At the network management of describing by the configuration and the interface of the network element of XML and operation-and service equipment
Technical field
The present invention relates to be used for from the operation-and service equipment (the OMC) is disposed the method and apparatus of the transmission equipment (NODE-B) of cellular mobile radio network.
Background technology
In mobile radio telephone network by control-and the maintaining network unit (operation and administrative center (Operation ﹠amp; Management Center), be called for short OMC) a plurality of network element (agency (Agent)) are controlled.OMC especially with mobile radio telephone network (for example at UMTS mobile radio telephone network) in a plurality of (in the UMTS network, being called NodeB's) base station communication.
The article of Siemens Company " Information, Q﹠amp; M System for the BSS (TED:OMS-B); A30808-X3247-D20-3-7618 " (1998, public communication network group, Munich) illustrate the binary file of utilizing the editable text of text editor and being used to dispose the unit of mobile radio telephone network.
The WO0144934 of Sun micro-system relates generally to the ChorusOS software arrangements of main frame.
Below exemplarily at the explanation technical problem of communicating by letter between OMC and the NodeB network element, but in all networks, all there is such problem on the principle by management system control.
Logic interfacing between OMC and the NodeB is described by so-called information model (informationmodel).The summation of all controlled objects in NodeB is called management information bank (Management Information Base, MIB) and realize following possibility, promptly produce in NodeB by remote maintenance and remove certain object entity, be provided with or inquire the attribute of this object and cause certain action by OMC.
OMC provides pattern manipulation interface (GUI) and/or command line interface (CLI) at remote maintenance for the operator.
In order to understand these technical problems, importantly: as the transport layer of the information model of logic interfacing and the differentiation of host-host protocol.OMC and NodeB for example communicate by the CORBA agreement on far call (remote procedurecalls) meaning.The semantic description of far call information model, the semanteme of this far call just which classification of management object (MO) and entity can be called by which operation and which attribute.
Information model is to the naming tree of the management object of the dissimilar NodeB base station of this definition.At this, the mapping of the information model of the form of software of NodeB base station so is implemented, and makes O﹠amp; The interface of M do not rely on specific NodeB type and only software kit kept.
The static frames of information model of description with managed object class (MOC) and attribute thereof when bringing into operation and also disposes by the hypostazation of management object with to attribute assignment at the run duration of the base station of certain NodeB type.
Hypostazation or be configured in this and can realize by single, the continuous order of above mentioned corba interface, perhaps configuration information in file or database, summed up, transmission and analyze by the base station.
The information model that is used for network management (GDMO) is known from (known to those skilled in the art) criterion " guilding principle of the description of management object (Guidelines for the Description of Managed Objects) ".
By the present invention, two major issues in the communication between the network element are solved:
A) utilize suitable form and method can so describe the logic interfacing that is called as information model, so that not only can easily derive or produce software automatically from this specification and realize but also can easily derive automatically or produce document.
B) utilize suitable form and method, file or database at the configuration of network element can so be described, so that simple syntactic analysis is possible when moving, and can guarantee versioned and the instrument that can be provided for operating database like a cork for operator (Operator).
Because these two problems closely connect each other, so these two problems utilize similar form or method to solve as much as possible.
The present known solution of those skilled in the art:
The problem of the description of information model (referring to problem a)) solves so far by the following method, and this method is designated as " guilding principle of the description of management object " (GDMO), and the data formatting in this method and the so-called ASN.1 standard is closely connected.
GDMO/ASN.1 has been developed and has expanded several years.Instrument (Tookits) also is developed in addition, utilizes this tool information Model can be described in GDMO/ASN.1, and this instrument also allows to be used for the generation of software of the conversion of network element agreement.
Method based on GDMO/ASN.1 has following shortcoming:
● kit does not provide the support based on the CORBA transport layer.OO mode CORBA carries out in the distributed data processing field and also incrementally carries out in telecommunications simultaneously.
● the description relative complex of the information model in GDMO/ASN.1.
● for the description based on GDMO/ASN.1, generator may be difficult to developed, and this generator with the partial information model conversion is such as the C++ code.
Configuration file or database (referring to problem b)) deposit or be formatted as text so far or with binary format, wherein this configuration file or database on form very strictly according to corresponding configuration order.
When simple text formatting, be used for disposing or incarnate essential order for example sequentially, just be illustrated hereof line by line at the language that is called " high-level command language ".These orders are arranged in the row of identical form independently of each other at this, as the operator with command line interface of these order inputs (Command Line Interface, CLI) in like that.
Utilize the binary file method that great shortcoming is arranged:
● configuration data must utilize the Hex editing machine to handle.This is extremely time-consuming, and is easily wrong and be that the user of today no longer looks to.
Utilization has great shortcoming towards the ACL document method of row:
● the ACL file also promptly becomes very big and unclear and understands.
● except simple text editor, when working out the ACL file, do not support.
● typical tree structure can not be utilized the ACL format description for management object.
These two described problems relate to diverse method so far.The repeated application of the Method and kit between this two classes problem thereby be impossible so far.
Summary of the invention
Task of the present invention is that making becomes possibility according to the transmission equipment that disposes the cellular mobile radio network in ergonomics (such as the air interface transmission equipment of NODE-B) effectively and as far as possible.This task solves respectively by the following technical programs.
According to the operation with cellular mobile radio network of at least one memory of the present invention-and service equipment with institute configuration data stored storehouse, it is characterized in that this configuration database uses the structure based on extend markup language to provide the configuration of one type transmission equipment of the air interface of mobile radio telephone network.
Be used for from operation-and the method for the transmission equipment of service equipment configuration cellular mobile radio network according to of the present invention, it is characterized in that, represent at least one type transmission equipment configuration, based on the configuration database of extend markup language from operation-and service equipment send to described transmission equipment.
The XML that employing is used to specify information model and configuration database has abandoned method in common and the method for telecommunication over past ten years so far basically.Application based on the configuration database of XML makes highly effective configuration management become possibility.It is cheer and bright relatively being described with XML.In addition, can change the C++ code (or other program code) that in transmission equipment NODE-B to be configured, to carry out relatively simply by XML document.Can from the configuration that among XML, defines, work out document (such as Winword document etc.) in addition relatively simply.The advantage of XML is, has the editing machine comfortable, that part is at one's command at XML.
Adopt database according to the present invention is directed to configuration, this is also referred to as nbdatabase below database.The file transfer protocol (FTP) (FTP) of nbdatabase by OMC is to the NodeB base station transmits.Have specific nbdatabase for each NodeB type, this nbdatabase comprises so-called " containing tree (Containment tree) ", and this containing tree is described management object entity (MOI) with tree structure.Nbdatabase allows certain configuration of permanent storage NodeB type in addition.
Description of drawings
Of the present invention other characteristics and the explanation of advantage embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in draw.This:
The schematically illustrated operation of Fig. 1-and service equipment OMC and transmission equipment NODE-B to be configured between communication,
Fig. 2 be shown schematically in application at type be NODE-B type XYZ transmission equipment based under the situation of the database of XML according to the present invention by operation-and service equipment OMC configuration that transmission equipment NODE-B is carried out,
Fig. 3 be illustrated among the NODE-B from configuration database based on XM at one type transmission equipment producible based on GDMO-ASN.1, based on the C++ code and as the information of document,
The schematically illustrated conduct of Fig. 4 operation-and service equipment OMC/LMT and NODE-B between the overview of interface,
Fig. 5 exemplarily illustrates the naming tree (" namingtree ") among the XML,
Fig. 6 exemplarily illustrates " the containing tree " at the configuration database of one type transmission equipment,
Fig. 7 exemplarily illustrates " header file " of transmission equipment (NODE-B),
Fig. 8 exemplarily illustrates configuration database " dtd file ",
Fig. 9 exemplarily illustrates configuration database " nbatabase " file,
Figure 10 exemplarily illustrates the journal file of ASCII fromat.
Embodiment
Fig. 1 is schematically illustrated to have at (known, unshowned herein) operation at the operator's of cellular mobile radio network the interface 2 that is constructed to pattern manipulation interface (GUI) or command line interface (CLI)-and service equipment (OMC=OMC operation and maintenance centre (operation andmaintenance center) or LMT=LMT Local Maintenance Terminal (local maintenance terminal)) 1, this operator is communicating by letter with the air interface transmission equipment (NODE-B etc.) 5 of mobile radio telephone network by far call (remote procedure calls) under the situation of using the transport layer (transport layer) 3 only schematically show with under the situation of the Corba agreement of knowing in application itself 4, so that it is configured, monitoring, safeguard, control or the like.In this case, information model 1 (informationmodel) is used as the logic interfacing between OMC1 and the transmission equipment 5, and the semanteme (which class of management object and entity can be called and which operation and which attribute are possible) that calls at this information model medium-long range is defined.All integral body of controllable object in NODE-B are called as management information bank MIB and realize following possibility, promptly by operation-and the OMC of maintenance centre by remote maintenance operation-and service equipment (NODE-B) in generation, the certain object entity of removal, be provided with or inquire the attribute of this object and cause certain action.
In order to understand this technical problem, importantly: as the transport layer of the information model of logic interfacing and the differentiation of host-host protocol.At this, OMC and NodeB communicate by the CORBA agreement on far call (remote procedurecalls) meaning.The semantic description information model of far call, the semanteme of this far call just which class and the entity of management object (MO) utilize which operation and which attribute to be called.
Information model defines the naming tree of management object for this reason at dissimilar NodeB base stations.Being mapped in this and so being implemented of information model in the software of NodeB base station makes O﹠amp; The interface of M do not rely on the type of specific NodeB and only software kit kept.
The static frames of information model of description with managed object class (MOC) and attribute thereof when bringing into operation and also disposes by the hypostazation of management object with to attribute assignment at the run duration of the base station of certain NodeB type.
Hypostazation or be configured in this single, continuous order and realize by above mentioned corba interface, perhaps configuration information in file or database, summed up, transmission and analyze by the base station.
Adopt database according to the present invention is directed to configuration, this database is also referred to as nbdatabase hereinafter.The file transfer protocol (FTP) (FTP) of nbdatabase by OMC is to the NodeB base station transmits.
Fig. 2 illustrates operations according to the instant invention-and service equipment 1, its application is disposed the transmission equipment 5 of certain type (having type herein is the NODE-B of certain type of NODE-B type XYZ) according to institute of the present invention configuration data stored storehouse " nbdatabase " 6, be that Configuration Type is the NODE-B of XYZ or causes action or monitor these nodes or produce and remove the object entity in NODE-B at that, perhaps be provided with or the attribute of inquiry object.In order to be transmission equipment NODE-B 5 transmission configuration databases (nbdatabase 6) application transport agreement (file transfer protocol (FTP) (file transfer protocoll)=FTP) of XYZ to type from operation and maintenance equipment (LMT of OMC or replacement).Transmitting layer 3 can constitute in a conventional manner.Configuration database (6) is based on XML, promptly provide the configuration of one type transmission equipment (NODE-B type-XYZ 5) of the air interface of mobile radio telephone network by data among the XML as the DTD label and structure.
For each NodeB type a specific nbdatabase is arranged, it comprises so-called " containing tree ", and this containing tree has been described management object entity (MOI) with tree structure.Nbdatabase allows for good and all to store certain configuration of NodeB type in addition.
The problem that initial paragraph is described a) and b) (XML) solve by employing " extend markup language ".
The XML language is the language of the cognation of SGML SGML and HTML.The basic thought of all SGMLs is, for information is equipped with note, i.e. what is called " label ".Label has information, and this information is for example described the document in the specific formatization (SGML) or shown as webpage (HTML).Opposite with SGML and HTML, but the XML language is defined as a kind of very simple extendible language at the very start.Opposite with HTML and SGML, XML not only allows to adopt the predefined label that is used for pattern description, and label can be self-defined in so-called DTD (DTD), can be the carrier of any semantic information therefore.
XML support information particularly well leaves in the tree structure.Not only for the static structure of the managed object class of information model and attribute, and for the configuration information that should dynamically be explained when the operation among the nbdatabase, (as shown in the figure: father-son or Gen-Ye) are typical to the tree structure relation.
Because the flexibility of XML, the problem that can mention at initial paragraph is a) with the form appointed information model of similar GDMO.The bigger advantage with respect to pure GDMO solution is that information also can embed by label, and this label has surpassed the description of the logic interfacing between OMC and the NodeB.For example can in DTD, define label, this label is used for producing automatically the C++ code of NodeB, and this label specifies continuing of certain attribute or this label to allow XML information to be automatically converted to such as the text at the Winword file of the Microsoft of (user) document.
Another advantage based on the information model of XML also is tangible in addition:
Only have a source with XML definition, by this source different, other form derived by automatic generation.At first, this advantage is important under the situation of life of product typical, long for network element at first: the variation according to new type, new version (Release) must only be provided (einpflegen) on a position; Avoid expensive error of transmission from the beginning.
Fig. 3 illustrates, from file Infomodel1.xml and Infomodel1.dtd (reference symbol 8), have according to the present invention can produce in the file of the configuration database that utilization sets up with XML based on the information model of XML simple and efficiently greatly different other can be used for dispose or the file of document or control transmission equipment, as for example at operation-and the GDMO/ASM.1 of service equipment OMC/LMT in naming tree, pending C++ code (10) in transmission equipment NODE-B, and the document (such as customer documentation) 11 in MS Winword for example.
With similar in information model, the problem b that also provides the definition of configuration file among the XML or database to fall and mentioned) solution as The initial segment.
The concrete hypostazation of management object entity (MOI) reaches to its attribute is equipped with certain value also can shine upon by the tree structure of XML file very goodly.Opposite with the information model based on XML, the information that leaves in the configuration database is not translated into the C++ code, but reads in and analyze by the syntax analyzer in when operation.Be that in this bigger advantage XML is all the fashion and also can adopts for example software at the third party provider of the syntactic analysis of XML file.
The specific implementation of configuration database can be by an XML file or also can be made up of a plurality of XML files.Alternatively, to be divided into part different, specific area be possible to database.Different like this experts can be separate control ground introduce for example at as equipment-or the configuration in the field of transfer management, this is configured in the back and just is summarized as common database.
Database is downloaded by the file transfer from OMC to NodeB as a whole in the specific embodiment in the drawings.Then, this database just is read into and analyzes just to acceleration (Hochfahren) configuration or complete change configuration.To consider that also the individual command of OMC not only transmits to NodeB as CORBA message, and send as the formative text message of XML.Be apparent that in addition problem a) and b) same solution cause interesting synergy.
The advantage of other of the solution of these two problems further draws in the groove from XML's.A lot of editing machines are arranged therebetween, and it not only supports the input of XML text, and makes that tree structure is visible and allow legalizing of XML document.
Also have (part is free) software library (SAX-, DOM-syntax analyzer etc.) except editing machine, this software library can easily be comprised in the program of oneself.These software libraries often are the parts of developing instrument, and this developing instrument yet can provide the instrument with standard interface except the software of oneself, and can be expanded arbitrarily.
Nearly all programming language commonly used all provides at the interface that adopts XML today, so that special-purpose solution can relatively easily be provided.
Owing to provide product at world market today, so file format should also can adopt the character in non-west.The big advantage that XML has is exactly that XML serves as the basis with the Unicode standard and therefore can handle all important character group in the world practically.
Essential characteristic of the present invention is the novel employing of the principle of data or document process on field of telecommunications and the particularly problem domain in network management.
Conventional method and method for telecommunication are abandoned in employing at the XML of the standard of information model and configuration database fully, and the research and development that the part ground warp has been crossed many decades in the standardization committee of this method and method for telecommunication are usually too complicated for concrete application.
Basic understanding of the present invention is that the information that not only is included in the information model but also is included in the configuration database is set up on the basis of tree structure, this tree structure can utilize XML to specify best.
The basic principle of another one is the balance between the solution of employing standard and the solution that adopts special formulation (massgeschneiderten): the extensibility of XML allows accurately to focus on the problem at data model place and configuration database place in principle and still can use a plurality of " existing " xml editor, XML maker and XML syntax analyzer etc.
The C++ code of part NodeB generates from the information model of stipulating among XML in specific embodiment.But in principle, XML information can be considered to the mapping of any language.
Nbdatabase utilizes LMT Local Maintenance Terminal (LMT) to dispose by the operator on the OMC or by the attendant, and is loaded onto on certain NodeB.Have the database of finishing in advance for certain NodeB type, this database also need only be equipped with concrete value then.
The present invention is used in the radio access network (RAN) of so-called UMTS mobile radio.That at management system around OMC (being also referred to as RadioCommander) and be called operation and maintenance (Operation﹠amp between the base station of NodeB; Maintance) exist (shown in Fig. 4) to be called the interface of Itf-B.
Fig. 4 illustrate NMC (National Maintenance Center=country operation-and maintenance centre) and operation-and service equipment OMC between (passing through RNC), operate-and service equipment OMC (passing through RNC) and transmission equipment (NODE-B) between and the operation of LMT (LMT Local Maintenance Terminal) form of removable application-and service equipment and transmission equipment NODE-B between interface.
Fig. 5 exemplarily illustrates naming tree, and this naming tree can be applicable to polytype NODE-B transmission equipment.
Fig. 6 exemplarily illustrates institute configuration data stored storehouse and " contains tree ".
Fig. 7 exemplarily illustrates configuration database " nbdatabase header file ".
Fig. 8 exemplarily illustrates " DTD " file of configuration database (NB database).
Fig. 9 illustrates the example of (configuration database) " nbdatabase file ".
Figure 10 exemplarily illustrates journal file, its safeguard transmission equipment (NODE-B etc.) during by operation-and service equipment (OMC etc.) provide other data that are used for mistake (cpu fault of base band card) of ASCII fromat.