Method and system for generating instruction signals for performing interventions in a communication network, and corresponding computer-program product

• US 20090049165A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Chiappone, Massimo, Valente, Giulio, Bobbio, Fabrizio, Gotta, Danilo, Long, Daniela
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/091 Measuring contribution of individual network components to actual service level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflow for performing interventions on network equipment included in a communication network, wherein the equipment is associated with resource proxy agents, each responsible for managing a single equipment in the network. The system includes a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents to generate the instruction signals. The intervention management proxy agents are interactively coupled with the resource proxy agents, whereby the instruction signals are a function of the status of the equipment in the network on which the interventions are performed.

Claims

1-45. -45. (canceled)

46. A method of generating instruction signals arranged in workflows for performing interventions on network equipment included in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated therewith resource proxy agents, comprising the steps of:

providing a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents for managing interventions on the network equipment, said intervention management proxy agents being associated with terminal devices; and

generating instruction signals for performing an intervention on at least a network equipment of said communication network via one of said intervention management proxy agents in an interactive manner with at least one of said resource proxy agents associated with said network equipment, whereby said instruction signals are a function of the status of said network equipment.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein each of said resource proxy agents is responsible for managing a single network equipment.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein each of said intervention management proxy agents is responsible for managing a single terminal device.

49. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of coupling with said intervention management proxy agents, personal interfaces for generating said instruction signals arranged in workflows.

50. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of arranging said distributed architecture in hierarchical layers comprising:

a layer of operational agents coordinating operation of said intervention management proxy agents; and

a layer comprising an operational manager having management and control functions and supervising operation of said operational agents.

51. The method of claim 50, comprising the step of allotting to said operational agents, the distributed execution of interventions over a plurality of said intervention management proxy agents.

52. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of arranging said distributed architecture in hierarchical layers, wherein one layer comprises an operational manager having management and control functions and directly coordinating operation of said intervention management proxy agents.

53. The method of claim 50, comprising the step of allotting, to each of said intervention management proxy agents, the task of supporting a single operator or customer, whereby execution of said interventions is de-coupled with respect to said management and control functions.

54. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of providing process engines to said intervention management proxy agents.

55. The method of claim 50, comprising the step of providing process engines to all said layers in said distributed architecture.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein providing process engines comprises the step of providing at least one of a workflow, a rule engine and combination thereof.

57. The method of claim 50, comprising the step of including in said layers, components adapted to perform respective functions based on respective instruction information provided to them.

58. The method of claim 57, comprising the step of providing in said instruction information at least one of:

a process definition, which comprises at least one of a workflow and a rule,

and

a data models definition.

59. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of configuring said intervention management proxy agents for interacting directly with one another in an interworking relationship, whereby at least one of said instruction signals is produced by interaction between intervention management proxy agents.

60. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of configuring said intervention management proxy agents for peer-to-peer interaction with said resource proxy agents.

61. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of organizing an operational data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions of said interventions.

62. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of organizing a model data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions for managing said network equipment.

63. The method of claim 50, comprising the step of organizing a single performance data base storing performance data related to said layers of said distributed architecture.

64. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of organizing an operational log storing all activities performed by users of said intervention management proxy agents.

65. The method of claim 46, comprising the step of organizing an expertise inventory storing profiles of operators or customers managed by said intervention management proxy agents.

66. The method of claim 50, comprising the step of providing control agents associated with at least one layer of said distributed architecture for performing at least one step selected from the group of:

distributing process definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture;

distributing data model definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture; and

monitoring the state of said layers of said distributed architecture.

67. The method of claim 66, comprising the step of providing a manager module for performing at least one step selected from the group of:

managing the distribution of process definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents;

managing the distribution of data model definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents; and

monitoring the state of said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents.

90. A computer program product loadable into the memory of at least one computer and comprising software code portions capable of performing the method of claim 46.

68. A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflows for performing interventions on network equipment in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated therewith resource proxy agents, comprising a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents for generating said instruction signals, said intervention management proxy agents being associated with terminal devices, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are interactively coupled with said resource proxy agents and wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of the network equipment on which said interventions are performed.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein each of said resource proxy agents is responsible for managing a single network equipment.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein each of said intervention management proxy agents is responsible for managing a single terminal device.

71. The system of claim 68, comprising personal interfaces coupled with said intervention management proxy agents to generate said instruction signals arranged in workflows.

72. The system of claim 68, wherein said distributed architecture comprises hierarchical layers comprising:

a layer of operational agents coordinating operation of said intervention management proxy agents; and

a layer comprising an operational manager having management and control functions and supervising operation of said operational agents.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein said operational agents are allotted the distributed execution of interventions over a plurality of said intervention management proxy agents.

74. The system of claim 68, wherein said distributed architecture comprises hierarchical layers, wherein one layer comprises an operational manager having management and control functions and directly supervising operation of said intervention management proxy agents.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein each of said intervention management proxy agents is allotted the task of supporting a single operator or customer. whereby execution of said interventions is de-coupled with respect to said management and control functions.

76. The system of claim 68, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are configured for interacting directly with one another in an interworking relationship, whereby said instruction signals comprise instruction signals produced by interaction among intervention management proxy agents.

77. The system of claim 68, wherein said intervention management proxy agents comprise respective process engines.

78. The system of claim 72, wherein said layers comprise process engines.

79. The system of claim 77, wherein said process engines comprise at least one of a workflow, a rule engine and a combination thereof.

80. The system of claim 72, wherein said layers in said architecture comprise components adapted to perform respective functions based on respective instruction information provided to them.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein said instruction information comprises at least one of:

a process definition, which comprises at least one of a workflow and a rule,

and

a data models definition.

82. The system of claim 68, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are configured for peer-to-peer interaction with said resource proxy agents.

83. The system of claim 68, comprising an operational data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions of said interventions.

84. The system of claim 68, comprising a model data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions for managing said network equipment.

85. The system of claim 72, comprising a single performance data base storing performance data related to said layers of said distributed architecture.

86. The system of claim 68, comprising an operational log storing all activities performed by users of said intervention management proxy agents.

87. The system of claim 68, comprising an expertise inventory storing profiles of operators or customers managed by said intervention management proxy agents.

88. The system of claim 72, wherein at least one layer of said distributed architecture comprises control agents for performing at least one step selected from the group of:

distributing process definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture;

distributing data model definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture; and

monitoring the state of said layers of said distributed architecture.

89. The system of claim 88, comprising a manager module for performing steps selected from the group of:

managing distribution of process definitions among said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents;

managing distribution of data models among said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents; and

monitoring the state of said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents.