Patent ID: 7747714

Claim:
A method for managing a communication network having a device on a first management level, a device on a second management level and a device on a third management level, comprising: using functional object classes for the communication between the device on the first management level and the device on the second management level; using hardware-oriented object classes for the communication between the device on the second management level and the device on the third management level; and transmitting, from the device on the first management level to the device on the second management level, a message requesting a hardware test of the device on the third management level; after said transmitting of the message, transmitting from the device on the second management level to the device on the first management level, a message providing hardware-related information about a condition of the device on the third management level; and checking a condition of the device on the third management level in response to said transmitting of the message.