A METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS IN A NETWORK, A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract: A network management system (1), for example for use in a telecommunications network (7), comprises a performance management tool (3) for carrying out a plurality of performance measurements (5) relating to physical or logical components of the network (7). A fault management tool (9) provides fault reports (11) relating to faults detected in the network (7). A configuration management tool (13) controls the configuration of the network (7), and provides configuration reports (15) on changes to the network configuration. A performance management controller (17) comprises a control unit (25), a list of performance measurement groups (19), a list of logical/physical components in the network (21) and a list of predefined time schedules (23). Upon receiving network configuration information (11, 15) from either the fault management tool (9) or configuration management tool (15), the control unit (25) determines whether any network performance measurements need to be changed, and if so, automatically changes them accordingly. In this way, the system is able to adaptively change the performance measurements in response to actual changes in network configuration, thereby ensuring that the most appropriate measurements are carried out.

Description: A METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS IN A NET W ORK, A PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Field of the invention The invention relates to a network management system and method, and in particular, to a network management system and method in which performance measurements are controlled according to changes in network configuration, for example, due to faults in the network or network updates . Background to the invention A network such as a telecommunications network typically contains a number of performance management tools for monitoring the performance of the network. The user of the performance management tools has control over the selection, activation and deactivation of performance measurement reports in the network. Default performance measurements are selected from the performance management tool in order to monitor the network performance at all times. A network may also contain fault management tools for detecting faults in the network and/or configuration management tools for reconfiguring the network. Changes in the configuration of the network may take place for a number of reasons, such as scheduled configuration changes to update the network, or unplanned configuration changes to deal with faults occurring in the network. For example, the configuration of a network will change if a piece of equipment fails, and is taken out of service (either temporarily or permanently) , or if a new piece of equipment is added to the network. Changes in the configuration of a network can result in the default performance measurements being redundant or meaningless . US-5,655,071 discloses a system which uses performance measurements to detect the emergence of faults in a network. However, although such a system is useful for detecting potential faults, it has no means of changing the performance measurements in response to the faults which are detected. This can result in unnecessary performance measurements being taken. The aim of the present invention is to provide a network management system and method in which a group of performance measurements are automatically activated and/or deactivated in accordance with changes in the configuration of a network. Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of automatically controlling performance measurements in a network in which a plurality of performance measurements are carried out, the method comprising the steps of: receiving information relating to changes in the configuration of the network; determining whether the changes in the configuration of the network have an impact on any performance measurements being made in the network; and if so, changing the performance measurements accordingly. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network management controller for automatically controlling performance measurements in a network in which a plurality of performance measurements are carried out, the performance management controller comprising: means for receiving information relating to changes in the configuration of the network; means for determining whether the changes in the configuration of the network have an impact on any performance measurements being made in the network; and means for changing the performance measurements accordingly if the changes in the configuration of the network have an impact on the performance measurements. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network management system as defined in the appended claims. Brief description of the drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a network management system according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows the operation of the performance measurement controller of Figure 1. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention Referring to Figure 1, a network management system 1 comprises a performance management cool 3 for activating and deactivating 5 performance measurements in a network 7 . The network management system 1 also comprises a fault management tool 9 for detecting faults which occur in the network 7, and producing corresponding fault reports 11. The fault reports 11 can relate to faults which have already occurred in the network, or faults which are predicted to occur in the future. A configuration management tool 13 controls the configuration of the network, and produces network configuration reports 15 which define the configuration of the network 7, or report on changes that have taken place in the network. The performance management controller 17 according to the present invention receives the fault reports 11 and network configuration reports 15 from the fault and configuration management tools, respectively. Using this information, the performance management controller 17 investigates if changes in the configuration of the network, (for example caused by removal, temporary removal, re-location, or the addition of network components) , have an impact on the performance measurements being carried out. In other words, the performance management controller 17 determines whether any performance measurements need to be activated or deactivated as a result of the changes in the configuration of the network. For this purpose, the performance management controller 17 comprises a list of performance measurement groups 19, a list of physical/logical components of the network 21, a list of predefined time schedules 23, and a control unit 25. Each of the performance measurement groups is related to one or more of the logical or physical components in the network, which are listed in the list of logical or physical components 21. Thus, each performance measurement group relates to performance measurements which should be made on one or more network components. This predefined relationship between performance measurement groups and the logical or physical components of the network provides the basis for determining which measurements need to be activated or deactivated in response to a change in the configuration of the network. For example, if a new component is installed in the network, the performance management controller 17 will trigger a standard, or predefined, set of measurements . The performance management groups report on the same logical and physical components as the fault management tool 9 and configuration management tool 13. In this way, the performance management controller 17, the fault management tool 9 and the configuration management tool 13 are able to understand one another, and report on the same measurable components. Each of the predefined time schedules in the list of predefined time schedules 23 contains information relating to a specific performance measurement group. This information corresponds, for example, to the point in time at which the performance measurement group should be activated, and the length of time the performance measurement group should remain activated. The performance management controller 17 has activating means 27 for activating a group of performance measurements, for example by instructing the performance management tool 3. The performance management controller 17 also comprises deactivating means 29 for deactivating a group of performance measurements, again by instructing the performance management tool 3. Reference will now be made to Figure 2, which describes the operation of the network management controller 17 of Figure 1. The control unit 25 of the performance management controller 17 receives network configuration information, step 101, in the form of fault reports 11 and network configuration reports 15. The fault reports 11 and network configuration reports 15 are provided by the fault management tools 9 and configuration management tools 13, respectively. The information from both these sources provide information concerning the configuration of the network. Using the network configuration information 11, 15, the control unit 25 determines whether changes to the configuration of the network have any impact on the performance measurements which are currently being carried out in the network, i.e. whether any measurements need to be activated or deactivated in response to any changes to the configuration of the network, step 103. For example, the removal, or temporary removal, of a network component may result in a group of performance measurements being deactivated. Alternatively, the re-location or addition of a network component may result in a group of performance measurements being activated. It is noted that the examples given above are not exhaustive, insofar as the removal of a network component could also result in a performance measurement group being activated, and the addition of a network component result in a performance measurement group being deactivated. Furthermore, the removal of a network component could result in some measurements being activated and others being deactivated, (and vice versa if a network component is added or relocated) . The control unit 25, using the list of logical or physical components 21, determines which area of the network is affected by the configuration changes, step 105. Next, using the list of performance measurement groups 19, the control unit 25 determines which group of performance measurements corresponds to the particular network component which is effected by the change in network configuration, step 107. A time schedule relating to that group of performance measurements is then determined using the list of predefined time schedules 23, step 109. Thus, it will select what time the relevant performance measurement group should be activated or deactivated, and for what duration, step 109. Using the information determined above, the control unit 25 then activates or deactivates the relevant performance measurement group accordingly, step 111 . The time schedule for a particular group of performance measurements may include information relating to the predefined time for which the performance measurement group should remain activated or deactivated. If so, after the appropriate time has elapsed, the control unit 25 can deactivate or activate the group of performance measurements, respectively. If the network configuration changes frequently, for example if a network component has a cyclic fault (i.e. which alternates between being in a "faulty" state or a "normal" state) , the corresponding performance measurement group can also be activated or deactivated as the network component moves between the "faulty" and "normal" states. Furthermore, the performance management controller may use hysteresis to provide a delay between the network configuration changing, and the corresponding performance measurement group being activated or deactivated. Such hysteresis prevents performance measurement groups from being repeatedly activated or deactivated when the network configuration changes frequently as discussed above. The performance management controller 17 enables performance measurements to be automatically changed according to the configuration of the network at any particular moment in time, thereby permitting the most relevant performance data to be gathered. The automatic activation and deactivation of the performance measurements in this manner means that wasteful measurements are not carried out . Thus, if a fault in the network results in a piece of equipment failing, and thereby being removed, then the performance measurements relating to this piece of equipment will be automatically deactivated. Likewise, if configuration changes are carried out which result in a network component being added to the network, performance measurement will be automatically activated to monitor those components. In the description above, the activation of a group of performance measurements has been described as beginning all the measurements within that group. Similarly, the deactivation of a group of performance measurements has been described as ceasing all performance measurements within that group. However, it is noted that the activation of a group of performance measurements can also result in certain performance measurements within the group being started and others being ceased. Likewise, the deactivation of a group of performance measurements can result in certain performance measurements within that group being ceased, and others being started. Furthermore, any reference made to a network component is taken to include sub-parts within that component, such that any reference made to a network components is taken to include a component and/or a plurality of sub-parts of that component. Other modifications which are obvious to a person skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of automatically controlling performance measurements in a network in which a plurality of performance measurements are carried out, the method comprising the steps of: receiving information relating to changes in the configuration of the network; determining whether the changes in the configuration of the network have an impact on any performance measurements being made in the network; and if so, changing the performance measurements accordingly. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of changing the performance measurements comprises the steps of : determining which logical or physical component of the network is affected by the change in network configuration; determining which group of performance measurements relates to the network component concerned; determining a time schedule for the group of performance measurements; and, activating or deactivating the group of performance measurements accordingly. 3. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the change in network configuration is due to a fault in the network. 4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the change in network configuration is due to a network update. 5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the change in network configuration is due to the relocation of a network component. 6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal of a network component results in a group of performance measurements being deactivated. 7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the addition of a network component results in a group of performance measurements being activated. 8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the performance measurements are grouped according to one or more logical or physical components in the network. 9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each group of performance measurements has a predefined time schedule. 10. A performance management controller for automatically controlling performance measurements in a network in which a plurality of performance measurements are carried out, the performance management controller comprising: means for receiving information relating to changes in the configuration of the network; means for determining whether the changes in the configuration of the network have an impact on any performance measurements being made in the network; and means for changing the performance measurements accordingly if the changes in the configuration of the network have an impact on the performance measurements. 11. A performance management controller as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for changing the performance measurements comprises: means for determining which logical or physical component of the network is affected by the change in network configuration; means for determining which group of performance measurements relates to the network component concerned; means for determining a time schedule for the group of performance measurements; and, means for activating or deactivating the group of performance measurements accordingly. 12. A performance management controller as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the change in network configuration is due to a fault in the network. 13. A performance management controller as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the change in network configuration is due to a network update. 14. A performance management controller as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the change in network configuration is due to the relocation of a network component . 15. A performance management controller as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the means for changing the performance measurements has means for deactivating a group of performance measurements when a network component is removed. 16. A performance management controller as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the means for changing the performance measurements has means for activating a group of performance measurements when a network component is added. 17. A performance management controller as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16, having means for storing performance measurements which are grouped according to one or more logical or physical components in the network. 18. A performance management controller as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17, having means for storing a list of predefined time schedules, each time schedule corresponding to a respective performance measurement group . 19. A performance management system comprising a plurality of physical or logical components, a performance measurement tool for carrying out performance measurements, a fault management tool for reporting faults in the network, a configuration management tool for configuring the network and providing configuration reports on changes occurring in the network, the performance management system further comprising a performance management controller as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 18.

Inventors: BRADY BERNARD, LAMBERT ROBERT, MEE JEROME, MOYNIHAN MARIE, BRADY, BERNARD, LAMBERT, ROBERT, MEE, JEROME, MOYNIHAN, MARIE
Applicants: BRADY BERNARD, ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M, LAMBERT ROBERT, MEE JEROME, MOYNIHAN MARIE, BRADY, BERNARD, LAMBERT, ROBERT, MEE, JEROME, MOYNIHAN, MARIE, TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04L12
IPC codes: H04Q3