Device management communication mechanism for selectively addressing multiple devices using single target identifier (TID) - based communication protocol

For use with a data communication network having a first transceiver at a host site that is operative to communicate over a communication channel with only a second transceiver at remote site, by using a single destination address-based management communication protocol that supports identification and routing of management messages to only a single destination address, said protocol having a command message structure that includes a target identification field that specifies a single destination address, and an intentionally empty field, a method of enabling a network management device coupled with said host site to conduct management communications with any of a plurality of network element devices at said remote site other than said second transceiver, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) examining the target identifier field of a management message provided from a host device for transmission by said first transceiver over said communication channel, to determine whether said target identifier field identifies the address of one of said plurality of network element devices at said remote site;
• (b) in response to the target identifier field examined in step (a) identifying the address of one of said plurality of network element devices at said remote site, reformatting said management message, modifying said management message, so as to derive a reformatted management message in which said target address identifier field specifies said second transceiver, and said intentionally unused information field contains information identifying said selected one of said plurality of network element devices at said remote site;
• (c) coupling said reformatted management message derived in step (b) to said first transceiver, for transmission thereby over said communication channel to said second transceiver at said remote site;
• and
• (d) receiving said reformatted management message at said second transceiver at said remote site, and forwarding said reformatted management message therefrom to said selected one of said plurality of network element devices at said remote site, as identified in said unused information field.

An arrangement for enabling a network management device to conduct management communications with any of a plurality of network element devices at a remote site, by way of a first transceiver at said host site that is operative to communicate over a communication channel with a second transceiver at said remote site, said second transceiver being coupled to said plurality of network element devices, said network management device being operative to assemble a management communication message, in accordance with a single destination address-based management communication protocol that supports identification and routing of management messages to only a single destination address, said protocol having a command message structure having a target identification field that specifies a single destination address, and an intentionally empty field, said arrangement comprising:

• a management communication message processor coupled to receive said management communication message as assembled by said network management device and being operative, in response to said management communication message having a target identifier field that identifies the address of one of said plurality of network element devices at said remote site, to modify said management message, so as to derive a reformatted management message, in which said target address identifier field specifies said second transceiver, and said intentionally unused information field contains information that identifies said selected one of said plurality of network element devices at said remote site;
• said first transceiver being operative to transmit said reformatted management message over said communication channel to said second transceiver at said remote site as identified by said target address identifier field of said reformatted message;
• and
• said second transceiver at said remote site being operative to receive said reformatted management message, and to forward said reformatted management message to said selected one of said plurality of network element devices at said remote site, as identified in said unused information field.