Abstract:
A software-based technology framework for supervising and supporting a combined wireless and satellite communications network requires a two-way communication capability that is operated by a network manager in a supervising system. In particular, this requires the monitoring of a communication network by the network manager, which receives operational information from operative components in the communications network that is pertinent to state/status, performance, and fault reporting aspects of the components. The operational information is then correlated and analyzed at the network manager to generate support information, which pertains to administration, configuration, provisioning and troubleshooting instructions for operative components of the communication network. The support information is then disseminated by the network manager to the appropriate operative component.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains generally to systems that supervise and support the operation of satellite and wireless communication networks. More particularly, the present invention pertains to supervising systems that provide operational oversight for communication networks that may include a satellite communication link, which provides a transport for information flows between the supervising system and the communication network. The present invention is particularly, but not necessarily, useful as a software-based technology framework for providing information that is needed to maintain the operational integrity and viability of individual or combined satellite and wireless communication networks. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are at least two essential operating requirements for any communication network. For one, each operational component of the network must be effectively incorporated into the network. There is then the further requirement to monitor and maintain the overall operational integrity of the network, as well as the viability of each constituent component in the network. 
         [0003]    With the above in mind, it will be appreciated that for a global communication network to be truly effective, on either a local or global scale, it should be continuously monitored and operationally evaluated. This necessarily requires a two-way transfer of information through the entire network. In one direction, this involves the transfer of operational information from each individual operating component in a communication network to a network manager in a supervising system. Based on the operational information, support information can then be generated by the supervising system. The support information is then provided by the network manager for dissemination in the other direction for use in the support and maintenance of the communication network. 
         [0004]    For purposes of the present invention, the following functional descriptions are presented for disclosure and reference purposes.
       “Supervising System” means a universal software-based technology framework that provides an oversight capability for monitoring the state/status and performance characteristics of individual components in a communication network. The supervising system also provides reports for use in coordinating the configuration and replacement or corrective changes that are necessary to maintain the operational integrity and viability of a communication network. A coordinated operation of the supervising system is conducted by a network manager.   “Communication Network” means any combination of software and/or hardware components that together provide a communication capability between a myriad of dispersed and distributed hosts (e.g., terminals and servers). In general, communication networks include components such as antennas, modems, navigation units, sensors, and electronic machines that are interconnected with a host for diverse data management and/or data transmission requirements.   “Operational Information” means data that pertains to the operational state/status and performance capability of a network component. This also includes fault reporting on a component&#39;s operational capability. In use, operational information is transmitted from hosts in a communication network to the network manager in the supervising system.   “Support Information” means data pertaining to configuration replacement and corrective changes for implementation by components in a communication network. Support information is based on operational information, and is provided by the supervising system directly to hosts and their connected components in the communication network(s). More specifically, support information is based on operational information from the communication network(s), and results from the correlation and analysis of data in the operational information. In general, support information pertains to administration, configuration, provisioning and troubleshooting issues that affect components of a communication network.       
 
         [0009]    In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a software-based supervising system for supporting a combined wireless and satellite communication network. Another object of the present invention is to provide a software-based supervising system for supporting a combined wireless and satellite communications network that effectively provides both operational oversight and management functions using a two-way information flow between the supervising system and a communication network. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring and fault diagnostic capability for a global communications network, which may include a satellite link. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for employing a software-based technology framework to manage and oversee a combined wireless and satellite communication network that is easy to maintain, is simple to operate, and is cost effective. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are provided for using a software-based technology framework (i.e. supervising system) to oversee and manage a combined wireless and satellite communication network. For the present invention this requires a two-way information flow between the supervising system and the communication network. In particular, this two-way information flow employs a network manager in the supervising system to monitor all of the operative components in the communication network by receiving operational information from these components. The supervising system then correlates and analyzes the operational information (i.e. data) to generate support information that will be sent to appropriate components in the communication network(s). In some instances, this dissemination of support information may preferably be made via a satellite or wireless link. 
         [0011]    Within the context of the present invention, the operational information that is provided to the supervising system for correlation and analysis comes from individual operative components of a communication network. In general, this information will include information that is currently relevant to the state/status, performance, and fault reporting condition of the particular component, as well as its cooperation with other components. In particular, the operational information selectively pertains to functional aspects of components and subsystems in the communication network that can affect the overall configuration and/or operability of the network. Of interest here are such aspects as the operability of Global Positioning System (GPS) subsystems, navigation subsystem components, component operation, software upgrades, the efficiency of statistical data collection and overall network configuration, as well as system startup and recovery. 
         [0012]    As noted above, the support information that is disseminated from the supervising system to the operating components of the communication network will generally include information pertaining to administration, configuration, provisioning and troubleshooting. For example, the support information may include directives for performing administrative tasks, details for establishing system component configurations, instructions for provisioning the system, and suggestions for troubleshooting. 
         [0013]    As envisioned for the present invention, the interactive functional entities of a supervising system and a communication network include a network manager in the supervising system, and a plurality of platform servers that connects the network manager with individual service platforms in the communication network. In this combination, the network manager performs the general function of managing and supervising components in the communication network(s). This is done through the platform servers and the various service platforms. For this purpose, the network manager has a centralized master database that contains information that is pertinent to a comprehensive overall centric view of the communication network(s). On the other hand, each platform server provides a so-called partition view of a predefined portion of the communication network. Within this partition view, each platform server can be interconnected with a plurality of service platforms and, in turn, each service platform can be connected with at least one peripheral and serve as a terminal. In this context, each service platform is concerned with its own remote view of the operating network. Specifically, this includes only the management and operation of itself and its connected peripherals. As envisioned for the present invention, a satellite can be used to provide a communication link between each of the platform servers and a respective plurality of predetermined service platforms in the communication network, if required. The satellite link can also be used for communication between different service platforms. 
         [0014]    The flexibility and universality of the present invention are underscored by the adaptability of the supervising system. In particular, the supervising system of the present invention is based on an open standards technology that is compatible with a plethora of different types and configurations of machine networks, for use in many different applications. Further, the supervising system provides an appropriate variety of Application Programming Interface (API) connections for integrating a communication network with the supervising system. With this last point in mind, it is to be appreciated that the present invention also envisions an integration of one supervising system with a plurality of different communication networks, or even with another supervising system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of information (data) flow in an operation of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic presentation of the cooperative interaction between functional components in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of the management plane and the operational plane representing component links in communication flow channels for the monitoring and management of a communication network; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a management framework for implementing and controlling communication flows in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a logic flow chart for a software-based technology framework that controls and governs a combined satellite and wireless communication network in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an operational overview of the present invention is provided to show the flow of information (data) between a supervising system  10  and a communication network  12 . As shown, the present invention requires the two-way transmission (flow) of information (data) between the supervising system  10  and the communication network  12 . In one direction, operational information  14  is provided from the communication network  12  to the supervising system  10 , and in the other direction, support information  15  is provided to components of the communication network  12 . In the context of the present invention, the operational information  14  and the support information  15  are interactive. With this in mind, as envisioned for the present invention a supervising system  10  is capable of supporting several communication networks  12 . Further, a supervising system  10  is also capable of supporting another supervising system  10 ′ (not shown). 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the cooperative interaction between a supervising system  10  and a communication network  12  is shown as a combination of hardware components. From a structural perspective, the supervising system  10  includes a network manager  16  that exercises overall management control of the communication network  12 . As interchangeably identified herein, the network manager  16  may in some contexts be referred to as a network management system (NMS). In either case, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the network manager  16  is connected directly to a platform server(s)  18 . For purposes of the present invention, the connection(s) between the network manager  16  and the platform server(s)  18  may be either by landline or they may be wireless. A satellite  20  is also envisioned as part of the communication network  12  for connecting each platform server  18 , via a satellite link  32  (see  FIG. 3 ), to a respective service platform(s)  22 . The use of a satellite link  32  is, however, optional. In either case, each service platform  22  then supports a specified peripheral(s)  24 . 
         [0023]    Within the combination of operational componentry set forth above, the network manager  16  of the supervising system  10  effectively provides an oversight function that monitors the entire communication network  12 . Thus, the supervising system  10  operationally extends from the network manager  16  (e.g. from a peripheral  26  at the network manager  16 : see  FIG. 3 ), to a peripheral  24  that is operating with a service platform  22 . On the other hand, insofar as the communication network  12  is concerned, with the exception of the network manager  16 , it is effectively coextensive with the supervising system  10 . The importance of this essentially coextensive overlap is based on the necessity for an interactive two-way flow of information at all points between the supervising system  10  and the communication network  12  as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , it is to be appreciated that the wireless section of the communication network  12  is represented by the cloud  28 . For purposes of the present invention, the cloud  28  represents the myriad of possible non-satellite communications links  30 , including land lines, that may be individually established between the network manager  16  and a selected one of the various platform servers  18 . To complete connections through the communication network  12 , the satellite  20  may be optionally employed to establish a satellite link  32  between a platform server  18  and a predetermined service platform  22 . Recall, each service platform  22  may then be connected with a plurality of peripherals  24 . Together, the plurality of communications links  30  and the plurality of respective satellite links  32  establish a communications flow channel  34  which is to be used by the network manager  16  for the management, monitoring and oversight function that are necessary for the operational viability of the communication network  12 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the communications flow channel  34  effectively establishes the required two-way communication that is necessary for the present invention. In detail, support information  15  is directed in the communications flow channel  34  from the network manager  16 . Specifically, the support information  15  is directed in the communication flow channel  34  to both platform servers  18  and their respective service platforms  22  with associated peripherals  24 . On the other hand, operational information  14  is directed in the communications flow channel  34  toward the network manager  16 . In this case, the operational information  14  is provided from both the platform servers  18  and the service platform(s)  22 . 
         [0026]    In general, support information  15  from the network manager  16  will include information pertaining to administration, configuration, provisioning and troubleshooting. Further, the support information  15  may include directives for performing administrative tasks, details for establishing system component configurations, instructions for provisioning the system, and suggestions for troubleshooting. In contrast, the operational information  14  that is sent to the network manager  16  will typically include information (i.e. data) pertaining to state/status, performance, and fault reporting respectively from the platform servers  18 , the service platform(s)  22 , and the peripherals  24 . In greater detail, this operational information  14  may selectively pertain to controls for managing any of the following: a Global Positioning System (GPS), navigation unit, system component operation, software upgrade, statistical data collection, network configuration, system startup and recovery. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 4 , a computer  40  is shown as a component of the network manager  16 . Functionally, the computer  40  receives operational information  14  from the service platform  22  and from the platform server  18 . The network manager  16  (i.e. computer  40 ) then incorporates this operational information  14  into a centralized master database. At the network manager  16 , the computer  40  then correlates and analyzes data in the operational information  14  to support and define a centric view for the communication network  12 . In particular, this centric view focuses on the operational capabilities of the entire communication network  12 . Further, using data from its centralized master database, the computer  40  of network manager  16  generates support information  15  for the various operational components in the communication network  12  (e.g. platform servers  18 , service platform(s)  22  and peripherals  24 ). This support information  15  is then selectively transmitted from the network manager  16  to a platform server  18  and, as appropriate, portions of the support information  15  are further transmitted from the platform server  18  to a service platform  22 , via the satellite  20 . Thus, the support information  15  is used for governing the network (supervising system)  10 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  also indicates that each platform server  18  includes a computer  42  that hosts configuration and provisioning information for the service platform  18 . The computer  42  is also used for collecting statistical data from the service platform(s)  22 . With these capabilities, the computer  42  essentially presents a partition view of the communication network  12  which focuses on maintaining effective communications between the network manager  16  and a predefined portion of the communication network  12 .  FIG. 4  also indicates that each of the service platform(s)  22  will include a computer  44  for retrieving configuration and provisioning information from the platform server  18 . The computer  44  is also used for reporting events and statistical data to the platform server  18 , and for connecting the service platform(s)  22  with a peripheral  24  in the operational information  14 . 
         [0029]    From the perspective of the network manager  16 , an operation of the supervising system  10  is to be appreciated by reference to the logic flow chart presented in  FIG. 5 . There it will be seen that the action block  46  indicates the first task of the network manager  16  is to inventory the communication network  12 . Specifically, this requires determining whether the operational components of the communication network  12  (e.g. platform servers  18 , service platform(s)  22  and peripherals  24 ) are properly accounted for. Inquiry block  48  oversees this determination. If a component is not accounted for, action block  50  indicates that a component needs to be properly provided or replaced. However, if the inventory is complete, action block  52  indicates that the communication network  12  needs to be appropriately configured. 
         [0030]    Inquiry block  54  indicates that if a configuration of the communication network  12  is not completed, appropriate corrective action needs to be taken (see action block  56 ). On the other hand, once a configuration of the communication network  12  has been completed, action block  58  indicates that the communication network  12  can be operationally activated. Once the communication network  12  is activated, and inquiry block  60  indicates that the communication network  12  is operable, the network manager  16  proceeds to continuously monitor the communication network  12  (see action block  62 ). Within this framework, the functional actions of taking inventory (block  46 ), establishing a network configuration (block  52 ), and monitoring the operation of the communication network  12  (block  62 ) are all essentially accomplished in response to support information  15  within the communication network  12 . 
         [0031]    During an operation of the communication network  12 , whenever a malfunction is somewhere identified (block  64 ), and an adjustment is required (see inquiry block  66 ), an appropriate adjustment is made (see action block  68 ). However, if an adjustment is not required, inquiry block  70  will then determine whether an augmentation of the communication network  12  is necessary. If so, a change order is made (see block  72 ) and either an appropriate component is provided (block  50 ) or a corrective action is taken (block  56 ). On the other hand, if an augmentation is not required, action block  74  indicates that either a repair or replacement of an operational component is required. Within this framework, the functional aspects of making an adjustment within the communication network  12  (block  68 ), implementing a change order (block  72 ), and repairing or replacing a defective component (block  74 ) are all essentially accomplished in response to support information  15  provided by the network manager  16 . 
         [0032]    While the particular software-based technology for use in monitoring and managing a communication network as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.