System and method for providing a graphical user interface to, for building, and/or for monitoring a telecommunication network

• US 6,714,217 B2
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Huang, Ye, Crowe, William Lawton, Howell, Royal Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thomas T.
• Application Number:
  US09/216,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 365/969, 365/339, 365/329, 365/736, 365/764, 365/733, 365/734, 365/735, 365/744, 365/223, 365/224
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0083 Network planning or design; Modelling of planned or existing networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for network development, management, and monitoring includes a GUI front end that provides a graphical representation of a telecommunication network comprised of communication devices represented by GUI network elements. A network proxy provides a communication layer between the GUI and a network server and allows the GUI to connect to multiple instances of a network server without having to hard code the connections to the network servers. The network proxy transmits commands and messages between the network server and the GUI. The network server determines how to handle traffic in the network model, such as how to provide call setup, call routing, and call tear down. The network server transmits call routing commands and messages to the network proxy which dispatches them to the GUI. An external systems interface provides the mechanism for which the network server communicates with communication devices in an external system.

Claims

1. A communication network modeling system comprising:

a graphical user interface coupled to a network server and configured to display a signaling debugger, display a signaling editor, display a call through a network model, and display a call trace;

a processing system configured to store and display the network model comprised of a plurality of inter-connected network elements which include a plurality of live network elements, initiate the call through the network model, transfer a request for a first network element for the call, receive a response indicating a second network element for the call, and extend the call through the network model from the first network element to the second network element based on the response;

wherein the network server is coupled to the processing system and configured to receive the request, determine the second network element in response to the request and transfer the response, and wherein the network server is coupled to the plurality of live network elements, and wherein the second network element is selected from one of the plurality of live network elements;

wherein the signaling debugger is coupled to the processing system and configured to stop the call extension through the network model, wherein the call extension extends the call from the first network element to the second network element, and wherein the signaling debugger is configured to stop the call extension based upon user input and start the call extension through the network based upon user input;

wherein the signaling editor is coupled to the processing system and configured to allow a user to change call signaling for the call based on user input while the call extension is stopped; and

wherein the call trace is configured to trace call processing through a routing table.

2. The communication network modeling system of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to transfer the call signaling for the call through the network model based on the response.

3. The communication network modeling system of claim 2 wherein the processing system is further configured to establish a connection through the network model based on the response.

4. The communication network modeling system of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface comprises a build process configured to build the network model.

5. The communication network modeling system of claim 3 wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display the established connection.

6. The communication network modeling system of claim 1 further comprising a network proxy configured to interface between the graphical user interface and the network server.

7. A method for operating a communication network modeling system, the method comprising:

in a processing system, storing and displaying a network model, initiating a call through the network model comprised of a plurality of inter-connected network elements which including a plurality of live network elements;

transferring a request for a first network element for the call and receiving a response indicating a second network element for the call;

in a network server, receiving the request from the processing system, determining the second network element for the call in response to the request including selecting the second network element from the plurality of live network elements, and transferring a response indicating the second network element from the server application to the processing system;

in the processing system, extending the call through the network model from the first network element to the second network element based on the response;

in a signaling debugger, stopping the call extension through the network model from the first network element to the second network element wherein stopping the call extension is based upon user input and starting the call extension through the network based upon user input;

in a signaling editor, allowing a user to change call signaling for the call based on user input while the call extension is stopped;

in a graphical user interface, tracing call processing through a routing table and displaying the trace; and

in the graphical user interface, displaying the signaling debugger, displaying the signaling editor, and displaying the call extension through the network model.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein communicating with the live network element comprises exchanging signaling.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein exchanging the signaling comprises exchanging an initial address message.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying the signaling.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein extending the call through the network model based on the response comprises transferring signaling through the network model based on the response and wherein displaying the call extending through the network model comprises displaying the transfer of the signaling.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein extending the call through the network model based on the response comprises establishing a connection through the network model based on the response, and wherein displaying the call extending through the network model comprises displaying the established connection.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising building the network model in the computer application and displaying the network model.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising handling a plurality of additional simultaneous calls through the network model.