Policy management system
First Claim
1. A policy management system for managing network elements in a telecommunication network, comprising:
- one or more policy proxies associated with said network elements; and
a central policy processing point in communication with said policy proxies;
wherein said policy proxies are configured to notify said policy processing point of events occurring in said network;
wherein said policy processing point is run-time programmable with one or more policies to process said events and to notify one or more of said policy proxies of actions to be taken in response to said events;
wherein said policies are based on a policy definition language that defines (1) primitive events representing a single network element event, (2) basic events representing a group of primitive events occurring within a single time epoch, (3) complex events representing an accumulation of primitive events over plural time epochs, (4) internal events generated in response to network elements failing to take required actions, and (5) policy defined events generated by said policies according to policy defined event ruleswherein said policy proxies are configured to implement said actions at network elements they represent; and
further including a failover and upgrade system wherein;
an external monitoring script functions to restart said policy processing point and said policy proxies should such components become non-operational;
said policy processing point and said policy proxies are configured to enter a retry mode if communication with another component cannot be established, and if said retry mode is unsuccessful to consult a directory server to refresh location information relative to said component;
said policy proxies are configured to raise internal alarms if they are disconnected from, or cannot reach, an associated network element for a period of time;
an aggregator or said policy proxies maintain state on event registrations performed at each policy proxy;
said policy processing point monitors connection status with said aggregator, and following a disconnection therefrom, reloads its policies upon a reconnect; and
said policy processing point stores its policies in said directory server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A policy management system implements a programmable policy-based approach for managing network elements in a telecommunication network. The policy management system includes one or more policy proxies associated with the network elements and a central policy processing point in communication with the policy proxies. The policy proxies are configured to notify the policy processing point of events occurring in the network. The policy processing point is run-time programmable with one or more policies to process such events and to notify one or more of the policy proxies of actions to be taken in response thereto. The policy proxies implement these actions at the network elements they represent.
143 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A policy management system for managing network elements in a telecommunication network, comprising:
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one or more policy proxies associated with said network elements; and a central policy processing point in communication with said policy proxies; wherein said policy proxies are configured to notify said policy processing point of events occurring in said network; wherein said policy processing point is run-time programmable with one or more policies to process said events and to notify one or more of said policy proxies of actions to be taken in response to said events; wherein said policies are based on a policy definition language that defines (1) primitive events representing a single network element event, (2) basic events representing a group of primitive events occurring within a single time epoch, (3) complex events representing an accumulation of primitive events over plural time epochs, (4) internal events generated in response to network elements failing to take required actions, and (5) policy defined events generated by said policies according to policy defined event rules wherein said policy proxies are configured to implement said actions at network elements they represent; and further including a failover and upgrade system wherein; an external monitoring script functions to restart said policy processing point and said policy proxies should such components become non-operational; said policy processing point and said policy proxies are configured to enter a retry mode if communication with another component cannot be established, and if said retry mode is unsuccessful to consult a directory server to refresh location information relative to said component; said policy proxies are configured to raise internal alarms if they are disconnected from, or cannot reach, an associated network element for a period of time; an aggregator or said policy proxies maintain state on event registrations performed at each policy proxy; said policy processing point monitors connection status with said aggregator, and following a disconnection therefrom, reloads its policies upon a reconnect; and said policy processing point stores its policies in said directory server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A policy management method for managing network elements in a telecommunication network, comprising the steps of:
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configuring a policy execution space at run time to run one or more policies; monitoring events occurring at said network elements; processing said events at a central policy processing point by applying said one or more policies; said processing including applying policy rules to said events to determine actions to be taken in response to said events; said policies being based on a policy definition language that defines (1) primitive events representing a single network element event, (2) basic events representing a group of primitive events occurring within a single time epoch, (3) complex events representing an accumulation of primitive events over plural time epochs, (4) internal events generated in response to network elements failing to take required actions, and (5) policy defined events generated by said policies according to policy defined event rules; controlling one or more of said network elements according to said actions; and further including failover and upgrade steps wherein; an external monitoring script functions to restart said policy processing point and said policy proxies should such components become non-operational; said policy processing point and said policy proxies are configured to enter a retry mode if communication with another component cannot be established, and if said retry mode is unsuccessful, to consult a directory server to refresh location information relative to said component; said policy proxies are configured to raise internal alarms if they are disconnected from or cannot reach, an associated network element for a period of time; an aggregator or said policy proxies maintain state on event registrations performed at said policy processing point monitors connection status with said aggregator, and following a disconnection therefrom, reloads its policies upon a reconnect; and said policy processing point stores its policies in said directory server. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 26)
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24. A computer program product for policy management of network elements in a telecommunication network, comprising:
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a data storage medium; program means recorded on said data storage medium for configuring a policy execution space at runtime to run one or more policies; program means recorded on said data storage medium for monitoring events occurring at said network elements; program means recorded on said data storage medium for processing said events at a central policy processing point by applying said one or more policies, said processing including applying policy rules to said events to determine actions in response to said events; said policies being based on a policy definition language that defines (1) primitive events representing a single network element event, (2) basic events representing a group of primitive events occurring within a single time epoch, (3) complex events representing an accumulation of primitive events over plural time epochs, (4) internal events generated in response to network elements failing to take required actions, and (5) policy defined events generated by said policies according to policy defined event rules; program means recorded on said data storage medium for advising one or more of said network elements of said actions; and further including means recorded on said data storage medium for providing a failover and upgrade system wherein; an external monitoring script functions to restart said policy processing point and said policy proxies should such components become non-operational; said policy processing point and said policy proxies are configured to enter a retry mode if communication with another component cannot be established, and if said retry mode is unsuccessful, to consult a directory server to refresh location information relative to said component; said policy proxies are configured to raise internal alarms if they are disconnected from or cannot reach, an associated network element for a period of time; an aggregator or said policy proxies maintain state on event registrations performed at each policy proxy; said policy processing point monitors connection status with said aggregator, and following a disconnection therefore reloads its policies upon a reconnect; and said policy processing point stores its policies in said directory server. - View Dependent Claims (25, 27)
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Specification