Network managing system with user interface for managing plural layers

Abstract: In a hierarchical network managing system, an upper layer manager (1) manages at least one upper layer agent (2). An upper layer user interface (5) is provided for the upper layer manager and can communicate with the upper layer manager. A lower layer manager (3) manages at least one lower layer agent (4). A lower layer user interface (6) is provided for the lower layer manager and can communicate with the lower layer manager and the upper layer user interface.

Description: Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network managing system, and more particularly to a network managing system for a network with a plurality of layers which has a user interface for managing agents of the plurality of layers. 2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional hierarchical network managing system, a network is managed by configuration of a sub-manager layer and an integrated manager layer. Instead, a network is managed by configuration of an element management layer, a network management layer, and a service management layer which are formed in accordance with the layer structure of TMN (Telecommunications Management Network) in ITU (International Telecommunication Union). Also, each of the layers has managers and agents, and the manager provides a user interface with an operator. W. Widl describes in Ericsson Review, vol. 68, no. 2, 1 January 1991, pages 34-51, XP000233163 a management layer model with an upper layer manager and an upper layer agent and an upper layer useer interface and a lower layer manager and a lower layer agent as described in the preamble of claim 1. A conventional example of the hierarchical network managing system is proposed in, for example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Disclosure (JP-A-Heisei 7-226777) in which a communication service between the integrated manager and the sub-manager is performed based on the IAB management standard. Thus, the structure of the sub-manager is simplified for simplifying the whole structure of the managing system. The above conventional example of the hierarchical network managing system will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1, the conventional hierarchical network managing system is composed of an integrated manager 50 as an upper layer manager, and sub-managers 10a and 10b as lower layer managers and agents 20a to 20d as lower layer agents for hierarchically managing a network. For purpose of operating the agent 20, the integrated manager 50 has a path passing through the sub-manager 10 and a direct path without passing through the sub-manager 10. Also, the integrated manager 50 is equipped with a graphic interface 60 with a user. However, the conventional example of the hierarchical network managing system has the following problems. (1) The first problem is in that the upper layer user interface and the lower layer user interface cannot cooperate with each other in the conventional hierarchical network managing system described in the above Japanese Laid Open Patent Disclosure (JP-A-Heisei 7-226777). The reason is in that the user interface for the user to operate an agent from the sub-manager is not provided in the above conventional hierarchical network managing system. (2) The second problem is in that the integrated manager is always required to operate a sub-manager, in the conventional hierarchical network managing system mentioned in the above Japanese Laid Open Patent Disclosure (JP-A-Heisei 7-226777). The reason is that in the above conventional hierarchical network managing system, the processing to the sub-manager can be performed only from the integrated manager, and there is not a user interface which is directly connected to the sub-manager. Summary of the Invention Therefore, the present invention is accomplished in the view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a hierarchical network managing system in which an upper layer user interface and an lower layer user interface can cooperate so that the operativity is improved excellently, and a managing method for the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide a hierarchical network managing system in which the system is restrained to have an appropriate system scale, and a managing method for the same. These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a hierarchical network managing system and a method of managing a plurality of layers in a hierarchical network managing system as described in claim 1 and claim 8, respectively. The dependent claims concern further developments of the invention. In order to achieve an aspect of the present invention, a hierarchical network managing system includes at least one upper layer agent, an upper layer manager for managing the at least one upper layer agent, an upper layer user interface which is provided for the upper layer manager and which can communicate with the upper layer manager, at least one lower layer agent, a lower layer manager for managing the at least one lower layer agent, and a lower layer user interface provided for the lower layer manager and which can communicate with the lower layer manager and the upper layer user interface. In this case, the upper layer user interface and the lower layer user interface may form an integrated user interface module. Alternatively, the upper layer user interface and the lower layer user interface may be provided as an upper layer user interface module and a lower layer user interface module which are separated from each other. The upper layer user interface communicates with the lower layer user interface when a request inputted from a user through the upper layer user interface requires processing of the lower layer agent. In this case, the upper layer user interface issues a first processing request for first processing to the upper layer agent, and the upper layer agent performs the first processing in response to the first request while the upper layer agent communicates with the lower layer agent through the lower layer manager, if necessary. At that time, the upper layer user interface issues a second processing request to the lower layer user interface, when the first processing is ended, and the lower layer user interface issues a second request for the second processing to the lower layer agent through the lower layer manager when the second request is inputted from the user through the lower layer user interface. The lower layer user interface issues an end notice to the upper layer user interface when the second processing is ended in the lower layer agent, and the upper layer user interface ends the processing for the request inputted from the user. In order to achieve another aspect of the present invention, in a managing system of a network of a plurality of layers, each of the plurality of layers includes a plurality of managers, a plurality of agents connected to the plurality of managers, and a plurality of user interfaces, each of which is provided for one of the plurality of managers independently from the one manager, for interfacing with a user. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a conventional hierarchical network managing system; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a hierarchical network managing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the hierarchical network managing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Description of the Preferred Embodiments The hierarchical network managing system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the hierarchical network managing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 2, the hierarchical network managing system in the first embodiment is composed of an upper layer manager 1, a plurality of upper layer agents 2 (2a, 2b) which are connected to the upper layer manager 1, a plurality of lower layer managers 3 (3a, 3b) which are respectively connected to the upper layer agents 2, lower layer agents 4 (4a to 4d), one or more of which are connected to each of the plurality of lower layer managers 3. As shown in Fig. 2, in the hierarchical network managing system in the first embodiment, a user interface function for the user to use the upper layer manager 1 is separated from the upper layer manager 1 as an upper layer user interface 5. Also, a user interface function for the user to use the lower layer manager 3 is separated from the lower layer manager 3 as a lower layer user interface 6. That is, the lower layer user interfaces 6 (6a and 6b) are provided for the lower layer managers 3 (3a and 3b), respectively. The upper layer user interface 5 and the lower layer user interface 6 are integrated to form an integrated user interface module 7, and are connected to the upper layer manager 1 and the lower layer managers 3. Next, the operation of the hierarchical network managing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. When the user wants processing in the upper layer agent 2, the user issues a processing request to the upper layer manager 1 using the upper layer user interface 5 of the integrated interface module 7. The upper layer manager 1 issues a request including the processing request to the upper layer agent 2, and the upper layer agent 2 performs the processing in response to the processing request. When confirmation from or setting to the lower layer agent 4 is necessary during the processing of the upper layer agent 2, the upper layer agent 2 issues a confirmation request or a setting request to the lower layer manager 4. In response to the request, the lower layer manager 3 issues a confirmation request including the confirmation request from the corresponding upper layer agent 2 or a reply request to the lower layer agent 4. The lower layer agent 4 answers a reply to the requested confirmation or the requested reply to the lower layer manager 3. In response to the reply, the lower layer manager 3 answers the reply to the upper layer agent 2. The upper layer agent 2 uses the replay from the lower layer agent 4 if necessary. The upper layer agent 2 answers a reply to the upper layer manager 1 when the processing ends. The upper layer manager 1 answers a reply to the upper layer user interface 5 of the integrated user interface module 7 and then ends the processing. On the other hand, when the user operates the lower layer agent 4, a request for processing is issued to the lower layer manager 3 using the lower layer user interface 6 of the integrated interface module 7. The lower layer manager 1 issues a request including the request from the lower layer manager 3 to the lower layer agent 4. The lower layer agent 3 starts the processing in response to the processing request. When the processing ends, the lower layer agent 4 answers a reply to the lower layer manager 3. The lower layer manager 3 answers a reply to the lower layer user interface 6 of the integrated user interface module 7 and then ends the processing. Also, when the user is always necessary to operate the lower layer agent after an operation to the upper layer agent 2, the operator issues a request for processing to the upper layer manager 1 using the upper layer user interface 5 of the integrated interface module 7. The upper layer manager 1 issues a request to the upper layer agent 2, and the upper layer agent 2 starts the processing in response to the processing request. When the processing ends, the upper layer agent 2 answers a reply to the upper layer manager 1. The upper layer manager 1 answers a reply to the upper layer user interface 5 of the integrated user interface module 7. The upper layer user interface 5 issues a request to the lower layer user interface 6 in response to the reply from the upper layer manager 1. The lower layer user interface 6 promotes an operator to input an instruction or data in response to the request. Next, the operator issues a request to the lower layer manager 3 from the lower layer user interface 6. The lower layer manager 1 receives this request and issues a request to the lower layer agent 4. The lower layer agent 3 which receives this request performs processing. When the processing ends, the lower layer agent 4 answers a reply to the lower layer manager 3. In response to this, the lower layer manager 3 answers a reply to the lower layer user interface 6 of the integrated user interface module 7. The lower layer user interface 6 answers a reply to the upper layer user interface 5. Thus, the cooperation of the upper layer and the lower layer ends. The structure which has the hierarchy of 2 layers is illustrated to Fig. 2 for simplification of the description. However, the present invention is not limited to the hierarchy of 2 layers. The similar structure and operation can be performed in case of the hierarchy of three or more layers. A specific example in the above embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below taking as an example the TMN layer structure in ITU. This layer structure has a plurality of layers composed of a business management layer, a service management layer, a network management layer, and an element management layer from the uppermost layer. Here, it is assumed that the upper layer is the service management layer and the lower layer is the network management layer. The service management layer provides customer management or service receiving person management such as subscription to and secession from service. The network management layer provides network structural management, network fault management and so on. In this example, the operation of this hierarchical network managing system will be described, taking as an example processing when a new subscriber to the service is accepted. In this processing, after processing of service subscriber registration is performed in the service management layer, addition processing of network equipments of this service subscriber is needed in the network management layer. Referring to Fig. 2, first, the user sends a service subscription registration request from the integrated user interface module 7 to the upper layer manager 1 using the upper layer user interface 5. The upper layer manager 1 sends a service subscription registration request to the upper layer agent 2. The upper layer agent 2 performs the processing of subscriber registration. In the subscriber registration processing which is performed by the upper layer agent 2, it is necessary to confirm whether or not it is possible to add network equipments of the service subscriber, to the lower layer agent 3. For this reason, the upper layer agent 2 issues a confirmation request of the lower layer manager 3 and then the lower layer manager 3 issues a confirmation request to the lower layer agent 4. The lower layer agent 4 answers a confirmation reply to the lower layer manager 3, after the confirmation. The lower layer manager 3 answers a confirmation reply to the upper layer agent 2. If the confirmation reply indicates that the addition is possible, the upper layer agent 2 performs the service subscriber registration. When the registration processing ends, the upper layer agent 2 answers a service subscriber registration reply to the upper layer user interface 5 of the integrated user interface 7 through the upper layer manager 1, and then ends the service subscription registration processing. Next, the network equipments of this new service subscriber are added. When the service subscription registration processing ends, the upper layer user interface 5 issues an addition request to the lower layer user interface 6. The lower layer user interface 6 which receives an addition request of the network equipments opens an addition screen on the display terminal and promotes an operator to operate. The operator demands addition network equipments to the lower layer manager 3 from the lower layer user interface 6 using this addition screen. The lower layer manager 3 requires the addition of the network equipments to the lower layer agent 4. The lower layer agent 4 performs processing of addition of the network equipments. Then, the lower layer agent 4 answers a reply to the lower layer user interface 6 of the integrated user interface 7 through the lower layer manager 3. The lower layer user interface 6 sends out an end notice of the addition processing of the network equipments to the upper layer user interface 5. When the upper layer user interface 5 receives the end notice of the addition processing of the network equipments, the lower layer agent 4 ends this series of service subscriber subscription processing. Next, the hierarchical network managing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the hierarchical network managing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 3, the hierarchical network managing system in the second embodiment is constructed in such a manner that the integrated interface module 7 shown in Fig. 2 is divided into an upper layer user interface module 8 and a lower layer interface module 9, and the upper layer user interface module 8 and the lower layer user interface module 9 respectively contain the upper layer user interface 5 and the lower layer user interface 6. The operation in which the upper layer and the lower layer cooperate with each other can be performed. Also, the operation of the upper layer agents 2 and the operation of the lower layer agents 4 can be independently performed. Also, when the operation to the upper layer agent 2 is unnecessary, it is made possible that only the lower layer user interface module 9 is provided. On the contrary, when the operation to the lower layer agent 4 is unnecessary, it is made possible that only the upper layer user interface module 8 is provided. Thus, the present embodiment has an advantage in that the scale of the system can be reduced to an appropriate size. As described above, in accordance with the present invention, the following effects can be achieved. (1) The first effect of the present invention is in that the processing in which the upper layer user interface and the lower layer user interface are integrated can be performed. The reason is that a communication interface is added between the upper layer user interface and the lower layer user interface in the present invention. (2) The second effect of the present invention is in that only the user interface which the operator needs can be provided, so that the system configuration with an appropriate scale can be used. The reason is that the upper layer manager and the upper layer user interface are separated and the lower layer manager and the lower layer user interface are separated in the present invention.

Claims: A hierarchical network managing system comprising: at least one upper layer agent (2); an upper layer manager (1) for managing said at least one upper layer agent (2); an upper layer user interface (5) which is provided for said upper layer manager (1) and which can communicate with said upper layer manager (1); at least one lower layer agent (4); a lower layer manager (3) for managing said at least one lower layer agent (4); and characterized by a lower layer user interface (6) provided for said lower layer manager (3) and which can communicate with said lower layer manager (3) and said upper layer user interface (6). A hierarchical network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said upper layer user interface (5) and said lower layer user interface (6) form an integrated user interface module (7). A hierarchical network managing system according to claim 1, wherein said upper layer user interface (5) and said lower layer user interface (6) are provided as an upper layer user interface module (8) and a lower layer user interface module (9) which are separated from each other. A hierarchical network managing system according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein said upper layer user interface (5) communicates with said lower layer user interface (6) when a request inputted from a user through said upper layer user interface (5) requires processing of said lower layer agent (4). A hierarchical network managing system according to claim 4, wherein said upper layer user interface (5) issues a first processing request for first processing to said upper layer agent (2), and said upper layer agent (2) performs said first processing in response to said first request while said upper layer agent (2) communicates with said lower layer agent (4) through said lower layer manager (3), if necessary. A hierarchical network managing system according to claim 5, wherein said upper layer user interface (5) issues a second processing request to said lower layer user interface (6), when said first processing is ended, and said lower layer user interface (6) issues a second request for the second processing to said lower layer agent (2) through said lower layer manager (3) when the second request is inputted from the user through said lower layer user interface (6). A hierarchical network managing system according to claim 6, wherein said lower layer user interface (6) issues an end notice to said upper layer user interface (5) when said second processing is ended in said lower layer agent (4), and said upper layer user interface (5) ends the processing for the request inputted from the user. A method of managing a plurality of layers in a hierarchical network managing system, comprising the steps of: inputting a request from a user through an upper layer user interface (5); and issuing a first processing request for first processing from an upper layer user interface (5) to an upper layer agent (2) through an upper layer manager (1) when the request is inputted from the user; performing said first processing in response to said first request by said upper layer agent (2) while said upper layer agent (2) communicates with a lower layer agent (4) through a lower layer manager (3), if necessary; issuing a second processing request from said upper layer user interface (5) to a lower layer user interface (6), when said first processing is ended; promoting the user to input a second processing request for second processing; and issuing the second request from said lower layer user interface (6) to said lower layer agent (4) through said lower layer manager (3) in response to the input from the user. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: issuing an end notice from said lower layer user interface (6) to said upper layer user interface (5) when said second processing is ended in said lower layer agent (4); and ending the processing for the request inputted from the user in said upper layer user interface (5).

Inventors: KAWAKAMI HIROYUKI, SOGA KENJI, TANAKA KATSUYUKI, KAWAKAMI, HIROYUKI, SOGA, KENJI, TANAKA, KATSUYUKI
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: H04L12
IPC codes: G06F13, H04L12