WO2007004884A1 - A traffic node configurable via a usb port - Google Patents

A traffic node configurable via a usb port Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007004884A1
WO2007004884A1 PCT/NO2005/000366 NO2005000366W WO2007004884A1 WO 2007004884 A1 WO2007004884 A1 WO 2007004884A1 NO 2005000366 W NO2005000366 W NO 2005000366W WO 2007004884 A1 WO2007004884 A1 WO 2007004884A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
traffic node
usb port
network
node
traffic
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO2005/000366
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Per Erik Moldskred Nissen
Original Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) filed Critical Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Publication of WO2007004884A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007004884A1/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/08Configuration management of networks or network elements
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/02Standardisation; Integration
    • H04L41/0213Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L41/00Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
    • H04L41/04Network management architectures or arrangements
    • H04L41/046Network management architectures or arrangements comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to maintenance operations on traffic nodes in communication systems in general, and in particular an interface for gaining access to a traffic node, the interface being needed for configuring said node.
  • Another alternative is to connect the laptop to an Ethernet connector on the front panel of the node.
  • the technician may then access a configuration web page stored in an embedded web server in the node.
  • This solution has the additional advantage of allowing the technician access to the Internet as well, enabling him to download drivers etc. as needed.
  • the traffic node does not include any hub, and has only one Ethernet connector on the front panel, this connector being used for the main network connection. Thus, this connector is not available for the technician; as he is not allowed break the traffic connection to the node.
  • this interface should have a mechanically small connector; it should support a simple automated setup of the connection, and should provide a fully functional Internet connection.
  • the present invention provides a local interface to a traffic node in a communication network that fulfils the needs mentioned above.
  • the idea is to use a common USB interface as the local administration interface.
  • USB interfaces are not intended for transferring network traffic, but by arranging the node to issue dynamic addresses to the equipment connected to the USB port, it may act as a full fledged network connection, even allowing the establishment of a small local administration network.
  • Fig. 1 shows how a laptop is connected to a traffic node
  • Fig. 2 shows the functional model for the local access port on the traffic node.
  • Fig. 1 shows a laptop connected to the USB port on the traffic node TN.
  • the traffic node is equipped with a Network Address Translation NAT unit providing translation between the local address and the external address used on the network. Then the laptop may access the Internet through the node TN.
  • the traffic node is equipped with a Telnet server, Web server, SNMP agent and FTP client (not shown) as is usual in this sort of equipment.
  • Fig. 2 shows the functional model for the local access port in the traffic node. Regarding the individual layers in the model:
  • USB Universal serial bus
  • the Traffic Node uses the packet layer in Ethernet IEEE 802.3.
  • ARP provides a complementary translation from a protocol address to a hardware interface address (MAC address) .
  • NAT tracks private-source IP addresses and public-destination IP addresses for outbound flows. It changes the IP address information and edits the required IP header information dynamically.
  • the TN implement a simplified DHCP service that assigns the IP address, gateway, and name server on the local network.

Abstract

An arrangement for performing maintenance operations on a traffic node in a communication network, said traffic node including a Web server hosting a Web page with configuration information. An USB port is included in said traffic node for local connection to a PC for administering the configuration of the traffic node. A Network Address Translation unit is adapted to provide address translation between the local USB port and an external Ethernet network. Thus the PC may gain access to the Internet for loading drivers, etc.

Description

AN ARRANGEMENT IN A TRAFFIC NODE
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to maintenance operations on traffic nodes in communication systems in general, and in particular an interface for gaining access to a traffic node, the interface being needed for configuring said node.
Technical background
When a technician is working at a traffic node, for repair, reinstallation, upgrading or changing its configuration for other reasons, he may need to gain access to the node configuration. Of security reasons, this access must commonly be local, as certain maintenance operations should not be performed remote. One alternative for accessing the node is to connect a laptop PC to a serial port (RS 232 port) in the node, for editing the setup via Simple Network Management Protocol SNMP. However, the serial port is considered as a slow interface demanding a cumbersome setup of the connection. The serial port has been a standard communication port for many decades, but it is now rapidly becoming outmoded, and many laptops are currently not being delivered with serial ports installed. Modern node installations use narrow modules installed in 19" racks. The front area of such a module is small and with a large number of contacts. There is not room for the rather large nine pin serial connector.
Another alternative is to connect the laptop to an Ethernet connector on the front panel of the node. The technician may then access a configuration web page stored in an embedded web server in the node. This solution has the additional advantage of allowing the technician access to the Internet as well, enabling him to download drivers etc. as needed. However, the traffic node does not include any hub, and has only one Ethernet connector on the front panel, this connector being used for the main network connection. Thus, this connector is not available for the technician; as he is not allowed break the traffic connection to the node.
Thus, there is a need for a new administration interface to the node. Preferable, this interface should have a mechanically small connector; it should support a simple automated setup of the connection, and should provide a fully functional Internet connection.
Brief summary of the invention
The present invention provides a local interface to a traffic node in a communication network that fulfils the needs mentioned above. The idea is to use a common USB interface as the local administration interface. USB interfaces are not intended for transferring network traffic, but by arranging the node to issue dynamic addresses to the equipment connected to the USB port, it may act as a full fledged network connection, even allowing the establishment of a small local administration network.
The invention is defined by the appended claims.
Brief description of the drawings
The invention will now be described in detail in reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows how a laptop is connected to a traffic node,
Fig. 2 shows the functional model for the local access port on the traffic node.
Detailed description of the invention Fig. 1 shows a laptop connected to the USB port on the traffic node TN. The traffic node is equipped with a Network Address Translation NAT unit providing translation between the local address and the external address used on the network. Then the laptop may access the Internet through the node TN. The traffic node is equipped with a Telnet server, Web server, SNMP agent and FTP client (not shown) as is usual in this sort of equipment.
Fig. 2 shows the functional model for the local access port in the traffic node. Regarding the individual layers in the model:
USB
Universal serial bus (USB) an 12 Mbits/s bus for communication between Traffic Node and a laptop PC.
ETH (Ethernet protocol layer)
The Traffic Node uses the packet layer in Ethernet IEEE 802.3.
ARP
ARP provides a complementary translation from a protocol address to a hardware interface address (MAC address) .
Network Address Translation
Maps a set of private addresses to a set of public addresses. NAT tracks private-source IP addresses and public-destination IP addresses for outbound flows. It changes the IP address information and edits the required IP header information dynamically.
DHCP Server
The TN implement a simplified DHCP service that assigns the IP address, gateway, and name server on the local network.

Claims

C l a i m s
1. An arrangement in a traffic node in a communication network, said traffic node including a Web server hosting a Web page with configuration information, characterized in that said traffic node further includes an USB port for local connection to a PC for administering the configuration of the traffic node and a Network Address Translation unit adapted to provide address translation between the local USB port and an external Ethernet network.
2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said traffic node further including a DHCP server for the local USB port, said DHCP server being adapted to provide the PC with an IP address, network mask and default gateway.
3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the traffic node is adapted to provide the PC with DNS addresses .
PCT/NO2005/000366 2005-06-30 2005-09-30 A traffic node configurable via a usb port WO2007004884A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20053258A NO20053258D0 (en) 2005-06-30 2005-06-30 Interface.
NO20053258 2005-06-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007004884A1 true WO2007004884A1 (en) 2007-01-11

Family

ID=35295133

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NO2005/000366 WO2007004884A1 (en) 2005-06-30 2005-09-30 A traffic node configurable via a usb port

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NO (1) NO20053258D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2007004884A1 (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030161333A1 (en) * 2002-02-22 2003-08-28 Schain Mariano R. Broadband modem residential gateway with efficient network traffic processing
WO2003102775A2 (en) * 2002-05-30 2003-12-11 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Configuration of software applications on a target terminal

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030161333A1 (en) * 2002-02-22 2003-08-28 Schain Mariano R. Broadband modem residential gateway with efficient network traffic processing
WO2003102775A2 (en) * 2002-05-30 2003-12-11 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Configuration of software applications on a target terminal

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20053258D0 (en) 2005-06-30

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