Network management system based on passive monitoring and proactive management for formulation behavior state transition models

Claim 1

A method of managing the operation of a network, said network including a plurality of interconnected network elements (NE's) and a network management system (NMS), said method comprising the steps of defining for each of said NE's, an associated set of (a) possible operating states based on a selected set of measurement parameters, and (b) transitions between said states, wherein said state transitions each have associated potential causes for said NE's to move from one operating state to another operating state, thereby formulating an element behavior macro model of said NE that (a) defines the operating regions of said NE as a function of combinations of selected parameter values, and (b) describes the causes for transitions among said operating region; in each of said NE's, periodically transmitting a report including a selected set of measurement data, said state information and said transition information to said NMS; correlating transitions for multiple ones of said NE's to derive a combined model of said network; in said NMS, conducting a trend analysis based upon said combined model and said periodic reports from said NE's; and initiating management corrective actions in response to said transitions in said combined model and said trend analysis.

Claim 2

A method of managing the operation of a network, said network including a plurality of interconnected network elements (NE's) and a network management system (NMS), said method comprising the steps of defining for each of said NE's, an associated set of (a) possible operating states based on a selected set of measurement parameters, and (b) transitions between said states, wherein said state transitions each have associated potential causes for said NE's to move from one operating state to another operating state, thereby formulating an element behavior macro model of said NE that (a) defines the operating regions of said NE as a function of combinations of selected parameter values, and (b) describes the causes for transitions among said operating region; in each of said NE's, periodically transmitting a report including a selected set of measurement data, said state information and said transition information to said NMS; correlating transitions for multiple ones of said NE's to derive a combined model of said network; in said NMS, conducting a trend analysis based upon said combined model and said periodic reports from said NE's; and initiating management corrective actions in response to said transitions in said combined model and said trend analysis.

Claim 3

A method for managing a network that includes set of interconnected network elements (NEs) and a network management system (NMS), including the steps of establishing a management agent in each NE to interact with the NMS on behalf of the NE, formulating a behavior transition model based on NE status indicators, said model being an element behavior macro model that defines the operating regions of each NE as a function of combinations of selected parameter values and that describes the causes for transitions among said operating regions, updating the status indicators based on operating conditions, correlating ripple effects, and proactively managing said network using an early-warning model for proactive management.

Claim 4

A method for managing a network that includes set of interconnected network elements (NEs) and a network management system (NMS), including the steps of establishing a management agent in each NE to interact with the NMS on behalf of the NE, formulating a behavior transition model based on NE status indicators, said model being an element behavior macro model that defines the operating regions of each NE as a function of combinations of selected parameter values and that describes the causes for transitions among said operating regions, updating the status indicators based on operating conditions, correlating ripple effects, and proactively managing said network using an early-warning model for proactive management.

Claim 11

A method of managing the operation of a network, said network including a plurality of interconnected network elements (NE's) and a network management system (NMS), each of said NE's having an associated set of possible abnormal operating states and a set of transitions between states, said set of abnormal operating states being based on a selected set of measurement parameters, wherein said state transitions represent potential causes for said NE's to move from one operating state to another operating state, and wherein said states and said transitions are used to formulate an element behavior macro model for each of said NE's, said method comprising the steps of in each of said NE's, periodically transmitting a report including a selected set of measurement data, to said NMS; correlating transitions of said NE's to derive a combined model of said network; in said NMS, conducting a trend analysis based upon said combined model and said periodic reports from said NE's; and initiating management corrective actions in response to said transitions in said combined model and said trend analysis.

Claim 12

A method of managing the operation of a network, said network including a plurality of interconnected network elements (NE's) and a network management system (NMS), each of said NE's having an associated set of possible abnormal operating states and a set of transitions between states, said set of abnormal operating states being based on a selected set of measurement parameters, wherein said state transitions represent potential causes for said NE's to move from one operating state to another operating state, and wherein said states and said transitions are used to formulate an element behavior macro model for each of said NE's, said method comprising the steps of in each of said NE's, periodically transmitting a report including a selected set of measurement data, to said NMS; correlating transitions of said NE's to derive a combined model of said network; in said NMS, conducting a trend analysis based upon said combined model and said periodic reports from said NE's; and initiating management corrective actions in response to said transitions in said combined model and said trend analysis.