Patent ID: 7668943

Claim:
A method for synchronizing configuration data between an Element Management System (EMS) and a Network Element (NE), wherein the configuration data of the NE is divided into a plurality of layers such that different layers comprise different configuration data sets of minimum units, and wherein a minimum unit identifier word is provided for each layer to identify any changes to the configuration data in the layer, the method comprising: if the configuration data of the NE is changed, the NE changing the minimum unit identifier word of the layer corresponding to the changed configuration data; the EMS obtaining the changed minimum unit identifier word from the NE; and the EMS comparing the obtained minimum unit identifier word with a minimum unit identifier word stored in the EMS to determine which layer is associated with the changed configuration data; and the EMS synchronizing the changed configuration data of corresponding NE with the EMS; wherein the minimum unit identifier word comprises: a sequence number identifier word that identifies a minimum configuration unit item with a sequence number; a network management table identifier word that is a configuration word and comprises configuration tables of all the network management devices supported by the NE; a mixed identifier word; or any combination thereof; wherein the mixed identifier word comprises a configuration device identifier, a changing time identifier, a configuration item identifier, or any combination thereof.