System and method for the automated configuration of network elements in a telecommunications network

• US 6,061,332 A
• Filed: 12/31/1996
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Pitchforth, Donald, Branton, Robert A. Jr., DeMoss, John Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/778,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/351, 370/355, 370/360, 370/337, 370/398, 370/241, 370/242, 370/244, 370/410, 370/522, 709/224, 709/221
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A system and method for configuring network elements. A routing network enables one or more controllers to connect to any network element within a service provider'"'"'s network via craft interface ports. The controllers are controlled by the service provider and configure network elements according to data in a service provider database.

Claims

1. A system for automatically configuring network elements, the system comprising:

means for receiving a request from a user to configure a first network element in a network arranged as a plurality of data communication channel groups, each data communications channel group including a plurality of network elements that are interconnected by a plurality of data communication channel links;

means for identifying a data communication channel group that includes said first network element;

means for identifying a second network element in said data communication channel group that is directly connected, via a craft interface port on said second network element, to a routing network; and

means for directing a controller to initiate a call to said second network element, wherein said controller sends data from said user from said first network element via data communication channel links between said second network element and said first network element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said request is for setting the on-off status of a network element performance alarm.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said request is for setting the threshold parameters for a network element performance alarm.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for automatically generating a series of instructions that allows said configuration means to navigate through a series of menu screens.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said request includes script information that directs said configuration means to navigate through a series of menu screens.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for scheduling a periodic series of requests for configuring the network elements in the network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said periodic series of requests include requests for setting the on-off status for performance alarms.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for emulating a computer terminal; and

means for retrieving data from a network element via a screen scraping method performed on data received by said computer terminal.

9. A method for configuring network elements, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving a request from a user to configure a first network element in a network arranged as a plurality of data communication channel groups, each data communications channel group including a plurality of network elements that are interconnected by a plurality of data communication channel links;

(2) identifying a data communication channel group that includes said first network element;

(3) identifying a second network element in said data communication channel group that is directly connected, via a craft interface port on said second network element, to a routing network; and

(4) directing a controller to initiate a call to said second network element, wherein said controller retrieves data requested by said user from said first network element via data communication channel links between said second network element and said first network element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step (1) comprises the step of receiving a request from a user to set the on-off status of a network element performance alarm.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said step (1) comprises the step of receiving a request from a user to set network element alarm threshold parameters.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(5) generating a series of instructions that allows said controller to navigate through a series of menu screens.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said step (1) comprises the step of receiving a request from a user that includes script information that directs said controller to navigate through a series of menu screens.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

(5) scheduling a periodic series of requests to set on-off performance alarm status for network elements in the network.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of

(5) scheduling a periodic series of requests to set alarm threshold parameters for network elements in the network.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(5) emulating a computer terminal; and

(6) retrieving data from a network element via a screen scraping method performed on data received by said computer terminal.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for enabling a processor to manage program execution, said computer readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to receive a request from a user to configure a first network element in a network arranged as a plurality of data communication channel groups, each data communications channel group including a plurality of network elements that are interconnected by a plurality of data communication channel links;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect an identification of a data communication channel group that includes said first network element;

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect an identification of a second network element in said data communication channel group that is directly connected, via a craft interface port on said second network element, to a routing network; and

computer readable program code means for causing a computer to direct a controller to initiate a call to said second network element, wherein said controller retrieves data requested by said user from said first network element via data communication channel links between said second network element and said first network element.