Patent ID: 7213068
Filing Date: 2007-05-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A policy management system for managing network elements in a telecommunication network, comprising: one or more policy proxies associated with said network elements; and a central policy processing point in communication with said policy proxies; wherein said policy proxies are configured to notify said policy processing point of events occurring in said network; wherein said policy processing point is run-time programmable with one or more policies to process said events and to notify one or more of said policy proxies of actions to be taken in response to said events; wherein said policies are based on a policy definition language that defines (1) primitive events representing a single network element event, (2) basic events representing a group of primitive events occurring within a single time epoch, (3) complex events representing an accumulation of primitive events over plural time epochs, (4) internal events generated in response to network elements failing to take required actions, and (5) policy defined events generated by said policies according to policy defined event rules wherein said policy proxies are configured to implement said actions at network elements they represent; and further including a failover and upgrade system wherein: an external monitoring script functions to restart said policy processing point and said policy proxies should such components become non-operational; said policy processing point and said policy proxies are configured to enter a retry mode if communication with another component cannot be established, and if said retry mode is unsuccessful to consult a directory server to refresh location information relative to said component; said policy proxies are configured to raise internal alarms if they are disconnected from, or cannot reach, an associated network element for a period of time; an aggregator or said policy proxies maintain state on event registrations performed at each policy proxy; said policy processing point monitors connection status with said aggregator, and following a disconnection therefrom, reloads its policies upon a reconnect; and said policy processing point stores its policies in said directory server.