing and organizing said common information, and then selecting and defining a common information module suitable for storing network information; and

based on said common information, analyzing and diagnosing the cause of the problem and determining whether a solution is provided.

29. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 24, wherein when said LAN management module failing to find a solution, said remote LAN module performing the following steps of:

through a channel to receive said unsolved problem and data from said LAN management module;

performing diagnosis and determining whether a solution is provided;

when failing to provide a solution, using a user interface to allow said remote management to diagnose; and

transmitting diagnosis message through said channel to said LAN management module.

30. A network information update method for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising the steps of:

determining whether said network information being periodic information or dynamic information;

if periodic information, using a defined extract instruction to obtain updated information;

if dynamic information, collecting and processing said network information, and converting said processed network information into a common information, and obtaining updated information;

filtering said updated periodic or dynamic information, and determining whether to store remotely;

if to store remotely, notifying a remote LAN module and storing said updated information to a remote common information storage media; and

if not to store remotely, storing said updated information to a local common information storage media.

31. The information update method as claimed in claim 30, wherein when said network information is dynamic information, the following steps are executed:

finding error message appearing in a node of said sub-network;

collecting and processing said error message appearing in said node of a corresponding sub-network;

converting said processed network information into a common information; and

based on said common information, updating said network information through a LAN control module.

32. The information update method as claimed in claim 30, wherein when said network information is periodic information, the following steps are executed:

executing instructions requesting information periodically;

obtaining requested common information;

converting said common information into a network protocol of said corresponding sub-network; and

obtaining requested updated information.

33. A method for adding a new sub-network for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising the steps of:

detecting a new sub-network through a network protocol conversion module;

identifying the attributes of said new sub-network through a LAN management module;

sending a request to a remote LAN module when said LAN management module failing to provide service supporting said new sub-network;

said remote LAN module finding a sub-network agent suitable for said new sub-network and returning to said LAN management module; and

performing registration and announcement of said new sub-network when said new sub-network having a sub-network agent.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said identifying the attributes of said new sub-network further includes the steps of:

obtaining basic information of said new sub-network through said network protocol conversion module to determine whether said new sub-network is a known network;

if a known network, determining whether said new sub-network having a sub-network agent; and

if said new sub-network not having a sub-network agent, determining whether said LAN management module able to provide service supporting said new sub-network.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein when said new sub-network is not a known network, said LAN management module directly installs a sub-network agent for said new sub-network and performs the registration and announcement of said new sub-network.

36. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein when said LAN management module provides service supporting said new sub-network and if said new sub-network does not have a sub-network agent, said LAN management module installs a sub-network agent for said new sub-network.