System and method for modeling communication networks

• US 6,996,510 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agile Software Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Metasolv Software, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Campbell, David C., Reilly, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US09/766,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-224, 709/226, 345/734, 345/735, 345/764, 702/186, 703/21, 703/4, 703/13, 370/351, 370/241, 370/254, 707/10, 716/12
• US Class Current: 703/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0083 Network planning or design; Modelling of planned or existing networks

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for modeling communication networks includes a memory and a processing module. The memory stores configuration data for a plurality of network types. The configuration data associates each network type with components, connections, and rules for connecting the components using the connections. The processing module is coupled to the memory and allows a user to select one of the network types and to design a communication network using the components and connections associated with the selected network type according to the configuration data.

Claims

1. A system for modeling communication networks, comprising:

a memory operable to store configuration data for different types of communication networks, the configuration data associating each type of communication network with components, connections, and rules for connecting the components using the connections; and

a processing module coupled to the memory and operable to model the different types of networks using the configuration data, the processing module further operable to allow a user to select one of the types of communication networks and to design a model network using the components and connections associated with the selected type of communication network according to the configuration data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further operable to determine whether a mode operation corresponding to a type of communication network is activated and to allow a user to design a model network of that type of communication network if the corresponding mode of operation is activated.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further operable to allow the user to select one of the components associated with the selected type of communication network, to display a node to represent the selected component in the model network, and to associate equipment with the selected component.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further operable to allow the user to select one of the connections associated with the selected type of communication network, to connect two components using the selected connection according to the rules associated with the selected type of communication network, and to display a connection line between two nodes to represent the connection between the two components.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the rules associated with at least one of the types of communication networks indicate a maximum number of connections between one component and other components.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the configuration data associates at least one of the types of communication networks with a hierarchy of connectors; and

the processing module is further operable to allow a user to assign subordinate connectors to a connection according to the configuration data associated with the type of communication network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further operable to validate the user'"'"'s model network to ensure compliance with the rules associated with the type of communication network according to the configuration data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module is further operable to provision some of the model network by communicating instructions to some components.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing module comprises software instructions for modeling a generic communication network and interfaces with configuration data for specific types of communication networks.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration data associates the components with component properties and associates the connections with connection properties.

11. A computer-implemented method of modeling communication networks, comprising:

storing configuration data for different types of communication networks, the configuration data associating each type of communication network with components, connections, and rules for connecting the components using the connections;

receiving a user selection for one of the different types of communication networks; and

allowing a user to design a model network using the components and connections associated with the selected type of communication network according to the configuration data.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether a mode operation corresponding to a type of communication network is activated; and

allowing a user to design a model network of that type of communication network if the corresponding mode of operation is activated.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a user selection for one of the components associated with the selected type of communication network;

displaying a node to represent the selected component in the model network; and

associating equipment with the selected component.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a user selection for one of the connections associated with the selected type of communication network;

connecting two components using the selected connection according to the rules associated with the type of communication network; and

displaying a connection line between two nodes to represent the connection between the two components.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the rules associated with at least one of the different types of communication networks indicate a maximum number of connections between one component and other components.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the configuration data associates at least one of the different types of communication network with a hierarchy of connectors; and

allowing the user to design the model network further comprises assigning subordinate connectors to a connection according to the configuration data associated with the type of communication network.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising validating the model network to ensure compliance with the rules associated with the selected type of communication network according to the configuration data.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising provisioning some of the model network by communicating instructions to some components.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein allowing the user to design a model network further comprises interfacing software instructions for modeling a generic communication network with configuration data for specific types of communication networks.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the configuration data associates the components with component properties and associates the connections with connection properties.

21. Network modeling software embodied in a computer-readable medium and operable to perform the following steps:

storing configuration data for different types of communication networks, the configuration data associating each type of communication network with components, connections, and rules for connecting the components using the connections;

receiving a user selection for one of the different types of communication networks; and

allowing a user to design a model network using the components and connections associated with the selected type of communication network according to the configuration data.

22. The network modeling software of claim 21, further operable to perform the steps of:

determining whether a mode operation corresponding to a type of communication network is activated; and

allowing a user to design a model network of that type of communication network if the corresponding mode of operation is activated.

23. The network modeling software of claim 21, further operable to perform the steps of:

receiving a user selection for one of the components associated with the selected type of communication network;

displaying a node to represent the selected component in the model network; and

associating equipment with the selected component.

24. The network modeling software of claim 21, further operable to perform the steps of:

receiving a user selection for one of the connections associated with the selected type of communication network;

connecting two components using the selected connection according to the rules associated with the type of communication network; and

displaying a connection line between two nodes to represent the connection between the two components.

25. The network modeling software of claim 21, wherein the rules associated with at least one of the different types of communication networks indicate a maximum number of connections between one component and other components.

26. The network modeling software of claim 21, wherein:

the configuration data associates at least one of the different types of communication network with a hierarchy of connectors; and

allowing the user to design the model network further comprises assigning subordinate connectors to a connection according to the configuration data associated with the type of communication network.

27. The network modeling software of claim 21, further operable to perform the step of validating the on model network to ensure compliance with the rules associated with the selected type of communication network according to the configuration data.

28. The network modeling software of claim 21, further operable to perform the step of provisioning some of the model network by communicating instructions to some components.

29. The network modeling software of claim 21, wherein allowing the user to design a model network further comprises interfacing software instructions for modeling a generic communication network with configuration data for specific types of communication networks.

30. The network modeling software of claim 21, wherein the configuration data associates the components with component properties and associates the connections with connection properties.

31. A system for modeling communication networks, comprising:

a memory operable to store first configuration data for a first type of communication network and second configuration data for a second type of communication network; and

a processing module coupled to the memory and operable to determine whether a first mode operation corresponding to the first type of communication network is activated and to allow a user to design a model network of the first type of communication network using the first configuration data if the first mode of operation is activated, the processing module further operable to determine whether a second mode of operation corresponding to the second type of communication network is activated and to allow a user to design a model network of the second type of communication network using the second configuration data if the second mode of operation is activated.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein:

the first configuration data describes components and connections that may be included in the model network of the first type of communication network and rules for connecting the components using the connections; and

the processing module allows a user to design the model network of the first type of communication network using the components and connections according to the rules.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the processing module allows the user to design the model network of the first type of communication network by creating nodes to represent components of the first type of communication network and creating connection lines to represent connections between the components according to the first configuration data.

34. A computer-implemented method for modeling communication networks, comprising:

storing first configuration data for a first type of communication network;

storing second configuration data for a second type of communication network;

determining whether a first mode operation corresponding to the first type of communication network is activated;

allowing a user to design a model network of the first type of communication network using the first configuration data if the first mode of operation is activated;

determine whether a second mode of operation corresponding to the second type of communication network is activated; and

allowing a user to design a model network of the second type of communication network using the second configuration data if the second mode of operation is activated.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein:

the first configuration data describes components and connections that may be included the model network of the first type of communication network and rules for connecting the components using the connections; and

allowing the user to design the model network of the first type further comprises using the components and connections according to the rules.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein allowing the user to design the model network of the first type of communication network further comprises displaying nodes to represent components of the first type of communication network and connection lines to represent connections between the components according to the first configuration data.