Element management system for heterogeneous telecommunications network

Abstract

The element management system (“EMS”) of the present invention addresses the need for effective and efficient management of heterogeneous telecommunications networks that include network elements of different types, such as radios and fiber optic devices, made by different manufacturers. This EMS provides a core set of element-independent network management messages that support basic network management functions such as fault and performance monitoring and configuration management. Element-independent messages to an individual network element are mapped to an element-dependent message for that network element; messages from individual network elements are correspondingly mapped into the core set of element-independent messages. Management applications and user interfaces in the EMS thus send and receive network management information using the core set of messages, in the common protocol of those messages. The EMS of the present invention thus supports rapid and low-cost integration of additional network elements of different types and different manufacturers, additional management functionality and additional and modified telecommunications services. The present invention also provides a method for developing the core set of element-independent network management messages for basic telecommunications management functions.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for developing a core set of messages for an element management system for a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of 
 reviewing telecommunications network management functions for each of a plurality of telecommunications network elements;    selecting the basic telecommnunications network management functions; and    creating an element-independent telecommunications network management message, in a common telecommunications management message protocol, for each selected telecommunications management function.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein more than one of the plurality of telecommunications network elements are manufactured by different manufacturers.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein more than one of the plurality of telecommunications network elements are different equipment types.  
     
     
         4 . An element management system for a telecommunications network, comprising: 
 means for receiving, from a software application, a downstream element-independent network management message selected from a core set of downstream element-independent network management messages, for transmission to a telecommunications network element;    means for mapping the downstream element-independent network management message into a downstream element-dependent network management message, and into an element-dependent protocol, for the telecommunications network element; and    means for transmitting the downstream element-dependent network management message to the telecommunications network element.    
     
     
         5 . An element management system according to  claim 4 , wherein the core set of downstream element-independent network management messages results from the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . An element management system according to  claim 4 , wherein the core set of downstream element-independent network management messages comprises a reduced number of downstream network management messages supporting basic telecommunications network management functionality.  
     
     
         7 . An element management system for a telecommunications network, comprising: 
 means for receiving an upstream element-dependent network management message from a telecommunications network element;    means for mapping the upstream element-dependent network management message into a upstream element-independent network management message selected from a core set of upstream element-independent network management messages, and into a common element-independent message protocol; and    means for transmitting the upstream element-independent network management message to a software application.    
     
     
         8 . An element management system according to  claim 7 , wherein the core set of upstream element-independent network management messages results from the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . An element management system according to  claim 7 , wherein the core set of upstream element-independent network management messages comprises a reduced number of upstream network management messages supporting basic telecommunications network management functionality.  
     
     
         10 . An element management system for a telecommunications network, comprising: 
 means for receiving an unsolicited element-dependent network management message from a telecommunications network element;    means for mapping the unsolicited element-dependent network management message into an element-independent network management message identifying the telecommunications network element and the nature and priority of the unsolicited element-dependent network management message; and    means for transmitting the element-independent network management message to a software application.