Managing packet voice networks using a virtual entity approach
First Claim
1. A method of managing a packet voice network that uses ITU Recommendation H.323 and using a virtual entity approach, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- creating and storing a virtual zone object, wherein the virtual zone object represents a virtual zone comprising one or more virtual gateways and one or more associated gatekeepers that are respectively associated with the one or more virtual gateways;
receiving user input that specifies a single configuration operation on the virtual zone and one or more parameter values, wherein the user input does not specify both a virtual gateway and its associated gatekeeper; and
in response to receiving the user input, automatically issuing one or more configuration instructions to both a virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways and its associated gatekeeper, resulting in configuring both the virtual gateway and the associated gatekeeper as specified in the user input;
wherein the configuration operation comprises a gatekeeper configuration function that is one of;
Configure Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP);
Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP);
Configure Network Time Protocol (NTP);
Configure Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) related parameters;
Configure Access List;
or Configure Ethernet Interface.
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Abstract
A method for managing packet voice networks conforming to ITU Recommendation H.323, using a virtual entity approach and abstract information model approach, is disclosed. A virtual zone object represents an association of a virtual gateway, which comprises an H.323 gateway and a signaling controller, and one or more associated virtual gatekeepers, each of which comprises an H.323 gatekeeper, or the combination of an H.323 gatekeeper and a route server. User input specifies a configuration operation on the virtual zone and one or more parameter values. One or more configuration instructions are automatically issued to both the gateway and the gatekeeper, and other involved objects representing other involved network elements, resulting in configuring both the gateway and the gatekeeper as specified in the user input. As a result, a user can configure or operate on a virtual zone or other virtual object as an atomic entity, for example, in a network management application, without involvement in complicated details of the actual network devices that provide a particular packet voice service.
94 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of managing a packet voice network that uses ITU Recommendation H.323 and using a virtual entity approach, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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creating and storing a virtual zone object, wherein the virtual zone object represents a virtual zone comprising one or more virtual gateways and one or more associated gatekeepers that are respectively associated with the one or more virtual gateways; receiving user input that specifies a single configuration operation on the virtual zone and one or more parameter values, wherein the user input does not specify both a virtual gateway and its associated gatekeeper; and in response to receiving the user input, automatically issuing one or more configuration instructions to both a virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways and its associated gatekeeper, resulting in configuring both the virtual gateway and the associated gatekeeper as specified in the user input; wherein the configuration operation comprises a gatekeeper configuration function that is one of;
Configure Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP);
Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP);
Configure Network Time Protocol (NTP);
Configure Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) related parameters;
Configure Access List;
or Configure Ethernet Interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, wherein the computer-readable medium is one of non-volatile or volatile media, for managing a packet voice networks that uses ITU Recommendation H.323 and using a virtual zone approach, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
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creating and storing a virtual zone object, wherein the virtual zone object represents a virtual zone comprising one or more virtual gateways and one or more H.323 gatekeepers that are respectively associated with the one or more virtual gateways; receiving user input that specifies a single configuration operation on the virtual zone and one or more parameter values, wherein the user input does not specify both a virtual gateway and its associated gatekeeper; and in response to receiving the user input, automatically issuing one or more configuration instructions to both a virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways and its associated H.323 gatekeeper, resulting in configuring both the virtual gateway and the H.323 gatekeeper as specified in the user input; wherein the configuration operation comprises a gatekeeper configuration function that is one of;
Configure Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP);
Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP);
Configure Network Time Protocol (NTP);
Configure Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) related parameters;
Configure Access List;
or Configure Ethernet Interface.
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19. An apparatus for managing a packet voice network that uses ITU Recommendation H.323 and using a virtual zone approach, comprising:
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means for creating and storing a virtual zone object, wherein the virtual zone object represents a virtual zone comprising one or more virtual gateways and one or more H.323 gatekeepers that are respectively associated with the one or more virtual gateways; means for receiving user input that specifies a single configuration operation on the virtual zone and one or more parameter values, wherein the user input does not specify both a virtual gateway and its associated gatekeeper; and means for automatically issuing, in response to receiving the user input, one or more configuration instructions to both a virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways and its associated H.323 gatekeeper, resulting in configuring both the virtual gateway and the H.323 gatekeeper as specified in the user input; wherein the configuration operation comprises a gatekeeper configuration function that is one of;
Configure Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP);
Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP);
Configure Network Time Protocol (NTP);
Configure Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) related parameters;
Configure Access List;
or Configure Ethernet Interface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for managing a packet voice network that uses ITU Recommendation H.323 and using a virtual zone approach, comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to the data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom; a processor; one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of; creating and storing a virtual zone object, wherein the virtual zone object represents a virtual zone comprising one or more virtual gateways and one or more H.323 gatekeepers that are respectively associated with the one or more virtual gateways; receiving user input that specifies a single configuration operation on the virtual zone and one or more parameter values, wherein the user input does not specify both a virtual gateway and its associated gatekeeper; and in response to receiving the user input, automatically issuing one or more configuration instructions to both a virtual gateway of the one or more virtual gateways and its associated H.323 gatekeeper, resulting in configuring both the virtual gateway and the H.323 gatekeeper as specified in the user input; wherein the configuration operation comprises a gatekeeper configuration function that is one of;
Configure Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP);
Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP);
Configure Network Time Protocol (NTP);
Configure Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) related parameters;
Configure Access List;
or Configure Ethernet Interface. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification