Method and apparatus for a comprehensive network management system

• US 7,769,847 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewis, Lundy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONAGHUE, LARRY D
• Application Number:
  US10/332,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,308 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-225, 714/4
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS

Abstract

In a system for managing data, voice, application and video networks and associated systems and services that comprise multiple, interconnected network technologies, a management system suited for a particular networking technology manages each separate technology domain. Multiple management systems thus manage multiple domains with respect to fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security management. The management systems that manage the individual networking technology domains are then themselves managed by a higher-level system, called an inter-domain management system, which performs cross-domain management. The individual management systems of the invention collect data from their respective technology domains and provide it to an intra-domain data collection function. This data is then utilized by an inter-domain data correlation function to determine what instructions should be sent from an intra-domain instruction function to each management system for implementation in its respective technology domains. The comprehensive management system thus collects data from each lower-level management system and, if required, sends operational instructions back to each lower level system. Event correlation and service level management are performed at both the intra-domain and inter-domain levels. Business process management is performed at the inter-domain level.

Claims

1. A method for comprehensively managing a communications environment, wherein the communications environment comprises a plurality of network domains, each network domain comprising a separately managed communications network having intra-domain management components, the intra-domain management components comprising:

an intra-domain data management component that manages the network domain;

an intra-domain event correlation component that receives events from the intra-domain data management component, maps the events into one or more of alarms or actions, and transmits the alarms or actions to the intra-domain data management component; and

an intra-domain service level management component that receives service data relating to levels of service provided by the network domain from the intra-domain data management component, formulates intra-domain service instructions using the service data, and transmits the intra-domain service instructions to the intra-domain data management component, the method comprising;

receiving, at an inter-domain data collection module, domain-specific data from the intra-domain management components of two or more network domains of the plurality of network domains, wherein the domain-specific data includes service data and event data, wherein event data includes data relating to one or more of events or alarms mapped from events;

receiving, at an inter-domain event correlation module, event data relating to the at least two network domains from the inter-domain data collection module;

determining, at the inter-domain event correlation module, whether to generate one or more inter-domain events based on the received event data;

receiving, at an inter-domain service level management module, service data relating to the at least two network domains from the inter-domain data collection module;

comparing, at the inter-domain service level management module, the received service data with one or more predefined service levels;

generating, at the inter-domain service level management module, one or more inter-domain service management actions based on the comparison;

receiving, at a business process management module, one or more of the service data relating to the at least two network domains or the generated one or more inter-domain service management actions from the inter-domain service level management module; and

determining, at the business process management module, whether one or more predefined business objectives are met using one or more of the service data or the inter-domain service management actions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating one or more inter-domain service management actions further comprises:

generating, at the inter-domain service level management module service instructions based on the one or more inter-domain service management actions;

receiving, at the inter-domain data collection module, the service instructions from the inter-domain service level management module; and

transmitting, from the inter-domain data collection module, the service instructions to one or more of the intra-domain data management components of the at least two network domains.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to generate one or more inter-domain events further comprises:

correlating, at the inter-domain event correlation module, the received event data into one or more inter-domain events;

determining, at the inter-domain event correlation module, whether to generate one or more inter-domain alarms based at least in part on the one or more inter-domain events;

generating, at the inter-domain event correlation module, one or more inter-domain actions when one or more inter-domain alarms are generated;

receiving, at the inter-domain data collection module, the one or more generated inter-domain actions; and

transmitting, from the inter-domain data collection module, the one or more generated inter-domain actions to one or more of the intra-domain data management components of the at least two network domains.

4. A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for comprehensively managing a communications environment, wherein the communications environment comprises a plurality of network domains, each network domain comprising a separately managed communications network having intra-domain management components, the intra-domain management components comprising:

an intra-domain data management component that manages the network domain;

an intra-domain event correlation component that receives events from the intra-domain data management component, maps the events into one or more of alarms or actions, and transmits the alarms or actions to the intra-domain data management component; and

an intra-domain service level management component that receives service data relating to levels of service provided by the network domain from the intra-domain data management component, formulates intra-domain service instructions using the service data, and transmits the intra-domain service instructions to the intra-domain data management component, the instructions operable when executed to;

receive, at an inter-domain data collection module, domain-specific data from the intra-domain management components of two or more network domains of the plurality of network domains, wherein the domain-specific data includes service data and event data, wherein event data includes data relating to one or more of events or alarms mapped from events;

receive, at an inter-domain event correlation module, event data relating to the at least two network domains from the inter-domain data collection module;

determine, at the inter-domain event correlation module, whether to generate one or more inter-domain events based on the received event data;

receive, at an inter-domain service level management module, service data relating to the at least two network domains from the inter-domain data collection module;

compare, at the inter-domain service level management module, the received service data with one or more predefined service levels;

generate, at the inter-domain service level management module, one or more inter-domain service management actions based on the comparison;

receive, at a business process management module, one or more of the service data relating to the at least two network domains or the generated one or more inter-domain service management actions from the inter-domain service level management module; and

determine, at the business process management module, whether one or more predefined business objectives are met using one or more of the service data or the inter-domain service management actions.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the instructions when executed operable to generate one or more inter-domain service management actions are when executed further operable to:

generate, at the inter-domain service level management module service instructions based on the one or more inter-domain service management actions;

receive, at the inter-domain data collection module, the service instructions from the inter-domain service level management module; and

transmit, from the inter-domain data collection module, the service instructions to one or more of the intra-domain data management components of the at least two network domains.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the instructions when executed operable to determine whether to generate one or more inter-domain events are when executed further operable to:

correlate, at the inter-domain event correlation module, the received event data into one or more inter-domain events;

determine, at the inter-domain event correlation module, whether to generate one or more inter-domain alarms based at least in part on the one or more inter-domain events;

generate, at the inter-domain event correlation module, one or more inter-domain actions when one or more inter-domain alarms are generated;

receive, at the inter-domain data collection module, the one or more generated inter-domain actions; and

transmit, from the inter-domain data collection module, the one or more generated inter-domain actions to one or more of the intra-domain data management components of the at least two network domains.

7. A system for comprehensively managing a communications environment, wherein the communications environment comprises a plurality of network domains, each network domain comprising a separately managed communications network having intra-domain management components, the intra-domain management components comprising:

an intra-domain data management component that manages the network domain;

an intra-domain event correlation component that receives events from the intra-domain data management component, maps the events into one or more of alarms or actions, and transmits the alarms or actions to the intra-domain data management component; and

an intra-domain service level management component that receives service data relating to levels of service provided by the network domain from the intra-domain data management component, formulates intra-domain service instructions using the service data, and transmits the intra-domain service instructions to the intra-domain data management component, the system comprising;

one or more processors configured to;

receive, at an inter-domain data collection module, domain-specific data from the intra-domain management components of two or more network domains of the plurality of network domains, wherein the domain-specific data includes service data and event data, wherein event data includes data relating to one or more of events or alarms mapped from events;

receive, at an inter-domain event correlation module, event data relating to the at least two network domains from the inter-domain data collection module;

determining, at the inter-domain event correlation module, whether to generate one or more inter-domain events based on the received event data

receive, at an inter-domain service level management module, service data relating to the at least two network domains from the inter-domain data collection module;

compare, at the inter-domain service level management module, the received service data with one or more predefined service levels;

generate, at the inter-domain service level management module, one or more inter-domain service management actions based on the comparison;

receive, at a business process management module, one or more of the service data relating to the at least two network domains or the generated one or more inter-domain service management actions from the inter-domain service level management module; and

determine, at the business process management module, whether one or more predefined business objectives are met using one or more of the service data or the inter-domain service management action.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors configured to generate one or more inter-domain service management actions are further configured to:

generate, at the inter-domain service level management module service instructions based on the one or more inter-domain service management actions;

receive, at the inter-domain data collection module, the service instructions from the inter-domain service level management module; and

transmit, from the inter-domain data collection module, the service instructions to one or more of the intra-domain data management components of the at least two network domains.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors configured to determine whether to generate one or more inter-domain events are further configured to:

correlate, at the inter-domain event correlation module, the received event data into one or more inter-domain events;

determine, at the inter-domain event correlation module, whether to generate one or more inter-domain alarms based at least in part on the one or more inter-domain events;

generate, at the inter-domain event correlation module, one or more inter-domain actions when one or more inter-domain alarms are generated;

receive, at the inter-domain data collection module, the one or more generated inter-domain actions; and

transmit, from the inter-domain data collection module, the one or more generated inter-domain actions to one or more of the intra-domain data management components of the at least two network domains.

10. A method for managing a communications network comprising a first domain managed at a first management layer and a second domain managed at a second management layer, the method comprising:

receiving first service management information from the first management layer and second service management information from the second management layer,

wherein the first service management information was correlated, at the first management layer, from a plurality of first service information, the first service management information comprising information related to services being provided by one or more first service providers at the first domain,

wherein the second service management information was correlated, at the second management layer, from a plurality of second service information, the second service management information comprising information related to services being provided by one or more second service providers at the second domain;

correlating the first service management information with the second service management information; and

generating inter-domain service management information based on the correlated first service management information and second service management information, wherein the inter-domain service management information comprises information related to services being provided on the communications network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating first service instructions based on the generated inter-domain service management information.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10, the instructions when executed further operable to:

generate first service instructions based on the generated inter-domain service management information.

15. The system of claim 10, the one or more processors further configured to:

generate first service instructions based on the generated inter-domain service management information.

12. A computer readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions for managing a communications network comprising a first domain managed at a first management layer and a second domain managed at a second management layer, the instructions operable when executed to:

receive first service management information from the first management layer and second service management information from the second management layer,

wherein the first service management information was correlated, at the first management layer, from a plurality of first service information, the first service management information comprising information related to services being provided by one or more first service providers at the first domain,

wherein the second service management information was correlated, at the second management layer, from a plurality of second service information, the second service management information comprising information related to services being provided by one or more second service providers at the second domain;

correlate the first service management information with the second service management information; and

generate inter-domain service management information based on the correlated first service management information and second service management information, wherein the inter-domain service management information comprises information related to services being provided on the communications network.

14. A system for managing a communications network, the communications network comprising a first domain managed at a first management layer and a second domain managed at a second management layer, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive first service management information from the first management layer and second service management information from the second management layer,

wherein the first service management information was correlated, at the first management layer, from a plurality of first service information, the first service management information comprising information related to services being provided by one or more first service providers at the first domain,

wherein the second service management information was correlated, at the second management layer, from a plurality of second service information, the second service management information comprising information related to services being provided by one or more second service providers at the second domain;

correlate the first service management information with the second service management information; and

generate inter-domain service management information based on the correlated first service management information and second service management information, wherein the inter-domain service management information comprises information related to services being provided on the communications network.

16. A method for comprehensively managing a communications network comprising a first network and a second network, the method comprising:

receiving first network management information collected at a first domain, wherein the first domain is connected to the first network, the first network employing a first type of network technology;

receiving second network management information collected at a second domain, wherein the second domain is connected to the second network, the second network employing a second type of network technology, wherein the first type of network technology is different from the second type of network technology;

generating a first information model that describes management of the first network and generating a second information model that describes management of the second network;

correlating the first network management information with the second network management information using the first information model and the second information model;

generating inter-domain results based on the correlation; and

determining one or more first operational instructions according to the first type of network technology employed by the first network, wherein the one or more first operational instructions are based on the generated inter-domain results and are implemented at the first domain.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communications network is a virtual private network (VPN) that traverses the first network and the second network.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first information model is based on a common language for specifying network technologies.

19. A method for comprehensively managing a communications network comprising a first network and a second network, the method comprising:

receiving first network management information collected at a first domain, wherein the first domain is connected to the first network, the first network employing a first type of network technology;

receiving second network management information collected at a second domain, wherein the second domain is connected to the second network, the second network employing a second type of network technology, wherein the first type of network technology is different from the second type of network technology;

generating a first information model that describes management of the first network and generating a second information model that describes management of the second network;

correlating the first network management information with the second network management information using the first information model and the second information model; and

generating inter-domain results based on the correlation;

wherein the first type of network technology comprises an optical networking technology and wherein the generated first information model relates to physics of the optical networking technology.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said generating a first information model further comprises modeling one or more optical components of the first network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one more optical components of the first network comprises at least one of the following:

an optical-to-electronic terminating equipment, a multiplexing equipment, or an optical amplifier.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said generating a first information model further comprises generating one or more models of wavelengths.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more models of wavelengths comprise at least one of the following:

at least one section trail, at least one multiplex trail, or at least one channel trail.