Automatic discovery and positioning method of the network elements in the network management system in case that the network topology is configured

• US 6,347,336 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Song, Jee-Hoon, Choi, Cheong-Rim, Kang, Young-Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/287,084
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 370/258, 370/257, 370/254, 709/223, 709/224, 345/733, 345/734, 345/735, 345/736
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

By using a graphical user interface (GUI) screen, a network operator provides to subscribers service for automatically discovering the configuration management and network topology of Optical network units (ONU'"'"'s) in a fiber loop carrier-curb system. When a host digital terminal (HDT) or optical network unit connected to a subscriber is added to a fiber loop carrier-curb (FLC-C) or fiber loop carrier-curb management system (FMS), the added network element is displayed on the graphic user interface screen as an icon in a designated position of a network topology. Conversely, when a network element (NE) is deleted from the management system, its corresponding icon is removed from the network topology. A star topology is used as the preferred network topology and configuration method in the present invention. When the star topology is displayed, the host digital terminal is located in the center of a concentric circle, surrounded by a maximum of 16 optical network unit'"'"'s. Each optical network unit is connected to a host digital terminal and has its own assigned position in the star topology. The position of each optical network unit is determined from the configuration identification information of the optical network unit, which is automatically checked upon addition of the optical network unit to the management system. Using the identification information, the optical network unit automatically is placed in a designated position of the star topology.

Claims

1. A method for automatic discovery and positioning of network elements, said method comprising:

a fiber loop carrier-curb network management system having a plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb optical network systems, a host digital terminal for each fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system, and a plurality of optical network units, said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system performing the steps of;

automatically assigning an identification number and a position on a variable visual display to each network element of a plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb optical network systems and storing the information of each said identification number and position to a database of said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system;

designating a selected one of a fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system from said plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb optical network systems for automatic discovery of optical network units in said selected fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system;

making a determination as to whether optical network units of said selected fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system are added or deleted, and automatically notifying the information about said determination to said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system;

when said determination establishes that an optical network unit has been added, automatically generating an icon corresponding to said added optical network unit and placing said generated icon in a designated position of a star network topology; and

when said determination establishes that an optical network unit has been deleted, removing the icon corresponding to said optical network unit from said designated position in said star network topology.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical network units are located around said host digital terminal shaping a circle as represented on said visual display.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said network management system is said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system which manages said plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb systems.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said host digital terminal is connected to a fiber loop carrier-curb system and said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said optical network units are operated by users.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said host digital terminal is connected to a maximum of 16 optical network units.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system manages a plurality of small-sized networks or sub-networks.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said sub-networks are fiber loop carrier-curb network systems.

9. An apparatus for automatic discovery and positioning of network elements, said apparatus comprising:

a fiber loop carrier-curb network management system having a plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb optical network systems, a host digital terminal for each fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system, and a plurality of optical network units, said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system having;

means for automatically assigning an identification number and position to all network elements of a plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb optical network systems and storing the information of said identification number and position to a database of said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system;

means for selecting one of a fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system from said plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb optical network systems for automatic discovery of optical network units in said selected fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system;

means for confirming whether optical network units of said selected fiber loop carrier-curb optical network system are added or deleted, and automatically notifying the information about said confirmation to said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system;

if optical network units are added, means for automatically generating icons of said added optical network units and placing said generated icons in a designated position of a star network topology; and

if optical network units are deleted, means for removing the corresponding icons of said optical network units from said designated positions in said star network topology.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said optical network units are located around said host digital terminal shaping a circle.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said network management system is said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system which manages said plurality of fiber loop carrier-curb systems.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said host digital terminal is connected to a fiber loop carrier-curb system and said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said optical network units are operated by users.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said host digital terminal is connected to a maximum of 16 optical network units.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said fiber loop carrier-curb network management system manages a plurality of small-sized networks or sub-networks.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said sub-networks are fiber loop carrier-curb network systems.