Alcatel

Robert G Utterback

Bryan J McGlade

Randy J Ellis

Christopher D Atkins

Deborah L Maznaritz

Timothy P Brown

Amber D Greenwalt

Adam S Benz

Zhejing Luo

A NETWORK ELEMENT TERMINAL DATA INTERFACE (NETDI) system and method incorporating a terminal user interface which permits manipulation of network elements using a hardware-specific control language is disclosed. The present invention teaches automatic generation of on-line help directly from I/O manual specifications and translation of operator commands into network element specific protocols via the use of a network element database and associated XML repository. Various preferred embodiments of the present invention incorporate the use of TL1 composer/parsers to permit the automatic generation of Translation Language 1 interfaces between an operator console and a wide variety of telecommunication network elements. The present invention operates over a wide variety of communication media and permits a significant reduction of software maintenance with respect to on-line help generation directly from I/O manual specifications as well as automated incorporation of new network element features into existing operator console environmental controls, resulting in a drastic reduction in the required network element control language proficiency of network operators in any given telecommunications environment.

Network element terminal data interface system and method

Growing community of inventors

Rowlett, TX, United States of America

Robert G Utterback