Patent ID: 6047320
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a network having a plurality of communication terminals and at least one switch circuit for controlling communications among said communication terminals, a network managing method for registering and updating management information for defining operations of said communication terminals and said switch circuit, said method comprising the steps of:defining a plurality of virtual closed area networks having said communication terminals or said switch circuit selected in accordance with a predetermined rule;defining said management information separately for each of a plurality of logical hierarchies segmented in accordance with a predetermined rule;storing the management information on a closed area network or one of said logical hierarchies to which each of said communication terminals and said switch circuit belongs;designating at least one of said communication terminals as a managing communication terminal; andcommunicating between said managing communication terminal and each of said communication terminals and said switch circuit management information to be registered and updated on the basis of information inputted by an administrator, said communication terminals and said switch circuit storing the management information to be registered and updated.