METHODS, APPARATUS AND ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE TO CONTROL NETWORK ELEMENT MANAGEMENT TRAFFIC

• US 20110145337A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Freeman, Brian D., Velazquez, Robert Urbina, West, Earle, Talamo, Salvatore, Sokolik, Bryan Patrick, Wechsler, Chesla C., Shannon, Irene M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to control network element management traffic are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to process an element management system (EMS) query message includes a receiver to receive the EMS query message from a managed network element, the EMS query message being redirected from an EMS server, a responder to select a pre-determined response to the EMS query message and discard EMS information contained in the EMS query message, wherein the pre-determined response is to delay the managed network element from resending the EMS query message to the EMS server for a time period, and a transmitter to send the pre-determined response to the managed network element.

Claims

1. An apparatus to process an element management (EMS) query message, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver to receive the EMS query message from a managed network element, the EMS query message being redirected from an EMS server;

a responder to select a pre-determined response to the EMS query message and discard EMS information contained in the EMS query message, wherein the pre-determined response is to delay the managed network element from resending the EMS query message to the EMS server for a time period; and

a transmitter to send the pre-determined response to the managed network element.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the responder is to select the pre-determined response from a plurality of pre-determined responses based on a type of the EMS query message.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the responder is to select the pre-determined response without reference to any EMS information contained in the EMS query message.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein discarding the EMS information comprises at least one of not retaining any of the EMS information contained in the EMS query message or not updating a state of the managed network element based on the EMS information contained in the EMS query message.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is implemented remotely from the EMS server.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a database to record an identifier associated with the managed network element when the pre-determined response is sent to the management network element.

7. A method comprising:

receiving an element management system (EMS) query message from a network element, the EMS query message redirected from an EMS server based on at least one of a load, a status or an availability of the EMS server;

selecting a pre-determined response to the EMS query message, wherein the pre-determined response is to prevent the network element from resending the EMS query message to the EMS server;

discarding all EMS information contained in the EMS query message; and

sending the pre-determined response to the network element.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the pre-determined response is to prevent the network element from resending the EMS query message to the EMS server until at least one of the load, the status or the availability of the EMS server is resolved.

9. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising selecting the pre-determined response from a plurality of pre-determined responses based on a type of the EMS query message.

10. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising selecting the pre-determined response without reference to EMS information contained in the EMS query message.

11. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein discarding all of the EMS information comprises at least one of not retaining any of the EMS information contained in the EMS query message or not updating any state of the network element based on any of the EMS information contained in the EMS query message.

12. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising recording an identifier representative of the managed network element.

13. An article of manufacture storing machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive an element management system (EMS) query message from a network element, the EMS query message redirected from an EMS server based on at least one of a load, a status or an availability of the EMS server;

select a pre-determined response to the EMS query message, wherein the pre-determined response is to prevent the network element from resending the EMS query message to the EMS server;

discard all EMS information contained in the EMS query message; and

send the pre-determined response to the network element.

14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 13, wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to select the pre-determined response from a plurality of pre-determined responses based on a type of the EMS query message.

15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 13, wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to select the pre-determined response without reference to EMS information contained in the EMS query message.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 13, wherein the machine-readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to discard all of the EMS information by at least one of not retaining any of the EMS information contained in the EMS query message or not updating any state of the network element based on any of the EMS information contained in the EMS query message.

17-42. -42. (canceled)