System and method for network management using extensible markup language

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for management of an IP network using eXtensible Markup Language (XML) or a similar protocol in addition to SNMP or other managed-device protocol. In embodiments of the invention, a XNMP gateway is coupled between the network management system and one or managed devices. The XNMP gateway performs transformations so that the link between the network management system and XNMP gateway uses XML or a similar protocol, and the links between the XNMP gateway and managed devices use SNMP or other local protocol.

1 . A method for managing a network, comprising: 
 receiving an extensible Mark-up Language (XML)-formatted request for data, the data associated with a Voice over IP (VoIP) device;    transforming the XML-formatted request to a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)-formatted command; and    receiving an SNMP-formatted result based on the SNMP-formatted command.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transforming the XML-formatted request includes using an XML schema.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 transforming the SNMP-formatted result to an XML-formatted result; and    outputting the XML-formatted result.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein transforming the SNMP-formatted result includes performing an extensible Style sheet Transformation (XSLT).  
     
     
         5 . A method for processing data, comprising: 
 receiving an extensible Mark-up Language (XML)-formatted request for data, the data associated with a Voice over IP (VoIP) device;    specifying a device IP address in a first argument and a Xpath query in a second argument, the device IP address and the Xpath query based on the XML-formatted request; and    identifying a Management Information Base (MIB) variable based on the Xpath query.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , the identifying a MIB variable based on a predetermined XML schema.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising issuing a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) command based on the device IP address and the MIB variable.  
     
     
         8 . A method for processing data, comprising: 
 receiving Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) data, the SNMP data associated with a VoIP device;    marking up the SNMP data based on an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) schema to create a first XML result; and    converting the first XML result to a second XML result.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the converting the first XML result is based on an eXtensible Style sheet Language Transformation (XSLT).  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , the converting the first XML result including: 
 selecting an eXtensible Style sheet Language Transformation (XSLT) template;    listing a port number; and    for the listed port number, listing at least one Media Access Control (MAC) address, the listing a port number and the listing the at least one MAC address based on the XSLT template.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising outputting the second XML result to a network management system.  
     
     
         12 . A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising: 
 receiving an extensible Mark-up Language (XML)-formatted request for data, the data associated with a Voice over IP (VoIP) device;    transforming the XML-formatted request to a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)-formatted command; and    receiving an SNMP-formatted result based on the SNMP-formatted command.    
     
     
         13 . A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising: 
 receiving an extensible Mark-up Language (XML)-formatted request for data, the data associated with a Voice over IP (VoIP) device;    specifying a device IP address in a first argument and a Xpath query in a second argument, the device IP address and the Xpath query based on the XML-formatted request; and    identifying a Management Information Base (MIB) variable based on the Xpath query.    
     
     
         14 . A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising: 
 receiving Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) data, the SNMP data associated with a VoIP device;    marking up the SNMP data based on an extensible Markup Language (XML) schema to create a first XML result; and    converting the first XML result to a second XML result.    
     
     
         15 . A system configured to manage a network, comprising: 
 a network management system;    a extensible Network Management Protocol (XNMP) gateway coupled to the network management system; and    at least one Voice over IP (VoIP) device coupled to the XNMP gateway, the XNMP gateway configured to receive an extensible Markup language (XML) request from the network management system, the XNMP gateway further configured to transform the XML request into an Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) command, the XNMP gateway further configured to send the SNMP command to the at least one VoIP device.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the XNMP gateway includes: 
 a processor; and    a database coupled to the processor, the database having at least one XML schema and at least one XML style sheet.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the XNMP gateway further includes: 
 an interface to the network management system; and    an interface to the at least one VoIP device.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to transform the XML request into the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) command using the at least one XML style sheet.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to transform a SNMP result from the at least one VoIP device using the at least one XML schema, the SNMP result being responsive to the SNMP command.