# US 6,377,988 B1 · Controling elements of a telecommunications network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,377,988 B1 - Document ID: US6377988B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 08/836,301 - Filed: 1997-06-11 - Granted: 2002-04-23 - Earliest claimed: 1994-11-10 - Assignees: British Telecommunications public limited company - Inventors: Adam Spector; Paul Abraham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6377988B1 ## CPC - H04Q 3/0062: {Provisions for network management} - H04Q 3/66: Traffic distributors - H04Q 2213/13533: multivendor and hybrid, e.g. public/private, networks, inc. international - H04Q 2213/13566: mediation - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A plurality of elements of a system, such as a telecommunications network are controlled by generating a generic instruction, in a generator selecting the element for which the instruction is directed, in a matcher and interface module and transmitting the instruction to the respective elements. By transmitting a generic instruction applicable to all relevant elements the operator of the system can control all the elements with a single instruction. A generic instruction can be translated in translators into separate instructions applicable to each individual element or defined groups of elements. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a telecommunications network, the network comprising at least two groups of elements, wherein at least some of the elements of at least two of the groups are capable of performing a predetermined function in response to a group-specific instruction, the method comprising the steps of: generating a generic instruction, for performance by a selected group of the elements there being a plurality of the elements in at least one selected group; converting the generic instruction to group-specific instructions appropriate to each group of elements in which there is at least one of the selected elements; and transmitting to each selected element the group-specific instruction appropriate to its group. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining which selected elements are capable of performing the required instruction, and inhibiting the transmission of the instruction to all of the selected elements if any of said elements do not have the required capability. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining which of the selected elements are capable of performing the required instruction, and transmitting the instruction only to that element or elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein instructions are prepared and stored for onward transmission in response to a predetermined condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4, wherein the predetermined condition is the expiry of a time interval. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as in claim 5, wherein the time interval is reset after each transmission. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A method as in claim 5, wherein the time interval is not reset after the transmission. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4, further comprising the steps of: monitoring the telecommunications system for a predetermined operating condition, and generating the generic instruction if the said predetermined operating condition occurs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method as in claim 8, wherein the predetermined operating condition is a network overload. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 wherein the instruction causes the inhibition of a signalling function. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: generating a generic instruction in a high-level language; generating a selection pattern, indicative of the elements to be controlled by the instruction; generating an interface type message, indicative of whether any of the elements selected by the selection pattern are to carry out the instruction if other elements of those selected are incapable of performing the instruction; converting the high-level instruction into one or more lower-level instructions, each having a format compatible with a respective group of the elements; and comparing the selection pattern output and interface type data with stored information to select the elements in each group to which each low-level instruction is to be transmitted. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of: generating a message indicating whether, if some of the selected elements are unable to execute the instruction, the elements which are able to execute the instruction should do so, and inhibiting or executing the operation of the said elements in response to said message. ### Claim 13 A controller for a telecommunications network, the network comprising at least two groups of elements, wherein at least some of the elements of at least two of the groups are capable of performing a predetermined function in response to a group-specific instruction, the controller comprising: means for selecting a plurality of the elements, to which an instruction to perform the predetermined function is to be transmitted; means for generating a generic instruction, for performance by the selected plurality of the elements; means for converting the generic instruction to group-specific instructions appropriate to each of plural groups of elements in which there at least one of the selected elements; and means for transmitting to each selected element the group-specific instruction appropriate to its group. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A controller as in claim 13, in which the selection means comprises: means for determining which groups, of those to which the selected elements are capable of performing the required instruction, and means for inhibiting the transmission of the instruction to all of the selected elements if any of said groups of elements do not have the required capability. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A controller as in claim 13, in which the selection means comprises: means for determining which of the selected elements are capable of performing the required instruction, and means for transmitting the instruction only to that element or elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A controller as in claim 13, further including: means for preparing and storing instructions, and means for transmitting the stored instructions in response to a predetermined condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A controller as in claim 16, further comprising: a timing means, the transmitting means being arranged to transmit the instructions under the control of the timing means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A controller as in claim 17, further including: means for resetting the timing means after each transmission. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A controller as in claim 16, further comprising: monitoring means for monitoring the telecommunications system for a predetermined operating condition, the transmitting means being responsive to the monitoring means to transmit the stored instructions if the said predetermined operating condition occurs. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A controller as in claim 19, the monitoring means being configured to detect network overloads. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) A controller as in claim 13 further comprising: a generic instruction generator for generating generic instructions in high-level language and for generating selection pattern data, indicative of the element to be controlled by the instruction; a plurality of translators each configured to covert the high-level generic instructions generated by the generic instruction generator into an instruction in a format compatible with a respective element type; and a data matcher for comparing the selection pattern data generated by the generic instruction generator with information stored in a store, in order to select the switches to which the instruction is to be sent. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A controller as in claim 21, the generic instruction generator also having: means for generating a message indicating whether, if some of the selected elements are unable to execute the instruction, the elements which are able to execute the instruction should do so, and means for inhibiting or executing the operation of the elements in response to said message. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) A telecommunications network comprising a controller as in claim 13, in combination with one or more network elements, at least some of the network elements having: means for isolating a network signalling function; and means to activate the isolating means in response to an instruction transmitted from the controller.