Method of negotiating an active or a passive role assignment to a control means of a network element, a control means, a program module and a network element therefor
First Claim
1. A method of negotiating an active or a passive role assignment to a first control means and to at least one second control means, both contained in a single network element, said first control means and said at least one second control means being redundant and operating dependent in a role that is active or passive with regard to controlling said network element, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining an operability state parameter for each of said first control means and said at least one second control means dependent on the respective ability of said first control means and said at least one second control means to perform a first functionality and a second functionality, respectively;
mutually transmitting said operability state parameters between said first control means and said at least one second control means; and
determining an active role or a passive role by said first control means and by said at least one second control means dependent on said operability state parameter of the first control means and said operability state parameter of said at least one second control means;
wherein when a control means is assigned a passive role, it is in stand-by with regard to the controlled network element; and
when a control means is assigned an active role, it controls the controlled network element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of negotiating an active or a passive role assignment to a first and a second control means of a network element. The control means are redundant and operate dependent on their respective active or passive role. The invention furthermore relates to a control means therefor, a program module for a control means therefor and a network element therefor.
The method comprises the steps of:
- determining an operability state parameter for each of said control means dependent on their respective ability to perform their respective functionality;
- mutually transmitting said operability state parameters between said control means; and
- determining an active role or a passive role by said control means dependent on said respective operability state parameters.
11 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of negotiating an active or a passive role assignment to a first control means and to at least one second control means, both contained in a single network element, said first control means and said at least one second control means being redundant and operating dependent in a role that is active or passive with regard to controlling said network element, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining an operability state parameter for each of said first control means and said at least one second control means dependent on the respective ability of said first control means and said at least one second control means to perform a first functionality and a second functionality, respectively; mutually transmitting said operability state parameters between said first control means and said at least one second control means; and determining an active role or a passive role by said first control means and by said at least one second control means dependent on said operability state parameter of the first control means and said operability state parameter of said at least one second control means; wherein when a control means is assigned a passive role, it is in stand-by with regard to the controlled network element; and when a control means is assigned an active role, it controls the controlled network element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24)
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18. A first control means of a single network element able to negotiate an active or a passive role assignment with at least one second control means, wherein said first control means and said at least one second control means are contained in said single network element, said first control means and said at least one second control means being redundant and operating dependent on a role that is active or passive with regard to controlling said network element, said first control means comprising means for carrying out a method comprising:
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determining a first operability state parameter dependent on the ability of said first control means to perform a functionality; transmitting said first operability state parameter to said at least one second control means; receiving at least one second operability state parameter of said at least one second control means; and determining an active role or a passive role dependent on said first operability state parameter and said at least one second operability state parameter; wherein when a control means is assigned a passive role, it is in stand-by with regard to the controlled network element; and when a control means is assigned an active role, it controls the controlled network element.
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19. A program module for a first control means of a single network element, said program module enabling said first control means to negotiate an active or a passive role assignment with at least one second control means, wherein said first control means and said at least one second control means are contained in said single network element, said first control means and said at least one second control means being redundant and operating dependent on a role that is active or passive with regard to controlling said network element, said program module containing program instructions able to be executed by said first control means, said instructions comprising the steps of:
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determining a first operability state parameter dependent on the ability of said first control means to perform its functionality; transmitting said first operability state parameter to said at least one second control means; receiving at least one second operability state parameter of said at least one second control means; and determining the active role or the passive role dependent on said first operability state parameter and said at least one second operability state parameter; wherein when a control means is assigned a passive role, it is in stand-by with regard to the controlled network element; and when a control means is assigned an active role, it controls the controlled network element.
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20. A single network element containing a first control means and at least one second control means negotiating an active role or a passive role assignment, said first control means and said at least one second control means being redundant and operating dependent on a role that is active or passive with regard to controlling said network element, said first control means and said at least one second control means adapted to carry out:
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determining of operability state parameters for said first control means and said at least one second control means dependent on an ability of said first control means and said at least one second control means to perform a first functionality and a second functionality, respectively; mutually transmitting said first operability state parameter and said second operability state parameter between said first control means and said at least one second control means; and determining the active role or the passive role by said first control means and by said at least one second control means dependent on said first operability state parameter and said second operability state parameter; wherein when a control means is assigned a passive role, it is in stand-by with regard to the controlled network element; and when a control means is assigned an active role, it controls the controlled network element.
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21. A computer readable medium having a program module for a first control means of a single network element, said program module enabling said first control means to negotiate an active or a passive role assignment with at least one second control means wherein said first control means and said at least one second control means are contained in said single network element, said first control means and said at least one second control means being redundant and operating dependent on a role that is active or passive with regard to controlling said network element, said program module containing program instructions able to be executed by said first control means, and said instructions comprising the steps of:
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determining a first operability state parameter dependent on the ability of said first control means to perform its functionality; transmitting said first operability state parameter to said at least one second control means; receiving at least one second operability state parameter of said at least one second control means; and determining the active role or the passive role dependent on said first operability state parameter and said at least one second operability state parameters; wherein when a control means is assigned a passive role, it is in stand-by with regard to the controlled network element; and when a control means is assigned an active role, it controls the controlled network element.
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Specification