Element management system with adaptive interface based on autodiscovery from element identifier

Abstract

A network element management system which automatically configures itself, when an operator enters a component identifier, for optimal full-featured management of the identified component. This is preferably done by an autodiscovery process, and not by any mere lookup.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computer/software system for managing telecommunication network elements, comprising: 
 one or more operator-driven processes which monitor and manage network elements; and    an operator interface 
 which permits operators to work from graphical representations of connection topology, and  
 which also, when an operator properly inputs identification of a specific network element, automatically performs discovery of characteristics of said specific network element, and presents said specific network element, in a way which is dependent on said characteristics, for the operator to monitor or manage.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system automatically configures itself to support all features of the discovered NE.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a database which reports attributes of ones of said network elements in response to queries from ones of said operator-driven processes, and which is transparently updated.