Method and communication system for managing a communication network

• US 8,332,533 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hirsch, Lucian
• Primary Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/347,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/219, 709/223, 709/237
• US Class Current: 709/237
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

Communication networks are automatically tested from a superordinate producer-independently managing network management center, such as when subordinate, producer-specific operation and maintenance centers (OMCs) are not occupied. Producer-dependent information is transmitted when an alarm report is sent and producer-specific hardware tests are automatically generated in the network management center (NMC). It is unnecessary for producer-specific object classes to be completely defined in the information model of the OMC-NMC interface. The tests automatically generated in the network management center can be triggered in response to errors, e.g. for a particular hardware board, or preventively, for example for the entire hardware of a network unit.

Claims

1. A method for managing a test of a functionality of network resources in a communication network having a first device on a first management level, a second device on a second management level that is a lower level than the first level, and a manufacturer-independent interface between the first device and the second device using an information model that is based on functional, manufacturer-independent object classes and/or objects that model the network resources from a functional, manufacturer-independent point of view, comprising:

initiating, by the first device, one or more tests of the functionality of the network resources and transmitting, from the first device to the second device via the interface, a message requesting the one or more tests;

generating, by the second device upon receiving the message, a parameter value that uniquely identifies each of the one or more tests and transmitting, by the second device, each parameter value to the first device via the interface;

executing, by the second device as a result of receiving the message requesting the one or more tests, the one or more tests; and

upon completion of execution of each of the one or more tests by the second device, transmitting, from the second device to the first device via the interface, an additional message containing the respective parameter value along with results of the respective test.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more tests is a manufacturer-specific test.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network resources includes a hardware.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the hardware is at least one of a hardware component and a hardware board.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein each of the one or more tests is specific for said hardware.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising repeating said initiating and transmitting by the first device for multiple devices on the second management level to test or scan the network resources.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interface enables automatic generation of periodic preventive tests by the first device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a network management center and the second device is an operations and maintenance center.

9. A first device on a first management level of a communication network for managing a test of a functionality of network resources in the communication network, comprising:

an interface configured to manufacturer-independently interface to a second device on a second management level lower than the first management level using an information model that is based on a multiplicity of functional, manufacturer-independent object classes and/or objects that model the network resources from a functional, manufacturer-independent point of view;

a processor configured to initiate one or more tests of the functionality of the network resources;

a transmitter configured to transmit a message requesting the one or more tests to the second device; and

a receiver configured to receive, from the second device for each test, a parameter value, which is generated by the second device as a consequence of receiving the message, that uniquely identifies each of the one or more tests.

10. A second device on a second management level of a communication network for managing a test of a functionality of network resources in the communication network, comprising:

an interface configured to manufacturer-independently interface to a first device on a first management level higher than the second management level using an information model that is based on a multiplicity of functional, manufacturer-independent object classes and/or objects that model the network resources from a functional, manufacturer-independent point of view;

a receiver configured to receive, from the first device, a message requesting one or more tests of the functionality of the network resources;

a generator configured to generate, upon receiving the message, a parameter value that uniquely identifies each of the one or more tests;

a transmitter configured to transmit, to the first device via the interface, each parameter value; and

a processor configured to execute, as a result of receiving the message requesting the one or more tests, the one or more tests, wherein

the transmitter is further configured to transmit, from the second device to the first device via the interface upon completion of execution of each of the one or more tests, an additional message containing the respective parameter value along with results of the respective test.

11. A communication network, comprising

a first device on a first management level configured to manufacturer-independently interface to a second device on a second management level lower than the first management level using an information model that is based on a multiplicity of functional, manufacturer-independent object classes and/or objects that model the network resources from a functional, manufacturer-independent point of view, the first device including:

a processor configured to initiate one or more tests of the functionality of the network resources;

a transmitter configured to transmit a message requesting the one or more tests to the second device; and

a receiver configured to receive, from the second device for each test, a parameter value, which is generated by the second device as a consequence of receiving the message, that uniquely identifies each of the one or more tests;

the second device on the second management level, the second device being configured to manufacturer-independently interface to the first device on the first management level using the information model and including;

a receiver configured to receive, from the first device, the message requesting one or more tests of the functionality of the network resources;

a generator configured to generate, upon receiving the message, the parameter value that uniquely identifies each of the one or more tests;

a transmitter configured to transmit, to the first device, each parameter value; and

a processor configured to execute, as a result of receiving the message requesting the one or more tests, the one or more tests, wherein

the transmitter is further configured to transmit, from the second device to the first device upon completion of execution of each of the one or more tests, an additional message containing the respective parameter value along with results of the respective test; and

a manufacturer-independent interface between the first device on the first management level and the second device on the second management level using the information model.