Abstract:
A method for acquiring customer premises equipment (CPE) function configuration information includes: setting up a CPE WAN Management Protocol (CWMP) session between an automatic configuration server (ACS) and a CPE; sending, by the ACS, a command to request the CPE to upload the CPE function configuration information to a specified object; and receiving, by the specified object, the CPE function configuration information uploaded by the CPE. An ACS, a CPE, a method for providing CPE function configuration information, and a terminal configuration system are also provided.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 200610168030.9, filed in the Chinese Patent Office on Dec. 15, 2006 and entitled “Method, Apparatus, and Application System for Acquiring CPE Function Configuration Information”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to data communication technologies, and in particular, to a method, apparatus, and system for acquiring and providing customer premises equipment (CPE) function configuration information in data communication field. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    With the development of the CPE WAN Management Protocol (CWMP, also referred to as TR069) defined by the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Forum, more and more operators are inclined to use TR069 to configure terminal services. CWMP can be used to remotely manage terminal devices, automatically configure terminal services, deliver services, upgrade and back up software and firmware, check performance, and diagnose devices. 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows an automatic configuration management model for terminal defined in TR069. After the CPE sets up a CWMP connection with the automatic configuration server (ACS), the ACS first acquires the parameter model supported by the CPE and then configures the CPE according to the parameter model so as to deploy corresponding services. The CPE is a device that is installed on the user&#39;s location and is connected to the network of a telephone company, such as a telephone set, a modem, or a terminal. CWMP is a CPE WAN management protocol, which is defined in TR069. 
         [0005]    TR069 specifies a method for acquiring the parameter model supported by the CPE. The method includes: after the CPE sets up a CWMP connection with the ACS, the ACS calls a Get Parameter Names function to specify a parameter that the CPE needs to return and the CPE returns a Get Parameter Names Response to the ACS according to information carried by a Get Parameter Names RPC function. The Get Parameter Names Response only contains the parameter names of the parameter model supported by the CPE and the read-write attributes of the parameters. 
         [0006]    The following details how to call the Get Parameter Names RPC function to specify a parameter that the CPE needs to return. The Get Parameter Names RPC function contains a “Parameter Path” parameter and a “NextLevel” parameter. 
         [0007]    The parameter type of “Parameter Path” is a string type. The “Parameter Path” indicates a complete parameter name or a partial path of a parameter name. When the parameter indicates a partial path, the last-level node of the parameter name is followed by a dot (.). 
         [0008]    If the “Parameter Path” parameter is set to “Internet Gateway Device. DeviceInfo. Serial Number”, the parameter indicates a complete parameter name. 
         [0009]    If the “Parameter Path” parameter is set to “Internet Gateway Device.DeviceInfo.”, the parameter indicates a partial path of a parameter name. 
         [0010]    The parameter type of “NextLevel” is a Boolean type. It can be set to “false” or “true”. 
         [0011]    If the “NextLevel” parameter is set to “false”, the CPE lists the full path of all the parameters beginning with the string specified by the “Parameter Path” parameter in the Get Parameter Names Response. 
         [0012]    If the “NextLevel” parameter is set to “true”, the CPE only lists parameter names at a lower level than the string specified by the “Parameter Path” parameter or partial path names in the Get Parameter Names Response. 
         [0013]    For example, if the “Parameter Path” parameter is set to “Internet Gateway Device.LANDevice.” and the “NextLevel” parameter is set to “true”, the CPE lists the following parameter names at a lower level than “Internet Gateway Device.LANDevice.” in the Get Parameter Names Response: “InternetGatewayDevice.LANDevice.1.” and “IntemetGatewayDevice.LANDevice.2.”. 
         [0014]    The CPE does not need to carry other parameter names at even lower level than the preceding two parameter name levels in the Get Parameter Names Response. 
         [0015]    If the “Parameter Path” parameter is set to “Internet Gateway Device” and the “NextLevel” parameter is set to “true”, the CPE carries the following parameter names in the Get Parameter Names Response: 
         [0016]    “InternetGatewayDevice.LANDeviceNumberOfEntrie”; 
       “InternetGatewayDevice.WANDeviceNumberOfOfEntries.”; 
       [0017]    “InternetGatewayDevice.LANDevice.”; 
         [0018]    “InternetGatewayDevice.WANDevice.”; and 
         [0019]    “InternetGatewayDevice.ManagementServer.” 
         [0020]    If the “NextLevel” parameter is set to “true” but the “Parameter Path” parameter does not indicate a partial path, the CPE must return an error response with error code  9005  indicating an invalid parameter name to the ACS. 
         [0021]    The above examples merely indicate that the Get Parameter Names Response can be used to return the parameter model supported by the CPE to the ACS. The following details how the Get Parameter Names Response carries the parameters that the CPE needs to return as specified in the Get Parameter Names RPC function. 
         [0022]    The Get Parameter Names Response contains a “Parameter List” parameter. The parameter carries the names and read-write attributes of the parameters that the CPE needs to return. 
         [0023]    The parameter type of “Parameter List” is a structure array (Parameter InfoStruct[ ]). Each Parameter InfoStruct[ ] contains a “name” parameter indicating a parameter name and a “Writeable” parameter indicating the read-write attribute of a parameter. 
         [0024]    The “name” parameter indicates the parameter name to be returned. 
         [0025]    For example, the “Internet Gateway Device.LANDevice.1.” is returned to the ACS through the “name” parameter. 
         [0026]    The “Writeable” parameter indicates the read-write attribute of a parameter, that is, indicates whether the Set Parameter Values function can be called to modify the value of the parameter. 
         [0027]    If the “NextLevel” parameter is set to “true”, the “name” parameter indicates a partial path of a parameter name. The “Writeable” parameter indicates that a new instance corresponding to the parameter can be added through an Add Object method or deleted through a Delete Object method. 
         [0028]    When the Get Parameter Names RPC function is called to acquire the parameter model supported by the CPE, the Get Parameter Names Response only contains the name and read-write attribute of a parameter but does not specify the type or value range of the parameter. Therefore, when configuring the CPE, the ACS cannot check the validity of data or apply the data. In particular, the ACS cannot check the validity of the extended CPE data or apply the extended CPE data. 
         [0029]    In the conventional art, another method for acquiring the parameter model supported by the CPE is provided. That is, CPE vendors provide operators with the parameter model supported by the CPE in an extensible markup language (XML) Schema file and then the operators use the operation support system to deliver the parameter model to ACS vendors. The disadvantage of the method is that the ACS has to acquire the parameter model supported by the CPE through operators and the operation support system needs to be correctly configured before the ACS manages the CPE. Thus, a binding relationship exists between the ACS and the CPE, and this causes inconveniency in configuring the CPE by the ACS in real time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for acquiring CPE function configuration information, and a method, an apparatus, and a terminal configuration system for providing CPE function configuration information to enable an ACS to know the CPE function configuration information such as the parameter type supported by a CPE and/or the parameter value range and thus to decrease the error probability when CPE services are configured. 
         [0031]    A method for acquiring CPE function configuration information in an embodiment of the present invention includes: 
         [0032]    setting up a CWMP session between an ACS and a CPE; 
         [0033]    sending, by the ACS, a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a specified object; and 
         [0034]    receiving, by the specified object, the CPE function configuration information uploaded by the CPE. 
         [0035]    An ACS in an embodiment of the present invention includes: 
         [0036]    a session requesting unit, configured to: send a request for setting up a CWMP session to a CPE, receive a request response message sent from the CPE, set up a CWMP session with the CPE, and notify a signaling sending unit that the CWMP session has been set up after the CWMP session is set up; and 
         [0037]    the signaling sending unit, configured to send a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a specified object after receiving a notification sent from the session requesting unit. 
         [0038]    A method for providing CPE function configuration information in an embodiment of the present invention includes: 
         [0039]    setting up a CWMP session between an ACS and a CPE; 
         [0040]    receiving, by the CPE, a command sent from the ACS requesting the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a specified object; and 
         [0041]    uploading, by the CPE, the CPE function configuration information to the specified object. 
         [0042]    A CPE in an embodiment of the present invention includes: 
         [0043]    a session negotiating unit, configured to: receive a request for setting up a CWMP session from an ACS, send a request response message to the ACS, and set up a CWMP session with the ACS; 
         [0044]    a signaling parsing unit, configured to: receive a command sent from the ACS requesting the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a specified object, and notify a function configuration information uploading unit to upload the CPE function configuration information stored in a function configuration information storing unit to the specified object; 
         [0045]    the function configuration information storing unit, configured to store the CPE function configuration information; and 
         [0046]    the function configuration information uploading unit, configured to: receive a notification sent from the signaling parsing unit and upload the CPE function configuration information stored in the function configuration information storing unit to the specified object. 
         [0047]    A terminal configuration system in an embodiment of the present invention includes: 
         [0048]    an ACS, configured to: send a request for setting up a CWMP session to a CPE, receive a request response message from the CPE, set up a CWMP session with the CPE, and send a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a specified object; and 
         [0049]    the CPE, configured to: receive request for setting up a CWMP session from the ACS, send the request response message to the ACS, set up the CWMP session with the ACS, receive the command sent from the ACS requesting the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to the specified object, and upload the stored CPE function configuration information to the specified object. 
         [0050]    According to the above-mentioned contents, the technical solution provided in embodiments of the present invention brings the following benefits: In the embodiments of the present invention, the ACS sends a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a specified object after setup of the CWMP session with the CPE, so that the ACS can acquire the CPE function configuration information and thus the error probability in configuring CPE services is decreased according to the acquired information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0051]      FIG. 1  shows an automatic configuration management model; 
           [0052]      FIG. 2  shows a flowchart of a method for acquiring CPE function configuration information in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of a method for acquiring a CPE parameter model in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0054]      FIG. 4  shows a signaling flowchart of a method implemented for acquiring a CPE parameter model according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 5  shows a signaling flowchart of a method implemented for acquiring a CPE parameter model according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 6  shows a flowchart for acquiring a function configuration method supported by the CPE in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0057]      FIG. 7  shows a flowchart of a method implemented for acquiring a function configuration method supported by the CPE according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 8  shows a flowchart of a method implemented for acquiring a function configuration method supported by the CPE according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic diagram of structure of an ACS provided in an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0060]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic diagram of structure of a CPE provided in an embodiment of the present invention, and 
           [0061]      FIG. 11  shows a schematic diagram of structure of a terminal configuration system provided in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0062]    An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for acquiring CPE function configuration information. The method includes the following steps: 
         [0063]    Step  201 : The CPE sets up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0064]    Step  202 : The ACS sends a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information. 
         [0065]    Step  203 : After receiving the command, the CPE uploads the CPE function configuration information to a server. 
         [0066]    The CPE function configuration information may be the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range, or a function configuration method supported by the CPE. The method is described in detail according to the two cases. 
         [0067]    When the CPE function configuration information is the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range, the flowchart of the method is shown in  FIG. 3  and the method includes the following steps: 
         [0068]    Step  301 : The CPE sets up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0069]    Step  302 : The ACS sends a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range. 
         [0070]    Step  303 : After receiving the command, the CPE uploads the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range to the server. 
         [0071]    The parameter type supported by the CPE or the parameter value range may be automatically generated by the CPE or may be provided by the CPE vendor and stored on the CPE. And this does not affect the implementation of the present invention. 
         [0072]    In general, the XML Schema is adopted to describe the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range. Other languages may also be used, which does not affect the implementation of the present invention. 
         [0073]    In actual applications, the server may be a specified server or the ACS. The server is a server whose address is specified by a user (namely, the ACS). Based on the preceding information, technical person in this field may know that the CPE may upload the CPE function configuration information to the ACS or other servers (hereinafter referred to as a specified server) other than the ACS according to the request sent from the ACS. In other words, the ACS requests the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a specified object, that is, a specified server. The specified object may be the ACS or a specified server other than the ACS. If the specified object is the ACS, the ACS can of course configure the CPE according to the acquired CPE function configuration information. If the specified object is a specified server other than the ACS, two cases exist. In one case, the ACS acquires the CPE function configuration information from the specified server and then configures the CPE according to the acquired information. In the other case, the ACS does not have to acquire the CPE configuration information from the specified server. The ACS instructs the specified server to perform corresponding processing according to the acquired CPE configuration information and then configures the CPE according to the processing result of the specified server. It can be seen that, the ACS configures the CPE according to the CPE function configuration information in both cases. Therefore, compared with the conventional art in which the ACS configures the CPE only according to the acquired CPE parameter model information (that is, the parameter name and read-write attribute of the supported parameter model), the embodiment of the present invention has a lower error probability. 
         [0074]    When the server is a specified server, the Upload command specified in TR069 may be used to implement the preceding method. Because the Upload command specified in TR069 includes a “FileType” parameter, a “URL” parameter, a “Username” parameter, and a “Password” parameter. 
         [0075]    The ACS sends the Upload command to the CPE. The CPE uploads corresponding data to the specified server according to the set value of the “FileType” parameter in the Upload command. The “URL”, “Username”, and “Password” parameters carry the address, login username, and login password of the specified server respectively. The login username corresponds to the login password on a one-to-one basis. 
         [0076]    As specified in TR069, the “FileType” parameter can be set to “1 Vendor Configuration File” or “2 Vendor Log File”. 
         [0077]    When the “FileType” parameter is set to “1 Vendor Configuration File”, it indicates that the CPE needs to upload the file that records user configuration information to the specified server. The user configuration information includes user-related information such as the username and password, or includes certain function parameters configured by a user such as relevant configuration information of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or wireless local area network (WLAN). 
         [0078]    When the “FileType” parameter is set to “2 Vendor Log File”, it indicates that the CPE needs to upload the file that records user operation logs to the specified server. 
         [0079]    In the embodiment of the present invention, a set value is added to the set values of the “FileType” parameter. The added set value indicates that the CPE needs to upload the supported parameter type and/or the parameter value range. The value name complies with the naming rule of set value of the “FileType” parameter specified in TR069, such as “3 XML Schema File” or others like “4 XML Schema File” or “3 XML File”. The naming rule is as follows: integer+space+file type description.  FIG. 4  shows a flowchart of a method for acquiring the parameter model supported by the CPE via the Upload command. The method includes the following steps: 
         [0080]    Step  401 : The CPE sets up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0081]    Step  402 : The ACS sends the Upload command to the CPE. In the Upload command, the “FileType” parameter is set to “3 XML Schema File”. “3 XML Schema File” indicates that the CPE needs to upload the supported parameter type and/or the parameter value range. 
         [0082]    Step  403 : After receiving the command, the CPE returns an UploadResonse message to the ACS, indicating that the Upload command is received. 
         [0083]    Step  404 : The CPE logs in to the specified server according to the address, login username, and login password of the specified server in the Upload command, and then uploads the supported parameter type and/or the parameter value range to the specified server through a file. 
         [0084]    The preceding steps implement the function that the CPE uploads the supported parameter type and/or the parameter value range to a specified server. To implement the function of configuring the CPE, the method further includes the following steps: 
         [0085]    Step  405 : The CPE sends a Transfercomplete message to the ACS, indicating that the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range are/is uploaded to the specified server through a file. 
         [0086]    Step  406 : The ACS returns a TransfercompleteResponse message to the CPE, indicating that the Transfercomplete message is received. 
         [0087]    Step  407 : After receiving the notification, the ACS downloads the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range from the specified server. 
         [0088]    Step  403 , step  405 , and step  406  are specified steps in the Upload command. As specified in the Upload command, the command receiver needs to return a message to the command sender, indicating that the command is received. 
         [0089]    When the server is the ACS, a command indicating that the CPE needs to upload its supported parameter type and/or the parameter value range may be added to the TR069 RPC method. The command may be named GetCPEXMLSchemaFile or other names by other naming rules, such as GetCPEXMLFile. The command may also be named by extending the existing RPC method. For example, the GetParameterNames Rpc method may be extended by extending a parameter indicating the parameter type and/or the parameter value range in the GetParameterNamesResponse message. 
         [0090]    The specific naming rule or the specific RPC method for extension may be decided by a technical person. The technical person only need to specify the function of the command in corresponding configuration. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the method includes the following steps: 
         [0091]    Step  501 : The CPE sets up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0092]    Step  502 : The ACS sends a GetCPEXMLSchemaFile command to the CPE. 
         [0093]    The GetCPEXMLSchemaFile command indicates that the CPE needs to upload the supported parameter type and/or the parameter value range. 
         [0094]    Step  503 : After receiving the command, the CPE uploads the parameter type supported by the CPE and/or the parameter value range as a packet in a GetCPEXMLSchemaFileResponse message to the ACS. 
         [0095]    When the CPE function configuration information is a function configuration method supported by the CPE, the flowchart of the method is shown in  FIG. 6 . The function configuration method supported by the CPE records the parameters supported by the CPE which need to be configured and the configuration processes when a function of the CPE is implemented. After acquiring the function configuration method supported by the CPE, the ACS can configure the terminal according to the configuration process recorded in the function configuration method. Thus, the error probability in configuring terminal services is decreased. The method includes the following steps: 
         [0096]    Step  601 : The CPE sets up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0097]    Step  602 : The ACS sends a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload the function configuration method supported by the CPE. 
         [0098]    Step  603 : After receiving the command, the CPE uploads the supported function configuration method to the server. 
         [0099]    The server in step  603  may be a specified server or the ACS. 
         [0100]    When the server is a specified server, the Upload command specified in TR069 may be used to implement the method for acquiring the function configuration method supported by the CPE. 
         [0101]    In the embodiment of the present invention, a set value is added to the set values of the “FileType” parameter. The added set value indicates that the CPE needs to upload the function configuration method supported by the CPE. The name of the set value complies with the naming rule for set value of the “FileType” parameter specified in TR069, such as “4 Operation File” or others like “3 Operation File” or “4 Configuration File”.  FIG. 7  shows a flowchart of a method for acquiring the function configuration method supported by the CPE via the Upload command. The method includes the following steps: 
         [0102]    Step  701 : The CPE sets up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0103]    Step  702 : The ACS sends the Upload command to the CPE. In the command, the set value of the “FileType” parameter is “4 Operation File”. “4 Operation File” indicates that the CPE needs to upload the function configuration method supported by the CPE. 
         [0104]    Step  703 : The CPE returns an UploadResponse message to the ACS, indicating that the Upload command is received. 
         [0105]    Step  704 : The CPE logs in to the specified server according to the address, login username, and login password of the specified server carried in the Upload command, and then uploads the supported function configuration method to the specified server through a file. 
         [0106]    The preceding steps implement the CPE uploading the function configuration method supported by the CPE to a specified server. To implement configuring the CPE, the method further includes the following steps: 
         [0107]    Step  705 : The CPE sends a Transfercomplete message to the ACS, indicating the function configuration method supported by the CPE is uploaded to the specified server. 
         [0108]    Step  706 : The ACS returns a TransfercompleteResponse message to the CPE, indicating that the Transfercomplete message is received. 
         [0109]    Step  707 : The ACS acquires the function configuration method supported by the CPE from the specified server and configures the CPE according to the acquired method. 
         [0110]    Step  703 , step  705 , and step  706  are specified steps in the Upload command. As specified in the Upload command, the command receiver needs to return a message to the command sender, indicating that the command is received. 
         [0111]    When the server is the ACS, a command indicating that the CPE needs to upload the function configuration method supported by the CPE may be added to the TR069 RPC method. The command may be named GetCPEOperationFile or others such as GetCPEConfigrationFile. The command may also be named by extending the existing RPC method. For example, the GetParameterNames Rpc method may be extended by extending a parameter indicating the function configuration method in the GetParameterNamesResponse message. The specific naming rule or the specific RPC method for extension is decided by a technical person. The technical person only need to specify the function of the command in corresponding configuration. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the method includes the following steps: 
         [0112]    Step  801 : The CPE sets up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0113]    Step  802 : The ACS sends a GetCPEOperationFile command to the CPE. 
         [0114]    Step  803 : After receiving the command, the CPE uploads the function configuration method supported by the CPE as a packet in a GetCPEOperationResponse message to the ACS. 
         [0115]    Ordinary technical person in this field may understand that all or part of the steps in the preceding method embodiments may be implemented by hardware following instructions of a program. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium such as a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or a compact disk. 
         [0116]    An embodiment of the present invention provides an ACS, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The ACS includes a session requesting unit  901  and a signaling sending unit  902 . 
         [0117]    The session requesting unit is configured to: send a request for setting up a CWMP session to the CPE, receive a request response message from the CPE, set up a CWMP session with the CPE, and notify the signaling sending unit that the CWMP session has been set up after the CWMP session is set up. 
         [0118]    The signaling sending unit is configured to send a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload the CPE function configuration information to a server after receiving the notification sent from the session requesting unit. 
         [0119]    The ACS further includes a function configuration information acquiring unit  903 , a function configuration information storing unit  904 , and a function configuring unit  905 . 
         [0120]    The function configuration information acquiring unit is configured to acquire the CPE function configuration information that is uploaded to the server and send the information to the function configuration information storing unit. 
         [0121]    The function configuration information storing unit is configured to store the CPE function configuration information. 
         [0122]    The function configuring unit is configured to configure the CPE according to the CPE function configuration information stored in the function configuration information storing unit. 
         [0123]    An embodiment of the present invention provides a CPE, as shown in  FIG. 10 . The CPE includes a session negotiating unit  010 , a signaling parsing unit  011 , a function configuration information storing unit  012 , and a function configuration information uploading unit  013 . 
         [0124]    The function configuration information storing unit is configured to store the CPE function configuration information. 
         [0125]    The session negotiating unit is configured to: receive a request for setting up a CWMP session from the ACS, send a request response message to the ACS, and set up a CWMP session with the ACS. 
         [0126]    The signaling parsing unit is configured to: receive a command sent from the ACS requesting the CPE to upload the CPE function configuration information to a server, and notify the function configuration information uploading unit to upload the CPE function configuration information stored in the function configuration information storing unit to the server. 
         [0127]    The function configuration information uploading unit is configured to: receive the notification sent from the signaling parsing unit and upload the CPE function configuration information stored in the function configuration information storing unit to the server. 
         [0128]    An embodiment of the present invention also provides a terminal configuration system, as shown in  FIG. 11 . The terminal configuration system includes an ACS  110 , a CPE  111 , and a server  112 . 
         [0129]    The ACS is configured to: send a request for setting up a CWMP session to the CPE, receive a request response message sent from the CPE, set up a CWMP session with the CPE, and send a command to the CPE to request the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to the server. 
         [0130]    The CPE is configured to: receive a request for setting up a CWMP session from the ACS, send a request response message to the ACS, set up a CWMP session with the ACS, receive a command sent from the ACS requesting the CPE to upload CPE function configuration information to a server, and upload the CPE function configuration information stored in the CPE to the server. 
         [0131]    The server is configured to receive and store the CPE function configuration information uploaded by the CPE. 
         [0132]    In the preceding embodiments of the present invention, the ACS is further configured to acquire CPE function configuration information from the server and configure the CPE according to the acquired CPE function configuration information. 
         [0133]    Detailed introduction is given to a method, apparatus, and system for acquiring CPE function configuration information in embodiments of the present invention. Specific examples are given to describe principles and implementation of the present invention. The embodiments are intended to help the understanding of the methods and core ideas of the present invention, and not intended to limit the present invention. It is apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.