Communications network having management system architecture supporting reuse

A communications network comprising:

• a plurality of components, each said component comprising a unit of manufacture providing a functionality within said network and which is capable of being managed individually as a discrete entity;
• a system assembly of said components being arranged to cooperate with each other to provide a system level functionality, said system assembly of components capable of being managed as a whole;
• and
• a management base comprising:
• an implementation level element providing a management relating to said system assembly of components in which an internal structure of said system assembly is represented by an implementation level model;
• and
• an application level element providing management relating to said system assembly of components, in which a functionality of said system assembly is represented independently of said internal structure of said system assembly by an application level model;
• and wherein said models comprise one or more objects;
• and wherein the application level model is arranged to be mapped onto at least a first implementation level model, such that the application level model and the first implementation level model comprise different objects whilst the first implementation level model represents implementation of the functions represented by the application level model.

A network management system for managing a communications network comprising a plurality of components, said management system comprising a management information base comprising:

• (i) a plurality of implementation level models, each arranged to represent an internal structure of one or more of the components;
• (ii) a plurality of application level models, each arranged to represent a functionality of one or more of said components independently of a structure of those components;
• and wherein said models comprise one or more objects;
• and wherein a first one of the application level models is arranged to be mapped onto at least a first implementation level model, such that the first application level model and the first implementation level model comprise different objects whilst the first implementation level model represents implementation of the functions represented by the first application level model.

A method of constructing a network management system suitable for managing a communications network comprising a plurality of components said method comprising the steps of:

• creating at least one application model in which a functionality of one or more of the components is represented by one or more objects independently of a structure of those components;
• and
• creating at least one implementation model in which a structure one or more of the components is represented by one or more objects;
• and wherein at least a first one of the application models is arranged to be mapped onto at least a first implementation model, such that the first application level model and the first implementation model comprise different objects whilst the first implementation model represents implementation of the functions represented by the first application model.

A method of managing a communications network comprising a plurality of assemblies of components, said management method comprising the steps of:

• storing an implementation model data describing a physical implementation of said assemblies;
• storing an application model data describing a functionality of said assemblies;
• and performing management operations of said assemblies utilizing said implementation model data and said application model data
• wherein said models comprise one or more objects;
• and wherein said application model is arranged to be mapped onto at least a first implementation model, such that the application level model and the first implementation level model comprise different objects whilst the first implementation level model represents implementation of the functions represented by the application level model.

A communications network comprising:

• a plurality of components, each said component comprising a unit of manufacture providing a functionality within said network and which is capable of being managed individually as a discrete entity;
• a plurality of composites, said composites comprising an assembly of said components arranged to cooperate with each other and capable of being managed as a whole;
• and
• a management system comprising:
• a plurality of implementation level elements providing implementation level management data relating to said plurality of composites in which internal structures of said composites are represented by a plurality of implementation level models;
• and
• a plurality of application level elements providing application level management data relating to said plurality of components and composites, in which functionality of said components and composites are represented independently of said internal structures by a plurality of application level models;
• and wherein said models comprise one or more objects;
• and wherein at least a first one of the application level models is arranged to be mapped onto at least a first implementation level model, such that the first application level model and the first implementation level model comprise different objects whilst the first implementation level model represents implementation of the functions represented by the first application level model.