System and associated method for re-engineering a telecommunications network support system with object-oriented translators

• US 5,903,731 A
• Filed: 06/14/1995
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: West Hill Technology Counsel, Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, Carlton S., Vincent, Alan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/491,002
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.02, 395/200.11, 395/200.15, 395/200.1, 395/200.12, 395/232, 395/234, 395/200.56, 395/200.59, 395/200.53 , 395/200.72, 395/200.69, 395/200.73, 395/200.74, 370/397, 370/409, 379/121, 379/126
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/022 Multivendor or multi-standard integration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0095 Specification, development or application of network management software, e.g. software re-use

Abstract

A re-engineering method for standardizing data processing in a communication network while maintaining user services is disclosed. Data channels, between communicating network data processing components (hereinafter denoted operational components), are made unnecessary by systematically providing bypass data paths. The data on each bypass, transparent to its terminating operational components, is routed through a network manager communicating in a standardized protocol. The manager thereby provides centralized control of data communications and provides standardized object oriented data representations and protocols. For a selected operational component having a bypass for each data channel, the functionality of the selected operational component may be incrementally and transparently assumed by new operational components communicating with the manager. Thus, a selected operational component using nonstandard data representations and communication protocols can be isolated from other network components and deactivated while maintaining user services. The present invention is particularly useful in re-engineering telephony networks having noncentralized and nonstandardized communications between various combinations of network elements and operational support systems.

Claims

1. A method for re-engineering telecommunications network, comprising:

selecting a first communication channel between a first network element and a first telecommunications operational support system for managing said telecommunications network, the first communication channel using a predetermined first protocol for communicating first network information between the first network element and the first operational support system, wherein communication of said first network information affects a predetermined condition of said telecommunications network;

determining a different second protocol for communicating between a data model of the telecommunications network and at least one of;

the first network element and the first operational support system;

providing a second communication channel between the first network element and the first operational support system, said second communication channel having a data connection to said data model;

transferring second network information between the first network element and the first operational support system using said at least said second communication channel, said second network information being at least a portion of said first network information, wherein at least one of the first network element and the first operational support system receives said second network information on said second communication channel in said first protocol, and wherein said transferring said second network information affects said predetermined condition substantially identically to said at least a portion of said first network information;

translating said second network information from said first protocol to said second protocol when using said second communication channel for transferring said second network information; and

supplying said second network information to said data model using said data connection wherein said second network information has been translated into said second protocol.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first network element is one of a service transfer point, an intelligent service control point, a service control point, a service switching point and a circuit switch and a transport network element.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first operational support system performs one of the following:

monitors traffic on said telecommunications network element, manages traffic on said telecommunications network, surveils said first network element for analomous conditions and acquires data from said telecommunications network for generating reports and bills.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting includes determining as said first communication channel, a channel wherein said first protocol is ineffective as a protocol between a second network element and a second operational component wherein said second network element performs functionally substantially identically within said telecommunications network as said first network element and said second operational component performs functionally substantially identically within said telecommunications network as said first operational component.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data model includes a standardized telecommunications network model.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data model includes at least one of a standardized telecommunications billing management information base, a standardized switch network traffic and usage management information base, a standardized switch provisioning management information base, a standardized switch alarm and surveillance management information base, a standardized switch control management information base, an SS7 management information base and a standardized transport management information base.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data model uses objects defined by an object oriented class hierarchy for modeling said telecommunications network.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second protocol transfers object messages related to a predetermined object oriented class hierarchy.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition includes one of rerouting communication service and restricting service in said telecommunications network.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second network information includes information related to one or more of a start communication request, a data request, an execute command request, a supplying of data, a message acknowledgement and a terminate communication request.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting includes determining as said first communication channel a channel wherein said first network information includes third network information from the first network element, said third network information having a representation specific to the first network element.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said third network information is different for different network elements.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of transferring includes both the first network element and the first operational support system receiving said second network information in said first protocol.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of transferring includes both the first network element and the first operational support system sending said second network information in said first protocol.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of providing includes incorporating a translator into said second communication channel for translating between said first protocol and said second protocol.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of transferring includes transferring substantially all of said first network information as said second network information.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, further including a step of deactivating said first communication channel.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of providing a different operational support system, said different operational support system communicating with the first network element through said data model.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said different operational support system communicates standardized fourth network information with said data model.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said fourth network information is object oriented.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said fourth network information is incorporated into said data model instead of said second network information from said first operational support system.

22. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of repeating said steps of selecting, determining, transferring, translating and supplying, wherein each performance of said step of selecting selects a different communication channel as an instance of said first communication channel and wherein said data model receives further network information with each repetition of said step of supplying.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of repeating includes deactivating each instance of said first communication channel after a corresponding second communication channel is provided.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein each instance of said first communication channel selected connects to said same first operational support system until substantially every telecommunications network channel connected to said first operational support system provides network information to said data model.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said first operational support system is deactivated when substantially every telecommunications network channel connected to said first operational support system provides network information to said data model.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22 further including a step iterating said step of repeating wherein each performance of said step of repeating selects instances of said first communication channel connected to a same said first operational support system and wherein different performances of said step of repeating selects instances of said first communication channel connected to a different operational support system as said first operational support system.

27. A method for bypassing a telecommunications operational component of a telecommunications network, comprising:

selecting a first communication channel between a first telecommunications operational component and a second telecommunications operational component, the first communication channel using a predetermined first telecommunications protocol for communicating first network management information between said first and said second telecommunications operational component;

providing a second communication channel between the said first and said second telecommunications operational components, said second communication channel having a data connection to one or more third telecommunications operational components;

transferring second network management information using said at least said second communication channel, wherein at least one of said first telecommunications operational component and said second telecommunications operational component receives said second network management information in said first telecommunications protocol, said second network management information including at least a portion of said first network management information;

translating said second network management information from said first telecommunications protocol to a different second telecommunications protocol when using said second communication channel for transferring said second network management information between said first and said second telecommunications operational components;

supplying said second network management information to said one or more third telecommunications operational components using said data connection wherein said second network management information has been translated into said second telecommunications protocol; and

outputting from said one or more third telecommunications operational components third network management information to an additional telecommunications operational component having received fourth network management information from said second telecommunications operational component, wherein said additional telecommunications operational component is different from said first, said second and said third telecommunications operational components and wherein said third network management information being effective for replacing said fourth network management information received from said second telecommunications operational component.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said data connection includes a network information manager for controlling communication between telecommunications operational components.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein said step of supplying includes providing said second network management information to said network manager, said network manager providing said second network management information to said one or more third telecommunications operational components upon request for said second network management information by said one or more third telecommunications operational components.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first and second telecommunications protocols are each a function of one of a timing for obtaining data to be communicated and a timing for communicating data.

31. A method as claimed in claim 27 further including a step of repeating said steps of selecting, providing, transferring, translating, supplying and outputting, wherein each performance of said step of selecting selects a different communication channel for said first communication channel between an instance of said first telecommunications operational component and said same second telecommunications operational component.

32. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first and second operational components are each one of:

a network element, an operational support system and a data base management system.