Architecture for operational support system

A system, comprising:

• memory storing an inventory database, the inventory database storing a network inventory comprising information representative of a plurality of modeled entities, where each of the modeled entities represents one or more entities of a communications network;
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing an inventory update component for:
• receiving a plurality of change requests from a plurality of different network management applications of the system;
• modifying one or more of the plurality of modeled entities stored in the network inventory by the inventory update component in response to the change requests;
• and
• outputting to a network implementation component a plurality of change records including a first change record and a second change record based on the modification made to the network inventory in response to the change requests, where each of the plurality of change records defines a change made within the network inventory to one of the plurality of modeled entities responsive to the change requests, and where:
• the first change record specifies a first modeled entity of the plurality of modeled entities, and a first modification of the first modeled entity in response to the change requests, and
• the second change record specifies the first modeled entity, and a second modification of the first modeled entity in response to the change requests;
• the network implementation component for:
• accumulating the plurality of change records;
• processing the accumulated change records responsive to a predefined event, the predefined event being the plurality of change records having a threshold number of change records, and the processing including generating at the network implementation component a set of network configuration actions that correspond to the plurality of change records, the set of network configuration actions including configuration commands, the generating including:
• combining the first change record and the second change record into a single network configuration action based on a determination that both the first change record and the second change record are associated with the first modeled entity, where the single network configuration action includes specific instructions in a predetermined format specific to the entity of the communications network represented by the first modeled entity that are to be implemented for configuring the entity of the communications network;
• transmitting the set of network configuration actions to the communications network;
• implementing the set of network configuration actions at the communications network, including carrying out the specific instructions associated with the entity of the communications network to perform one or more changes to the entity of the communications network and in response to carrying out the specific instructions, transmitting an acknowledgement to the network implementation component that the specific instructions were received including:
• (i) when the one or more changes to the entity are successfully completed, the acknowledgement indicating that the one or more changes to the entity were successfully completed, and
• (ii) when the one or more changes to the entity are not successfully completed, the acknowledgement indicating that the one or more changes to the entity were not completed;
• and
• awaiting receipt by the network implementation component that the specific instructions were received and that the one or more changes to the entity were successfully completed before proceeding with further network configuration actions that include modifications that are dependent on the one or more changes

A method, comprising:

• storing a network inventory comprising information representative of a plurality of modeled entities, where each of the modeled entities represents one or more entities of a communications network;
• receiving at an inventory update component a plurality of change requests from a plurality of different network management applications of the system;
• modifying one or more of the plurality of modeled entities stored in the network inventory by the inventory update component in response to the change requests;
• outputting from the inventory update component to a network implementation component a plurality of change records including a first change record and a second change record based on the modification made to the network inventory in response to the change requests, where each of the plurality of change records defines a change made within the network inventory to one of the plurality of modeled entities responsive to the change requests, and where:
• the first change record specifies a first modeled entity of the plurality of modeled entities, and a first modification of the first modeled entity in response to the change requests, and
• the second change record specifies the first modeled entity, and a second modification of the first modeled entity in response to the change requests;
• accumulating the plurality of change records;
• processing the accumulated change records responsive to a predefined event, the predefined event being the plurality of change records having a threshold number of change records, and the processing including generating at the network implementation component a set of network configuration actions that correspond to the plurality of change records, the set of network configuration actions including configuration commands, the generating including:
• configuration action based on a determination that both the first change record and the second change record are associated with the first modeled entity, where the single network configuration action includes specific instructions in a predetermined format specific to the entity of the communications network represented by the first modeled entity that are to be implemented for configuring the entity of the communications network;
• transmitting the set of network configuration actions to the communications network;
• implementing the set of network configuration actions at the communications network, including carrying out the specific instructions associated with the entity of the communications network to perform one or more changes to the entity of the communications network and in response to carrying out the specific instructions, transmitting an acknowledgement to the network implementation component that the specific instructions were received including:
• (i) when the one or more changes to the entity are successfully completed, the acknowledgement indicating that the one or more changes to the entity were successfully completed, and
• (ii) when the one or more changes to the entity are not successfully completed, the acknowledgement indicating that the one or more changes to the entity were not completed;
• and
• awaiting receipt by the network implementation component that the specific instructions were received and that the one or more changes to the entity were successfully completed before proceeding with further network configuration actions that include modifications that are dependent on the one or more changes.