Managing architecture and diagnostic method for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks

• US 7,881,226 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Jiann-Liang, Lien, Kuo-Chen, Huang, Bing-Jie, Lu, Hsi-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Warner
• Application Number:
  US11/930,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/245, 370/252, 370/255, 370/254, 370/392, 370/401, 370/466, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration

Abstract

Disclosed is a managing architecture and diagnostic method for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, which includes at least one sub-network agent, a local area network (LAN) management module and a remote LAN module. Each sub-network agent manages its sub-networks via its own management protocol, and collects the sub-networks'"'"' information. The LAN management module receives the requests from heterogeneous local networks via these sub-network agents, and converts the information associated with each request into a common information model (CIM) to seek a solution for each request. The remote LAN module receives the unsolved requests from the LAN management module via a channel, configures the heterogeneous local networks and uses compatible interface at a remote side to accomplish the management and diagnosis for the heterogeneous local networks.

Claims

1. A managing architecture having computing processors and memory devices for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising:

one or more sub-network agents each being implemented with a computing processor, memory and program codes executed in said computing processor, each of said one or more sub-network agents using its own managing protocol to manage its connected sub-networks, and collecting information of said connected sub-networks to said memory;

a local area network (LAN) management module implemented with a computing processor, memory and program codes configured to perform LAN management, coupled respectively to said one or more sub-network agents and a channel, receiving one or more requests from one or more said heterogeneous local networks through said one or more sub-network agents, and translating information accompanying said one or more requests into a common information model for finding a solution to a problem of said one or more requests; and

a remote LAN module, through said channel for receiving requests for unsolved problems from said LAN management module, remotely accessing and configuring one or more said heterogeneous local networks and using an interface compatible to said one or more heterogeneous local networks to realize management and diagnosis for said one or more heterogeneous local networks;

wherein said LAN management module further includes a network protocol conversion module that provides service registration and announcement functions.

2. The management architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said LAN management module further includes a LAN control module, a network information module, a common information storage media, a user interface and a security module.

3. The management architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remote LAN module further includes a remote LAN control module, a remote network information module, a remote common information storage media, a remote user interface, and a remote security module.

4. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more heterogeneous local networks are chosen from any one combination of home networks and business networks.

5. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information of said one or more sub-networks is basic information, management information, or any combination of the above.

6. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said one or more sub-network agents provides automatic warning and returns information of related events.

7. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information of said one or more sub-networks is the information on each node of said one or more sub-network, information between said nodes, and other related network information, or any combination of the above.

8. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said managing protocol of each of said one or more sub-network agents is one of Simple Network Management Protocol or Common Management Information Protocol.

9. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 2, wherein said LAN control module provides basic network management functions, network diagnosis process, algorithms for solving network problems and network information update process, and communicates with said remote LAN module.

10. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said network protocol conversion module is responsible for communicating with said one or more sub-network agents and obtaining said basic information or management information of said connected sub-networks.

11. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 1, wherein said information accompanying said one or more requests is converted by said network protocol conversion module into common information.

12. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 11, wherein said network information module analyzes and organizes said common information, and then selects and defines said common information model suitable for storing network information.

13. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 3, wherein security module and said remote security module both have security authentication mechanism, data encryption mechanism, protecting internal information access mechanism, and billing mechanism.

14. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 3, wherein said user interface and said remote user interface provide network information display to inform a user of network information or for the user to issue management instructions.

15. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 14, wherein said network information at least includes network topology conditions, network traffic, network speed, node information, and information on software installed on each node, or any combination of the above.

16. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 3, wherein said remote LAN control module, said remote network information module, said LAN control module, said network information module, said network protocol conversion module and each of said one or more sub-network agents all provide functions supporting dynamic update.

17. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 16, wherein said functions supporting dynamic update include at least adding a new sub-network agent, network information update, and a plurality of object types of said remote network information module and said network information module to update a version or expand a new module according to demands.

18. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 17, wherein said functions supporting dynamic update match a format of an open service gateway initiative bundle.

19. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 3, wherein said remote LAN control module inherits functions of said LAN control module, has information of said LAN control module, and utilizes global data.

20. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 19, wherein said global data includes detailed information requested from said LAN control module, said detailed information is stored temporarily in said remote common information storage media to assist in solving an unsolved problem of said LAN control module.

21. The managing architecture as claimed in claim 19, wherein said information of said LAN control module includes identification data of one or more LANs, and individual information of a service class owned by a corresponding LAN.

22. A diagnosis method for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether any sub-network connected to one or more sub-network agents encounters any problem through said one or more sub-network agents;

collecting management information and network information of the sub-network associated with a problem when at least a sub-network connected to said one or more sub-network agents encounters the problem, and transmitting said management information and said network information to a local area network (LAN) management module;

converting said management information and said network information of the sub-network associated with the problem into a common information model and performing diagnosis to determine whether a solution is provided through said LAN management module;

requesting a remote LAN module or a remote management for assistance to realize management and diagnosis of said sub-network associated with the problem when said LAN management module is unable to provide a solution; and

returning a diagnosis message to a user interface or a sub-network agent of the sub-network associated with the problem;

wherein when at least a sub-network connected to said one or more sub-network agents encounters the problem, said LAN management module performs the following steps of;

obtaining and converting said management information and said network information of the sub-network associated with the problem into common information;

analyzing and organizing said common information, and then selecting and defining a common information model suitable for storing said network information; and

analyzing and diagnosing cause of the problem based on said common information, and determining whether a solution is provided.

23. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said management information and said network information are obtained from periodic information or dynamic information.

24. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said periodic information is obtained by an extract instruction issued by said LAN management module, and is stored in a common information storage media.

25. The diagnosis method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said dynamic information is information returned by at least a network device when an event set in accordance with diagnosis and management demands occurs.

26. A diagnosis method for remote configuration of heterogeneous local networks, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether any sub-network connected to one or more sub-network agents encounters any problem through said one or more sub-network agents;

collecting management information and network information of the sub-network associated with a problem when at least a sub-network connected to said one or more sub-network agents encounters the problem, and transmitting said management information and said network information to a local area network (LAN) management module;

converting said management information and said network information of the sub-network associated with the problem into a common information model and performing diagnosis to determine whether a solution is provided through said LAN management module;

requesting a remote LAN module or a remote management for assistance to realize management and diagnosis of said sub-network associated with the problem when said LAN management module is unable to provide a solution; and

returning a diagnosis message to a user interface or a sub-network agent of the sub-network associated with the problem;

wherein when said LAN management module fails to provide a solution, said remote LAN module performs the following steps of;

receiving the problem and data from said LAN management module through a channel;

performing diagnosis and determining whether a solution can be provided;

using a user interface to allow said remote management to diagnose the problem when a solution can not be provided; and

transmitting a diagnosis message through said channel to said LAN management module.