Methods of sharing capabilities information between the nodes of telecommunications network

• US 6,246,879 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rosenzweig, Benita, Segura, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Green, Miguel D.
• Application Number:
  US09/111,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 370/466, 370/465, 370/410, 370/522, 370/400, 370/389, 370/469, 375/222, 375/220, 455/446, 455/452, 455/422, 455/433, 455/560, 455/561
• US Class Current: 455/446
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

A method of sharing capabilities information between a plurality of nodes in a telecommunications network. The method begins when a new node is installed in the telecommunications network or the capabilities of a node are modified. The new or modified node sends an Exchange Data Directive (EXDATADIR) Invoke message to one or more cooperating nodes in the network. The EXDATADIR message is an intersystem node capabilities declaration message which includes parameters relating to communications capabilities and service support capabilities of the new or modified node. If the node is a new node, this is followed by sending EXDATADIR Return Result messages from each cooperating node to the new node. The EXDATADIR Return Result message is an intersystem node capabilities declaration message which includes parameters relating to services supported by the cooperating nodes. Upon receipt of a node capabilities declaration message, each node updates its exchange data with the parameters relating to the capabilities of the other nodes in the network.

Claims

1. A method of sharing capabilities information between a plurality of nodes in a telecommunications network comprising:

installing, or modifying the capabilities of, a node in the telecommunications network;

sending a first node capabilities declaration message comprising an Exchange Data Directive (EXDATADIR) Invoke message from the node to a cooperating node in the network, said EXDATADIR Invoke message including parameters relating to communications capabilities of the node and parameters related to services which the node is capable of supporting; and

sending a second node capabilities declaration message from the cooperating node to the node, said second message including parameters related to services which the cooperating node is capable of supporting.

2. A method of sharing capabilities information between a plurality of nodes in a telecommunications network comprising:

installing, or modifying the capabilities of, a node in the telecommunications network;

sending a first node capabilities declaration message from the node to a cooperating node in the network, said first message including parameters relating to communications capabilities of the node and parameters related to services which the node is capable of supporting; and

sending a second node capabilities declaration message from the cooperating node to the node, said second message including an Exchange Data Directive (EXDATADIR) Return Result message which includes parameters related to services which the cooperating node is capable of supporting.