Method and system for managing operations on resources of a distributed network, in particular of a communication network, and corresponding computer-program product

• US 8,452,859 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Long, Daniela, Gotta, Danilo, Bobbio, Fabrizio, Chiappone, Massimo, Valente, Giulio
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US11/989,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,496 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/091 Measuring contribution of individual network components to actual service level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflows or rules for performing interventions on equipment, such as equipment of a communication network, wherein the equipment may be associated with resource proxy agents, each responsible for managing a single equipment. The system includes a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents provided with respective workflow-based or rule-based engines to generate the instruction signals, each agent being associated with a terminal device. The intervention management proxy agents may be interactively coupled with the resource proxy agents or with a manager resource associated with the equipment, whereby the instruction signals are a function of the status of the equipment on which the interventions are performed.

Claims

1. A distributed operation system, for assisting an operator with an intervention on external user or network equipment, comprising:

a plurality of terminal devices, each terminal device comprising a personal proxy agent, the personal proxy agent comprising a workflow-based or rule-based process engine that processes workflows or rules for the intervention on the external user or network equipment, and a user interface representing at least part of said workflows or rules to the operator;

operational agents configured to coordinate operations of said personal proxy agents;

at least a remote manager resource configured to manage transmission of said workflows or rules to said terminal devices; and

at least one resource proxy agent associated with the external user or network equipment, the at least one resource proxy agent comprising a workflow-based or rule-based process engine and managing the external user or network equipment during the intervention.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal proxy agent comprises an interconnection interface for information exchange with the resource proxy agent during processing of said workflows or rules.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said process engine of said terminal device is configured for interacting with the process engine of said resource proxy agent via said interconnection interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface is an interactive interface.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an operational manager having management and control functions of said operational agents.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said operational agents comprise respective workflow-based or rule-based process engines.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said operational manager comprises a workflow-based or rule-based process engine.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said proxy agents of said terminal devices are configured to interact directly with one another in an interworking relationship.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a repository of processes defined by workflows or rules.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a repository of data models.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising control agents for distributing said workflows or rules to said terminal devices.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a performance data base for storing performance data related to processing of said workflows or rules.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an operational log for storing processes performed by said proxy agents.

14. The system of claim 1, comprising a configuration for managing interventions on the external user or network equipment.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said workflows or rules are a function of the status of the external user or network equipment on which said interventions are performed.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of terminal devices is a portable device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal proxy agent of each said terminal device is configured to automatically activate a communication session with said at least one resource proxy agent.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface manages a graphical interface.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein each said terminal device is configured for activation of the personal proxy agent by the operator.

20. A method of managing interventions on user or network equipment using a network management platform separate from the user or network equipment, comprising:

providing a distributed architecture of first proxy agents within the network management platform, the first proxy agents managing interventions on the separate user or network equipment, being associated with terminal devices, and comprising workflow or ruled-based engines,

arranging said distributed architecture in hierarchical layers including a layer of operational agents coordinating operation of said first proxy agents; and

generating instruction signals within the network management platform, the instruction signals directed to performing an intervention on at least a separate user or network equipment via one of said first proxy agents in an interactive manner with at least one managing resource associated with said separate user or network equipment, wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of said separate user or network equipment, said managing resource comprising a second proxy agent, the second proxy agent comprising a workflow-based or rule-based process engine and managing the separate user or network equipment during the intervention.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of said first proxy agents is associated with a single terminal device and comprises a single workflow or rule-based engine.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising associating with said first proxy agents personal interfaces for representing at least part of said instructions and for interacting with the executed workflow or rule.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said hierarchical layers of said distributed architecture include a layer comprising an operational manager having management and control functions and supervising operation of said operational agents.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising allotting to said operational agents the distributed execution of interventions over a plurality of said first proxy agents.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising allotting, to each of said first proxy agents, the task of supporting a single operator or customer, wherein execution of said interventions is de-coupled with respect to said management and control functions.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing process engines to said first proxy agents.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing process engines to all said layers in said distributed architecture.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said process engines are workflow-based or rule-based.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing in said layers, components adapted to perform respective functions based on respective instruction information provided to them.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing in said instruction information at least one of:

a process definition, which comprises at least one of a workflow and a rule; and

a data models definition.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising configuring said first proxy agents for interacting directly with one another in an interworking relationship, wherein at least one of said instruction signals is produced by interaction between first proxy agents.

32. The method of claim 20, further comprising configuring said first proxy agents for peer-to-peer interaction with said second proxy agents.

33. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing control agents associated with at least one layer of said distributed architecture for performing at least one step selected from the group of:

distributing process definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture;

distributing data model definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture; and

monitoring the state of said layers of said distributed architecture.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing a remote manager resource for performing at least one step selected from the group of:

managing the distribution of process definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents;

managing the distribution of data model definitions to said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents; and

monitoring the state of said layers of said distributed architecture via said control agents.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method of managing interventions on separate user or network equipment, comprising:

providing a distributed architecture of first proxy agents within a network management platform, the first proxy agents managing interventions on the separate user or network equipment, being associated with terminal devices, and comprising workflow or ruled-based engines,

arranging said distributed architecture in hierarchical layers including a layer of operational agents coordinating operation of said first proxy agents; and

generating instruction signals within the network management platform, the instruction signals directed to performing an intervention on at least a separate user or network equipment via one of said first proxy agents in an interactive manner with at least one managing resource associated with said separate user or network equipment, wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of said separate user or network equipment, said managing resource comprising a second proxy agent, the second proxy agent comprising a workflow-based or rule-based process engine and managing the separate user or network equipment during the intervention.