Patent ID: 7137139
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing read-only access to configuration data for a network element configuration data, comprising: receiving a request to access the configuration data for the network element, the request comprising a target identification code corresponding to the network element; and in response to the request, initiating a communications session through a SONET transport center with the network element, the network element comprising SONET hubs that are linked by fiber optic connections to form a closed loop, receiving the configuration data from the network element, transmitting the configuration data in a read-only format as a response to the request; maintaining a mass storage device, the mass storage device comprising a SONETCAP application comprising instructions for communicating with the network element and a TL1 script database comprising a customizable script corresponding to the network element to account for peculiarities in implementation of a TL1 protocol, wherein receiving the configuration data comprises using the SONETCAP application to communicate with the network element and using the TL1 script database to implement the TL1 protocol to communicate with the network element; retrieving previously stored configuration data associated with the network element from a database; comparing the previously stored configuration data to the configuration data received from the network element; determining whether the previously stored configuration data and the configuration data received from the network element are identical; and in response to determining that the previously stored configuration data and the configuration data received from the network element are not identical, storing the configuration data received from the network element in the database.