JPH11252076A - Distributed agent device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a hierarchical form as the name of an autonomous message when the management functions of plural communication systems are integrated into a single communication system without improving one of the management functions nor changing the operation names even if the duplicated operation names exist and without performing the translation processing via the respective management functions even if an operation command or a response is in a complicated form. SOLUTION: A logical module which includes a master agent 3-1, one or more subagents 3-2 and one or more management functions 3-4 is mounted as a communication node system. The agent 3-1 is provided with an inter-agent delivery means 3-1-1 and a center delivery means 3-1-2. The subagent 3-2 is provided with a name register means 3-2-1, a management function delivery means 3-2-2 and a master delivery means 3-2-3. Then, the management function 3-4 is provided with an operation name register means 3-4-1 and a control means 3-4-2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication node system operated from an operation center via a communication network, and more particularly, to efficiently transferring an operation command from an operation center to a management function in the node system.
Also, the present invention relates to a distributed agent device for efficiently transferring an autonomous message from a management function in a communication node system to an operation center.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional agent device, one communication node system has one agent function and one or more management functions. Among them, the management function registers an operation name in the agent function. Further, when an operation command from the operation center arrives, the agent function transfers the contents of the operation command to the management function according to the registration of the operation name in order to obtain the operation name from the operation command. When the autonomous message from the management function is delivered to the agent, the agent transfers this to the operation center. In this way, the operation center operates the system while grasping the state of the communication node system.

[0003]

However, since the conventional agent device is composed of a plurality of physical modules having a plurality of CPUs as a hardware configuration, an operation command is delivered to a management function existing in any physical module. There was a problem that it was not possible to determine what to do. In general, in different communication systems designed independently, the same operation name may be given to an operation command. In a conventional agent device, since one agent is mounted on one communication node system, it is impossible to mount a management function for processing an operation command having the same operation name on the same communication system. For example, a communication node system having a packet switching function and a communication node system having a circuit switching function may have the same operation name. In the case where these are integrated and realized as one communication system, the agent cannot determine which operation command or which processing function is based on the duplicated operation name, and cannot deliver it. Therefore, it is necessary to improve one of the management functions and change the operation name. Further, in a case where parameter names in operation commands use the same name in different communication node systems,
For example, when the types are different, such as an integer type and a character type, if they are to be integrated and realized as one communication system, it is necessary to divide them as logic modules and create load modules separately. In this case, it is necessary to determine which logical module the operation command is to be sent to, but the conventional device cannot cope with this.

[0004] In addition, the ITU-T standard TMN (Tele-
communication Management
In the case of adopting a guideline (GDMO) for defining a management target defined in the “Network” and using a rule based on a local form, an operation command or operation such as an action label or an attribute name is performed in the same manner as the operation name. Parameters included in the command response may also be duplicated,
Processing functions developed by a plurality of different groups cannot be used in one communication node system. An operation command or an operation command response according to the ITU-T standard includes an ASN. 1
(Abstract Syntax Notation
One) has a complicated form, and if this is received by the management function as it is, a mechanism for converting the management function into an internal format is required, which increases the burden on the designer of the management function.

On the other hand, in order to efficiently interpret the contents on the operation center side that has received the autonomous message, it is desired to adopt a hierarchical form as the name of the autonomous message. For example, if the name of the autonomous message is hierarchized by a large classification of functions provided by the communication node system (for example, a circuit switching function group, a packet switching function group, and the like), by using this, the operation center can be used. The efficiency can be improved by the statistical processing of the autonomous message in the system. The purpose of the present invention is
In order to solve such a conventional problem and realize a management function in a plurality of communication systems by integrating them as one communication system, even if there are duplicate operation names, one management function is improved. When the operation name does not need to be changed and the operation command or response has a complicated form, there is no need to perform translation processing with each management function, and by using the hierarchical form as the name of the autonomous message, It is an object of the present invention to provide a distributed agent device capable of improving the efficiency of statistical processing of autonomous messages in an operation center.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in a distributed agent apparatus according to the present invention, a management object in this communication node system is transmitted by transferring a communication node system and an operation command including a hierarchical command name. In a communication system including an operation center for performing operations on a communication node system, a communication node system includes one master agent, one or more subagents, and one or more logical modules including one or more management functions. The master agent accepts name registration from a subagent, and compares an operation command from the operation center with the received command name to the received information to thereby deliver the subcommand to the corresponding subagent. And the operation command from the subagent It has a center delivery means for delivering the response to the operation center side, each subagent has a unique name, and is operated from one or more management functions in each logical module, and a name registration means for registering the name in the master agent. Operation name registration means for accepting and storing name registration, and when an operation command from the operation center is delivered from the master agent,
A management function delivery means for obtaining an operation name from information of an operation command, determining a destination management function from the operation name and delivering the management function to the management function, and a master delivery means for delivering an operation command response from the subagent to the master agent The management function in the logic module includes an operation name registration unit that registers one or more operation names and a control unit that interprets the operation command, controls the management target, and returns an operation command response. It is characterized by including one or more management functions. As a result, when the management functions in a plurality of communication systems are integrated and realized as one communication system, even if there are duplicate operation names, the processing function is uniquely specified by the main agent and the sub agent. There is no need to change the operation name by improving one of the management functions.

Further, the above means and the master agent or the subagent mutually convert between the analysis means for obtaining the operation name from the operation command in the CMIP format, the operation command in the CMIP format, and the internal format which the management function can understand. It is also characterized by having translation means.
As a result, when local values are adopted in accordance with the ITU-T standard TMN guidelines, action labels and the like may be duplicated in the same way as operation names, and processing functions developed by a plurality of different groups may be used as one. It can be used in one communication node system. Also,
Operation commands and operation command responses according to the ITU-T standard are represented by ASN. This is a complex form of 1. The translation method is unified to centrally translate this into an internal format, and common parts necessary for translation can be shared. More efficient than having. In addition, the management function in the logic module has a message generating means for generating an autonomous message indicating the status in the management function, and one or both of the master agent and the subagent have an operation command response and a hierarchy included in the autonomous message. It is also characterized by having a name generating means for adding information to the instance name of the format. As a result, a hierarchical form can be adopted as the name of the autonomous message, and by using this, efficiency can be improved by statistical processing of the autonomous message in the operation center.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system includes an operation center 1 via a general communication network 2.
And the communication node system 3 are connected by a communication path,
The operation center 1 sends an operation command to the communication node system 2 via the general communication network 2. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the communication node system in FIG. The communication node system 3 is provided with a master agent 3-1, one or more subagents 3-2, and one or more logical modules 3-3. 4 are deployed.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a master agent according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Within the master agent 3-1, an inter-agent delivery means 3-1-1 and a center delivery means 3-1-2 are arranged. In the subagent 3-2, a name registration unit 3-2-1, a management function delivery unit 3-2-2, and a master delivery unit 3-2-3 are arranged. Although not described, an operation name registration unit is also included in the subagent 3-2. Furthermore, an operation name registration unit 3-4-1 and a control unit 3-4-2 are arranged in the management function 3-4. Hereinafter, the operation of the communication node system will be described with reference to FIG. S1 to S9 described in the figure are each step of the processing operation. (S1) First, at the time of starting the communication node system, the subagent 3-2 registers a unique name in the inter-agent delivery unit 3-1-1 of the master agent 3-1 by the name registration unit 3-2-1. . (S2) Also, all management functions 3-4 in each logical module
The operation name registration means 3-4-1 registers one or more operation names to the operation name registration unit in the subagent. (S3) At the time of operation, an operation command with a hierarchical name is sent from the operation center 1 to the master agent 3-1 of the communication node system 3. (S4) The master agent 3-1 receiving this operation command compares the name corresponding to each subagent 3-2 stored in the inter-agent delivery means 3-1-1 with the hierarchical name. Subagent to be sent 3-
Determine 2. (S5) According to this determination, the agent-to-agent delivery means 3
The operation command is sent from -1-1 to the subagent 3-2.

(S6) Upon receiving the operation command, the subagent 3-2 obtains the operation name from the information of the operation command by the management function delivery unit 3-2-2, and the operation name and the contents of the operation name registration unit are obtained. Are collated, the destination management function is determined, and delivered to the management function. (S7) In the management function 3-4, upon receiving the operation command, the control means 3-4-2 interprets the command, controls the management target, and returns an operation command response to the subagent 3-2. (S8) Upon receiving the operation command response, the subagent 3-2 distributes the operation command response from the subagent 3-2 to the master agent 3-1 by the master distribution unit 3-2-2. (S9) Upon receiving the operation command response, the master agent 3-1 transfers the operation command response to the operation center 1 by the center delivery means 3-1-2.

In this manner, the operation center 1
In response to the operation command from the communication node system, the control of the management target in the management function 3-4 in the communication node system is performed, and the operation command response is returned to the operation center 1. In FIG. 3, there are one or more management targets associated with each management function, but these are omitted. The hierarchical names included in the operation commands from the operation center 1 include names representing agent names or logical module names in addition to management functions. For example, the operation command name has the following form. Node # 001 / ATMModule # 00
1 / Dir1 / File10 In this example, ATMMM
ule # 001 is a logical module name (or subagent name), and File10 is a management target name.
Node # 001 corresponds to the communication node system, and Dir1 is a directory name for specifying File10. As described above, the operation command name includes information that is not directly related to the present invention.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a communication node system showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
3 is different from FIG. 3 in that an analysis unit 3-1-3 and a translation unit 3-1-4 are provided in the master agent 3-1 of the communication node system. Analysis means 3-1-3 and translation means 3-1 in master agent 3-1
If there is 4, before (S4) in the above procedure,
The next step is inserted. That is, (S3) after an operation command with a hierarchical name is sent from the operation center 1 to the master agent 3-1. (S3-1) The analysis means 3-1-3 uses the CMIP format. Find the operation name from the operation command. (S3-2) The translation unit corresponding to the operation name in the translation means 3-1-4 translates from the CMIP format to an internal format that the management function can understand. Other operations are the same as those in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a communication node system showing a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
3 and 4 is that an analysis unit 3-2-4 and a translation unit 3-2-5 are provided in the subagent 3-2 of the communication node system. Subagent 3-
In the case where the analysis means 3-2-4 and the translation means 3-2-5 are included in 2, the next step is inserted before (S6) in the above procedure. That is, (S4) the master agent 3-1 compares the name corresponding to each subagent 3-2 with the hierarchical name to determine the subagent 3-2 to be transmitted. In 3-2-4, an operation name is obtained from the operation command in the CMIP format. (S5-2) The translation unit corresponding to the operation name in the translation unit 3-2-5 translates from the CMIP format to an internal format that the management function can understand. In this way, it is possible to respond to operation commands in the CMIP format.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a communication node system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
, The message generating means 3-4-3 is provided in the management function 3-4 in the logical module of the communication node system shown in FIG. 3, and the name generating means (2) 3 is provided in the master agent 3-1. −1-6 or the subagent 3-2 is provided with a name generating means (1) 3-2-6, which is different from the other embodiments. In this case, in the above procedure, instead of (S8) and (S9), (R1)
(R2) Insert (R3). That is, (S7) In the management function 3-4, the control means 3-4-2 interprets the command to control the management target, and returns an operation command response to the subagent. When the state of the management target changes or a failure occurs, an autonomous message including an instance name is autonomously generated from the message generating means 3-4-3 of the management function 3-4, and the subagent 3-2 is generated.
Sent to Hereinafter, (S2) and (R3) indicate (S
8) and (S9). (R2) The subagent 3-2 receives the autonomous message including the instance name, and delivers the operation command response from the subagent 3-2 to the master agent by the master delivery unit 3-2-3. (R3) Upon receiving the operation command response, the master agent 3-1 transfers the operation command response to the operation center 1 by the center delivery means 3-1-2.

In this case, the subagent 3
-2-6 in the name generation means in -2 or (R3)
The name generation means 3-1 in the master agent 3-1
6, or one or both of them, the information representing the subagent, the logical module name, the communication node system, and the like are selectively added to the instance name in the autonomous message to make a hierarchical name. Specifically, for example, in the case of three levels of an instance name, a logical module name, and a communication node system name, the following assignment method is possible. [First Case] In (R2), the name generating means 3-2-6 in the subagent 3-2 adds information indicating the subagent and the communication node system to create a hierarchical name. [Second case] In (R3), the master agent 3-1
The name generating means 3-1-6 in the sub-section adds information indicating the subagent and the communication node system to create a hierarchical name. [Third case] In (R2), the name generating means 3-2-6 in the subagent 3-2 adds information representing the subagent to create a hierarchical name, and further in (R3). The information representing the communication node system is added by the name generation means 3-1-6 in the master agent 3-1 to form a hierarchical name.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the management functions of multiple communication systems are integrated and realized as a single communication system, even if there are duplicate operation names, the processing function is uniquely specified by the master agent and the subagent. There is no need to change the operation name by improving the management function of. In addition, the action label and the like may be duplicated like the operation name. In this case, however, the operation label can be used by one communication node system. Further, when translating an operation command or an operation command response into an internal format, a common part necessary for translation can be shared, which is efficient. Furthermore, a hierarchical form can be adopted as the name of the autonomous message, and efficiency can be improved by statistical processing of the autonomous message in the operation center.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a communication system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of a communication node system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration diagram of a communication node system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed configuration diagram of a communication node system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed configuration diagram of a communication node system which is a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed configuration diagram of a communication node system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Operation center, 2 ... General communication network, 3 ... Communication node system, 3-1 ... Master agent, 3-2
... Subagent, 3-3 ... Logic module, 3-4
... Management function, 3-1-1 ... Delivery means between agents, 3
-1-2 ... Center delivery means, 3-2-1 ... Name registration means, 3-2-2 ... Management function delivery means, 3-2-3 ... Master delivery means, 3-4-1 ... Operation name registration means , 3-4-2
... control means, 3-1-3 ... analysis means, 3-1-4 ... translation means, 3-2-4 ... analysis means (within the subagent),
3-2-5 Translation means (within subagent), 3-1
-6 name generating means (2), 3-2-6 name generating means (1), 3-4-3 message generating means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication system comprising: a communication node system; and an operation center for performing an operation by transferring an operation command including a hierarchical command name to a management target in the communication node system. Has one master agent, one or more subagent agents, and one or more logical modules including one or more management functions, the master agent accepts name registration from the subagent, An inter-agent delivery means for delivering an operation command from the operation center to the corresponding sub-agent by comparing the added command name with the received information, and transmitting an operation command response from the sub-agent to the operation center. And a center delivery means for delivery. The subagent has a unique name and receives name registration means for registering a name in the master agent, and receives operation name registration from one or more management functions in each logical module, and stores the operation name. When an operation command from the operation center is delivered from the master agent, an operation name is obtained from the information of the operation command, a destination management function is determined from the operation name, and the operation name is registered. Management function delivery means for delivering to the function,
Master distribution means for distributing an operation command response from the subagent to the master agent, wherein the management function in the logical module registers at least one operation name in the operation name registration unit. A name registration unit, interpreting the operation command, controlling a management target,
A distributed agent device comprising: a control unit that returns an operation command response. 2. The distributed agent device according to claim 1, wherein the master agent or the subagent further includes an analysis unit for obtaining an operation name from an operation command in a CMIP format, and an operation command and a management function in a CMIP format. A distributed agent device comprising: a translating means for mutually converting an internal format that can be understood. 3. The distributed agent device according to claim 1, wherein the management function in the logical module further includes a message generation unit that generates an autonomous message indicating a status in the management function, A distributed agent device characterized in that one or both of the sub-agents includes a name generating means for adding information to an operation command response and an instance name included in an autonomous message.