Ciena Corporation

Equipe Communications Corporation

Thomas R Perry

Darryl Black

James R Perry

Kevin D Snow

Daniel J Sullivan, Jr

Christine Pecina

David Glaser

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for granular management of network resources by accessing network device resources through associated references. In one embodiment, the references are group names, and one or more resources (i.e., a resource collection) within each network device in a telecommunications network may be linked with one or more group names. Group names (or other types of references) may then be used to limit a user's access to particular network device resources. That is, a user may only have access to those resources associated with group names to which the user has access. Over time, network device resources may be associated or disassociated with particular group names. As a result, group names provide users with dynamic access to network device resources. In one embodiment, the groups to which a user has access are defined within a user profile associated with the user. Grouping network device resources, therefore, allows for a granular view of each network device in the network by limiting a user's access to those resources corresponding to group names listed in their user profile. As one example, grouping may allow for customer network management&#x2014;that is a customer's view is limited to only those network device resources for which they have subscribed.

Granular management of network resources

The present invention provides a method for managing telecommunications networks through user profiles that establish management capabilities and lists of network devices capable of being managed through each user profile. Through profiles, users may be given controlled access to configure network devices, provision services or simply view the network devices, services or portions thereof. For example, customers may be enabled to view services dedicated to their particular networks while being simultaneously prevented from viewing services particular to other customer's networks. This provides security while enabling controlled customer network management. In addition, profiles may be used to limit the management capabilities of network managers to only those network devices and capabilities for which each network manager is responsible and authorized. This controlled access again provides security and may prevent network outages due to inexperienced network management errors as well as simplify network management for each level of network manager. The user profiles may also be used to customize the user interface each user accesses to improve efficiency and ease of network management. Profiles may also be used to establish local network connections and set up appropriate network communication channels to improve the efficiency of user access.

Providing network management access through user profiles

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for accessing network device data through user profiles. User profiles may be created by network administrators, and the corresponding user profile data may be stored in a central network management system (NMS) database. When a user requests data from a particular network device, the NMS utilizes the user profile data in the central database to access the network device and retrieve the required network device data. Since the user profile data is stored in a central database, the user may log into the NMS from any location and connect to any network device in the network. Further, the user profile data may be used to limit which network devices and which network device configured resources the user may access as well as the user's access level.

Accessing network device data through user profiles

The present invention provides a method for upgrading embedded configuration databases while a network device is operating and with minimal disruption to network device operation. While a network device is operating and using an embedded primary configuration database, an embedded backup configuration database stops performing as a backup database and is upgraded. The upgraded configuration database is then switched over to become the primary configuration database. The original primary configuration database may immediately become the backup configuration database, or the original primary configuration database may remain unchanged until the upgrade is committed. If the upgrade is not committed, for example, due to errors, then the original primary configuration database may be quickly switched over to again become the primary configuration database. As a result, embedded configuration databases may be upgraded while a network device is operating and with minimal disruption to network device operation.

Method for upgrading embedded configuration databases

The present invention provides methods for operating a computer system that call for executing a plurality of modular processes, providing a data file for use by the plurality of the processes, and incorporating a view identification within each of the plurality of processes to define data accessible by each process within the data file. The processes can include, for example, two identical processes that are executed simultaneously to access the same data within the data file in accordance with the same incorporated view identification.

Growing community of inventors

Groton, MA, United States of America

Thomas R Perry