US5850511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer implemented methods and apparatus for testing a telecommunications management network (TMN) agent
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1996-10-28
•
Granted: 1998-12-15
•
Expires: 2016-10-28
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for testing a telecommunications management network (TMN) agent are disclosed. Disclosed apparatus for implementing the methods comprises one or more computer readable storage mediums, and computer readable program code stored in the one or more computer readable storage mediums. A first portion of the computer readable program code comprises code for building an internal containment tree which mirrors the run-time containment tree of a TMN agent, wherein the internal containment tree comprises a number of nodes corresponding to managed objects in a run-time containment tree. A second portion of the code comprises code for generating tests for each node of the internal containment tree. A third portion of the code comprises code for executing the generated tests. By building an internal containment tree which mirrors an agent's run-time containment tree, and storing agent tests in a directory structure which mirrors an agent's run-time containment tree, agent debugging is made easier and more straight-forward.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Stoecker
- 👤 Mark D. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/02; H04L41/0213; H04L41/04; H04L41/046; H04L41/052; H04L43/00; H04L43/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for testing a telecommunications management network agent's functionality outside of a run-time network environment, the apparatus comprising: a) one or more computer readable storage mediums; and b) computer readable program code stored in the one or more computer readable storage mediums, the computer readable program code comprising: i) code for building an internal containment tree which mirrors a run-time containment tree of the telecommunications management network agent, wherein the internal containment tree comprises a number of nodes corresponding to managed objects in the run-time containment tree; ii) code for generating functional tests corresponding to each node of the internal containment tree; and iii) code for executing the tests via the telecommunications management network agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for testing a telecommunications management network agent's functionality outside of a run-time network environment, the apparatus comprising: a) one or more computer readable storage mediums; and b) computer readable program code stored in the one or more computer readable storage mediums, the computer readable program code comprising: i) code for building an internal containment tree which mirrors a run-time containment tree of the telecommunications management network agent, wherein the internal containment tree comprises a number of nodes corresponding to managed objects in the run-time containment tree; ii) code for generating functional tests corresponding to each node of the internal containment tree; and iii) code for executing the tests via the telecommunications management network agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree comprises code for building an internal containment tree in response to a name of a containment tree specification file designated in a test generation command line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree in response to a name of a containment tree specification file is configured to read a containment tree specification file in the form of a text outline, wherein each line of text comprising the outline: a) identifies an instance of a managed object class which is to comprise part of an agent's run-time containment tree; and b) begins with one or more characters indicating a managed object class instance's nesting level within an agent's run-time containment tree.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree in response to a name of a containment tree specification file comprises code for: a) parsing each line of the named containment tree specification file for a managed object class name; b) identifying each managed object class name found as the name of a subordinate managed object class; c) using the nesting level indications of the named containment tree specification file to identify the name of a managed object class which is immediately superior to a subordinate managed object class; and d) parsing documents comprising a telecommunications management network interface to locate a name binding template which connects corresponding superior and subordinate managed object classes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the code for locating a name binding template comprises code for: a) generating lists of superclasses for corresponding superior and subordinate managed object classes; and b) identifying a name binding template which connects the superior and subordinate managed object classes, wherein the code for identifying a name binding template checks cross-products of two corresponding lists of superclasses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree in response to a name of a containment tree specification file comprises code for: a) parsing each line of the named containment tree specification file for a distinguishing attribute name; and b) using a distinguishing attribute name, in addition to a subordinate managed object class name found in a same line of the named containment tree specification file, to locate a name binding template.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree in response to a name of a containment tree specification file comprises: a) code for generating a default value for each distinguishing attribute name found in a line of the named containment tree specification file; and b) code for: i) locating a distinguishing attribute name for each managed object class name of the named containment tree specification file for which a distinguishing attribute name is not provided; and ii) generating a default value for same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the code for generating default values for distinguishing attribute names generates default values which adhere to ASN.1 subtypes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein each line of text comprising the named containment tree specification file comprises fields for providing a managed object class name, an optional directory name, an optional distinguishing attribute name, and an optional value for the distinguishing attribute name, wherein: a) the code for generating tests creates a directory structure in which tests may be stored; b) the directory structure mirrors an agent's run-time containment tree; c) each subdirectory of the directory structure corresponds to a node of the internal containment tree; and d) the optional directory name provided in a line of text comprising the named containment tree specification file serves as a default name for a subdirectory corresponding to a managed object class instance identified by that line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the code for generating tests creates a UNIX directory structure in which tests may be stored.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree comprises code for: a) building an internal containment tree directly from documents defining a telecommunications management network interface; and b) printing the constructed internal containment tree to an editable file; wherein the editable file may later be consumed by the code for building an internal containment tree.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree directly from documents defining a telecommunications management network interface comprises code for reading in a GDMO model.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the code for building an internal containment tree directly from documents defining a telecommunications management network interface is responsive to a managed object class selection list designated in a test generation command line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: a) the code for generating tests creates a directory structure in which tests may be stored; b) the directory structure mirrors the telecommunications management network agent's run-time containment tree; and c) each sub-directory of the directory structure corresponds to a node of the internal containment tree.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the directory structure created by the code for generating tests is a UNIX directory structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the code for executing tests incorporates a test command language implementing a shell escape mechanism, wherein the shell escape mechanism allows for external processing or synchronization with the telecommunications management network agent as tests are being executed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the code for executing tests incorporates a test command language implementing a pair command, wherein the pair command sends a test request, and then awaits both a confirmation reply and a notification.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the code for generating tests is compiled independently of the code for executing tests, and the code for executing tests is driven by data output from the code for generating tests.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer implemented method for testing a telecommunications management network agent's functionality outside of a run-time network environment, the method comprising: a) building an internal containment tree comprising a computerized data structure of linked nodes which correspond to and mirror managed objects of the telecommunications management network agent's run-time containment tree; b) generating functional tests corresponding to each node of the internal containment tree; and c) executing the tests by encoding them and sending them over a telecommunications channel to the telecommunications management network agent under test.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer implemented method for testing a telecommunications management network agent's functionality outside of a run-time network environment, the method comprising: a) building an internal containment tree comprising a computerized data structure of linked nodes which correspond to and mirror managed objects of the telecommunications management network agent's run-time containment tree; b) generating functional tests corresponding to each node of the internal containment tree; and c) executing the tests by encoding them and sending them over a telecommunications channel to the telecommunications management network agent under test.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |