Management system for a multi-level communication network

• US 6,330,601 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: French, Carolyn Anne, Goyer, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Application Number:
  US09/218,360
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/220, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0095 Specification, development or application of network management software, e.g. software re-use

Abstract

A communication network management system for integrating two network management systems working together in a client/server manner to provide an integrated view of a multi-layer, multi-technology network. The invention provides a novel interface module that permits a network management system to represent different logical levels in a communication system. For instance, one logical level of the communication system could be the transport network while another logical level is the data network. The main advantages of the invention is that it provides to a network administrator a system which permits management of two levels of a networks a data network to tell how the two networks are integrated and what the entire topology is, and therefore renders it possible to manage both networks through the same system.

Claims

1. An interface module permitting a first network level management system to represent at least two different logical levels of a multi-level communication system, namely a first network level and a second network level, the first network level management system capable of receiving data from the first network level representative of events and conditions in the first network level, the data from the first network level being established according to a first protocol, said interface module including:

an input for receiving data from a second network level management system representative of events and conditions in the second network level, the data from the second network level being established according to a second protocol;

conversion functional block responsive to reception of data at said input for translating the data at said input into data according to the first protocol;

an output for releasing the data according to the first protocol, the data according to the first protocol being suitable for processing by the first network level management system permitting the first network level management system to provide a representation of the first network level and at least a portion of the second network level.

2. An interface as defined in claim 1, wherein the second network level is a transport network level.

3. An interface as defined in claim 2, wherein the first network level is a data network level.

4. An interface as defined in claim 2, wherein the second protocol is CORBA.

5. An interface as defined in claim 3, wherein the first protocol is SNMP.

6. An interface as defined in claim 3, comprising a filtering functional block between said input and said conversion functional block, said filtering block discarding data indicative of selected events and conditions conveyed at said input to prevent representation of the selected events and conditions at the first network level management system.

7. An interface as defined in claim 6, comprising a management information database for storing a model of the second system, said conversion functional block being in operative relationship with said management information database for translating the data at said input into data according to the first protocol.

8. A method for representing at least two different logical levels of a multi-level communication system on a first network level management system, namely a first network level and a second network level, the first network level management system capable of receiving data from the first network level representative of events and conditions in the first network level, the data from the first network level being established according to a first protocol, said interface module including:

receiving data from a second network level management system representative of events and conditions in the second network level, the data from the second network level being established according to a second protocol;

translating the data at said input into data according to the first protocol;

outputting the data according to the first protocol, the data according to the first protocol being suitable for processing by the first network level management system permitting the first network level management system to provide a representation of the first network level and at least a portion of the second network level.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the second network level is a transport network.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the first network level is a data network.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the second protocol is CORBA.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the first protocol is SNMP.

13. A method as defined in claim 10, comprising the step of filtering data received from the second network level management system to discard data indicative of selected events and conditions to prevent representation of the selected events and conditions at the first network level management system.