Automatic NE-adapter Generation by Interface Blending/Diagnosis Methods

Abstract

Operating a next generation network (NGN) while new services and network elements (NE) are being intermittently introduced is a complex and difficult task. We are trying to establish flexible network operation technology. This article introduces a method of automatically generating NE-adapters in element/network management systems (EMS/NMS) to interact with NEs. This method alleviates the effort of NE configuration tasks by automating the development of functions that operators use to set up NEs. We call this interface blending/diagnosis method. Our approach consists of 1) a blending method that automatically generates NE-adapters for products from different vendors from commands and responses between an EMS and an NE and 2) a diagnosis method that verifies blended adapters with actual NEs. Moreover, this article introduces a configuration support tool that we developed. The tool complements the interface blending/diagnosis method even if there is no adapter to be possible to use as knowledge.