Network management system

A telecommunications network, comprising:

• a plurality of network elements having internal command languages, said internal command languages being mutually different in at least two of said network elements, and at least one of said network elements being provided with a reading command for reading internal data structures of any internal command or command response of said at least one of said network elements,
• a network management system for configuration and reading data or states of said network elements, said system comprising:
• memory for storing parameters describing the respective said internal command language of each of said network elements,
• means for generating service requests in a network-independent format,
• conversion means for converting said service requests in a network independent format into commands according to the respective said internal command language of a respective said network element which is a target of service, by means of parameters describing the respective said internal command language of said respective network element,
• means for sending said converted commands to said respective network element which is the target of service, and
• means for receiving command responses sent by the respective said network element which is the target of service, and for converting said command responses into said network-independent format;
• and
• said network management system utilizes said reading command to update said parameters which describe the respective said internal command language of said at least one network element in said memory of said network management system.