Method and system for generating instruction signals for performing interventions in a communication network, and corresponding computer-program product

• US 8,738,751 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• 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:
  US11/989,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090049165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,224 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-226
• 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 workflow for performing interventions on network equipment included in a communication network, wherein the equipment is associated with resource proxy agents, each responsible for managing a single equipment in the network. The system includes a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents to generate the instruction signals. The intervention management proxy agents are interactively coupled with the resource proxy agents, whereby the instruction signals are a function of the status of the equipment in the network on which the interventions are performed.

Claims

1. A method of generating instruction signals arranged in workflows within a network management platform for performing interventions on separate network equipment included in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated therewith resource proxy agents within the network management platform, the method comprising:

providing a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents within the network management platform, wherein;

the intervention management proxy agents manage interventions on the network equipment, and

the intervention management proxy agents are associated with terminal devices;

generating instruction signals within the network management platform for performing an intervention on at least the network equipment of said communication network via one of said intervention management proxy agents in an interactive mode with at least one of said resource proxy agents associated with said network equipment, wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of said network equipment, and wherein the interactive mode specifies which steps an operator should take and provides feedback as each step is completed; and

coupling with said intervention management proxy agents personal interfaces comprising said instruction signals arranged in at least one workflow, wherein the at least one workflow is configured to assist the operator in performing the intervention.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said resource proxy agents is responsible for managing a single network equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging said distributed architecture in hierarchical layers comprising:

a layer of operational agents coordinating operation of said intervention management proxy agents; and

a layer comprising an operational manager having management and control functions and supervising operation of said operational agents.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising allotting to said operational agents, the distributed execution of interventions over a plurality of said intervention management proxy agents.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging said distributed architecture in hierarchical layers, wherein one layer comprises an operational manager having management and control functions and directly coordinating operation of said intervention management proxy agents.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising allotting, to each of said intervention management 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.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing process engines to said intervention management proxy agents.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing process engines to all said layers in said distributed architecture.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein providing process engines comprises providing at least one of a workflow, a rule engine and combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising including in said layers, components adapted to perform respective functions based on respective instruction information provided to them.

11. The method of claim 10, 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.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring said intervention management 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 intervention management proxy agents.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring said intervention management proxy agents for peer-to-peer interaction with said resource proxy agents.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising organizing an operational data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions of said interventions.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising organizing a model data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions for managing said network equipment.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising organizing a single performance data base storing performance data related to said layers of said distributed architecture.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising organizing an operational log storing all activities performed by users of said intervention management proxy agents.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising organizing an expertise inventory storing profiles of operators or customers managed by said intervention management proxy agents.

19. The method of claim 3, 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.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a manager module 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.

21. A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflows configured to assist an operator in performing interventions on separate network equipment in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated therewith resource proxy agents within the system, comprising a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents for generating said instruction signals, said intervention management proxy agents being associated with terminal devices and managing interventions on the network equipment, the system further comprising personal interfaces coupled with said intervention management proxy agents to present to the operator said instruction signals arranged in workflows, wherein said interventions are performed via at least one of said intervention management proxy agents in an interactive mode with at least one of said resource proxy agents associated with said network equipment, wherein said resource proxy agents manage said network equipment during said interventions, wherein the interactive mode specifies which steps the operator should take and provides feedback as each step is completed, and wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of the network equipment on which said interventions are performed.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each of said resource proxy agents is responsible for managing a single network equipment.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said distributed architecture comprises hierarchical layers comprising:

a layer of operational agents coordinating operation of said intervention management proxy agents; and

a layer comprising an operational manager having management and control functions and supervising operation of said operational agents.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said operational agents are allotted the distributed execution of interventions over a plurality of said intervention management proxy agents.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said distributed architecture comprises hierarchical layers, wherein one layer comprises an operational manager having management and control functions and directly supervising operation of said intervention management proxy agents.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein each of said intervention management proxy agents is allotted 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.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are configured for interacting directly with one another in an interworking relationship, wherein said instruction signals comprise instruction signals produced by interaction among intervention management proxy agents.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein said intervention management proxy agents comprise respective process engines.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein said layers comprise process engines.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said process engines comprise at least one of a workflow, a rule engine and a combination thereof.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein said layers in said architecture comprise components adapted to perform respective functions based on respective instruction information provided to them.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said instruction information comprises at least one of:

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

a data models definition.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are configured for peer-to-peer interaction with said resource proxy agents.

34. The system of claim 21, comprising an operational data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions of said interventions.

35. The system of claim 21, comprising a model data base as a repository of process definitions and data model definitions for managing said network equipment.

36. The system of claim 23, comprising a single performance data base storing performance data related to said layers of said distributed architecture.

37. The system of claim 21, comprising an operational log storing all activities performed by users of said intervention management proxy agents.

38. The system of claim 21, comprising an expertise inventory storing profiles of operators or customers managed by said intervention management proxy agents.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one layer of said distributed architecture comprises control agents 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.

40. The system of claim 39, comprising a manager module for performing steps selected from the group of:

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

managing distribution of data models among 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.

41. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method of generating instruction signals arranged in workflows within a network management platform for performing interventions on separate network equipment included in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated therewith resource proxy agents within the network management platform, the method comprising:

providing a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents within the network management platform, wherein;

the intervention management proxy agents manage interventions on the network equipment, and

the intervention management proxy agents are associated with terminal devices;

generating instruction signals within the network management platform for performing an intervention on at least the network equipment of said communication network via one of said intervention management proxy agents in an interactive mode with at least one of said resource proxy agents associated with said network equipment, wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of said network equipment, and wherein the interactive mode specifies which steps an operator should take and provides feedback as each step is completed; and

coupling with said intervention management proxy agents personal interfaces comprising said instruction signals arranged in at least one workflow, wherein the at least one workflow is configured to assist the operator in performing the intervention.

42. A method of generating instruction signals arranged in workflows within a network management platform for performing interventions on separate network equipment included in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated Resource Proxy agents within the network management platform, the method comprising:

providing a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents within the network management platform, wherein;

the intervention management proxy agents manage interventions on the network equipment, and

the intervention management proxy agents are associated with terminal devices;

generating instruction signals within the network management platform for performing an intervention on at least the network equipment of said communication network in an interactive mode by an operator via one of said intervention management proxy agents and by at least one of said Resource Proxy agents managing said network equipment, wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of said network equipment and are arranged in at least one workflow, the at least one workflow configured to assist an operator in performing the intervention, wherein the interactive mode specifies which steps the operator should take and provides feedback as each step is completed, and

configuring said intervention management 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 intervention management proxy agents in an interactive manner with at least one of said resource proxy agents associated with said network equipment.

43. A method of generating instruction signals arranged in workflows within a network management platform for performing interventions on separate network equipment included in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated Resource Proxy agents within the network management platform, the method comprising:

providing a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents within the network management platform, wherein;

the intervention management proxy agents manage interventions on the network equipment, and

the intervention management proxy agents are associated with terminal devices;

generating instruction signals within the network management platform for performing an intervention on at least the network equipment of said communication network in an interactive manner by an operator via one of said intervention management proxy agents and by at least one of said Resource Proxy agents managing said network equipment and are arranged in at least one workflow, the at least one workflow configured to assist the operator in performing the intervention, wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of said network equipment;

configuring said intervention management 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 intervention management proxy agents in an interactive mode with at least one of said resource proxy agents associated with said network equipment, and wherein the interactive mode specifies which steps the operator should take and provides feedback as each step is completed; and

organizing an Expertise Inventory storing profiles of operators or customers managed by said intervention management proxy agents.

44. A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflows within a network management platform for performing interventions on separate network equipment included in a communication network, wherein at least a portion of the workflows are configured to assist an operator in performing the intervention and wherein said network equipment has associated Resource Proxy agents within the system, the system comprising a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents for generating said instruction signals, said intervention management proxy agents being associated with terminal devices, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are interactively coupled with said Resource Proxy agents, wherein said Resource Proxy agents manage said network equipment during said interventions, and wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of the network equipment on which said interventions are performed,

wherein said intervention management proxy agents are configured for interacting directly with one another in an interworking relationship, wherein said instruction signals comprise instruction signals produced by interaction among intervention management proxy agents in an interactive mode with at least one of said resource proxy agents associated with said network equipment, wherein the interactive mode specifies which steps the operator should take and provides feedback as each step is completed.

45. A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflows within a network management platform for performing interventions on separate network equipment included in a communication network, wherein at least a portion of the workflows are configured to assist an operator in performing the intervention and wherein said network equipment has associated Resource Proxy agents within the system, the system comprising a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents for generating said instruction signals, said intervention management proxy agents being associated with terminal devices, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are interactively coupled with said Resource Proxy agents, wherein said Resource Proxy agents manage said network equipment during said interventions, and wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of the network equipment on which said interventions are performed, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are configured to interact directly with one another in an interworking relationship, and wherein at least one of said instruction signals is produced by interaction between intervention management proxy agents, and wherein an interactive mode specifies which steps the operator should take and provides feedback as each step is completed,

the system further including an Expertise Inventory storing profiles of operators or customers managed by said intervention management proxy agents.

46. A method of generating instruction signals arranged in workflows within a network management platform for performing interventions on separate network equipment included in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated therewith resource proxy agents within the network management platform, the method comprising:

providing a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents within the network management platform, wherein;

the intervention management proxy agents manage interventions on the network equipment, and

the intervention management proxy agents are associated with terminal devices;

configuring said intervention management proxy agents for interacting directly with one another in an interworking relationship;

generating instruction signals within the network management platform for assisting an operator in performing an intervention on at least the network equipment of said communication network wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of said network equipment and wherein at least one of said instruction signals is produced by interaction between intervention management proxy agents; and

coupling with said intervention management proxy agents personal interfaces comprising said instruction signals arranged in at least one workflow, wherein the at least one workflow is configured to assist the operator in performing the intervention by providing the operator with interactive instructions that specify which steps the operator should take and provide feedback as those steps are completed.

47. A system for generating instruction signals arranged in workflows configured to assist an operator in performing interventions on separate network equipment in a communication network, wherein said network equipment has associated therewith resource proxy agents within the system, comprising a distributed architecture of intervention management proxy agents for generating said instruction signals, said intervention management proxy agents being associated with terminal devices and managing interventions on the network equipment, said intervention management proxy agents being configured to interact directly with one another in an interworking relationship, the system further comprising personal interfaces coupled with said intervention management proxy agents to present to the operator said instruction signals arranged in workflows, wherein the workflows are configured to assist the operator in performing the intervention by providing the operator with interactive instructions that specify which steps the operator should take and provide feedback as those steps are completed, wherein said intervention management proxy agents are interactively coupled with said resource proxy agents, wherein said resource proxy agents manage said network equipment during said interventions, wherein said instruction signals are a function of the status of the network equipment on which said interventions are performed, and wherein at least one of said instruction signals is produced by interaction between intervention management proxy agents.