Patent ID: 7664051

Claim:
A method for implementing a virtual Network Element (NE) implemented by a network management system of an optical network, comprising: constructing and storing virtual NE type definition information in the network management system, each type of which includes type parameters of an actual NE of the same type; constructing and storing virtual board type definition information in the network management system, each type of which includes type parameters of an actual board of the same type; deciding the type of a virtual NE to be constructed; reading the corresponding virtual NE type definition information; constructing, in a data area of a management object, a virtual NE entity, which has property information of an actual NE; deciding the type of a virtual board to be constructed; reading the corresponding virtual board type definition information; constructing, in a designated slot of the constructed virtual NE entity, a virtual board entity which has property information of an actual board; configuring service information and protection information for the constructed virtual NE entity; and implementing a virtual NE device maintenance and a service allocation in the network management system by simulating the management features of an actual NE device.