System and Method for Managing Network Elements in an ATM Network

Abstract

Reporting tools used to manage an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network. Tools include a trunk inventory reporting tool, a trunk utilization reporting tool, an exceptions reporting tool and a flow control processor activation utility. Reports generated by these the tools include information about the operation and capacity of trunks, switches and user network interfaces.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instruction to cause the computer to perform steps in a process for setting flow control attributes in an ATM network, the instruction comprising: 
 locate an eligible user network interface (UNI);    set flow control attributes of trunks connected between the UNI and an ATM switch to predetermined values;    activate a flow control processor for the eligible UNI; and    set flow control values to a final setting based at least in part on information received from the flow control processor.    
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the flow control values facilitate management and control of traffic flow in the ATM network by ensuring fair traffic balancing between virtual circuits and virtual paths in the ATM network.  
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions to repeat said process for a plurality of UNIs.  
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined values are used during the set up of the UNI.  
   
   
       15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein an eligible UNI is any UNI connection on an ATM switch in which the flow control processor is required to be activated.  
   
   
       16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the final flow control values for a UNI setting comprise at least one of setting a “Generation” element to “No Loop” and setting a “Termination” element to “CCRM and Backward Control Management”.  
   
   
       17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the final flow control values for an RM-cell setting comprise at least one of setting a “Generation” element to “Call Control Resource management (CCRM)” and a “Termination” element to “CCRM”.  
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein activating the flow control processor includes: 
 setting a “Initial Cell Rate (ICR) Constant” attribute to zero;    loading one or more rate profile tables;    setting a “Resource Management (RM) cell interval” attribute to 100 milliseconds; and    setting an “Idle Virtual Circuit Factor” attribute to eight (8).    
   
   
       19 . A method for setting flow control attributes in an ATM network, the process comprising: 
 locating an eligible user network interface (UNI);    setting flow control attributes of trunks connected between the UNI and an ATM switch to predetermined values;    activating a flow control processor for the eligible UNI; and    setting flow control values to a final setting based at least in part on information received from the flow control processor.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the flow control values facilitate management and control of traffic flow in the ATM network by ensuring fair traffic balancing between virtual circuits and virtual paths in the ATM network.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising repeating said process for a plurality of UNIs.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined values are used during the set up of the UNI.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein an eligible UNI is any UNI connection on an ATM switch in which the flow control processor is required to be activated.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the final flow control values for a UNI setting comprise at least one of setting a “Generation” element to “No Loop” and setting a “Termination” element to “CCRM and Backward Control Management”.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the final flow control values for an RM-cell setting comprise at least one of setting a “Generation” element to “Call Control Resource management (CCRM)” and a “Termination” element to “CCRM” 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein activating the flow control processor includes: 
 setting a “Initial Cell Rate (ICR) Constant” attribute to zero;    loading one or more rate profile tables;    setting a “Resource Management (RM) cell interval” attribute to 100 milliseconds; and    setting an “Idle Virtual Circuit Factor” attribute to eight (8).