On management of CATV full service networks: a European perspective

The CATV network operators hope to offer digital services and evolve their networks to full service networks. There are many hurdles for them at the moment in the transition to a digital network and digital service offering from the current analog-based technology. Key to the success of the transition will be a well-integrated and capable management system to allow CATV operators and service providers to control the network as well as the services they will offer. The CATV operators need to agree on a common data communication infrastructure and plan how their new digital services will be offered to subscribers without disrupting the current customer base of analog service users. The choice of network technology and data communication protocols will have a strong influence on the network management technology chosen. A vital element for the provision of a common open communication architecture as well as for the purposes of network management is that the IP is used. The adoption of existing standards is vital in order to establish a fast route to open network management for CATV networks. It is possible that CATV operators and service providers will have to integrate existing SNMP management systems and TMN/OSI management, with newer integrated service management systems based on TINA and implemented on a CORBA platform. There is a strong need to address security issues before any of these technologies can be deployed for service. There is currently investment (deployed systems and research) which uses each of the technologies mentioned, so these technologies will need to coexist. This article highlights the differences between the North American and European network architectures, and outlines the European network and network management scenario. This is based on the authors involvement in a Pan-European CATV project, Integrated Broadband Communication over Broadcast Networks-IBCoBN     

Evolution of TMN network object models for broadband management

Telecommunications management network (TMN)-based object models need to satisfy the three objectives of interoperability, integration, and flexibility in order to support rapid provision of future broadband services. While current models are focused on interoperability, it is necessary to consider new techniques to deliver the integration and flexibility capabilities required for these services. The Open Distributed Processing Reference Model (RM-ODP), coupled with CORBA technology, has been proposed as a distributed environment to provide the integration and flexibility capabilities lacking in existing protocols. Existing protocols will continue to be widely used for broadband management interfaces as the distributed environment evolves. The challenge is to maximize the benefits of the distributed environment without compromising the benefits already delivered by the existing protocols. A multiplicity of models has been developed to differing requirements and using differing methodologies. Although there is much commonality between these models, a final stage of convergence is needed to produce a unified network model. There are outstanding issues for definition of management services, resource models, and at the computational level, which need to be resolved for successful evolution to distributed systems. However, a partnership between formal standards bodies and other organizations and consortia which exploits their complementary strengths will ensure that distributed network management of the TMN will become a reality     

TMN and new network architectures

The impact of telecommunication management network (TMN) concepts when applied to the management of newly emerging network architectures is illustrated using the example of intelligent networks (INs). An in-depth comparison of TMN and IN architectural aspects leads to a number of conclusions showing a significant degree of commonality between the two networks. The IN is analyzed as a telecommunication network architecture aimed at reducing service creation and modification development costs and delays. This approach unifies the processing techniques for a number of highly diversified network services. Similarly, the TMN, which covers a wide range of management resources organized into a unique architecture, tends to unify operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) for complex and evolving communication networks, despite their highly diverse network components     

Beyond IN and UPT-a personal communications support system based onTMN concepts

The vision for future telecommunications is often described by the slogan “information at any time, at any place, in any form”, driven by both society's increasing demand for “universal connectivity” and the technological progress in the area of mobile computing and personal communications. In order to realize this vision, the emerging concept of personal communications support (PCS), which includes support for personal mobility, service personalization, and advanced service interoperability, is becoming increasingly important since it allows users to configure their communications environment in accordance with their individual needs, thereby providing them with controlled access to telecommunication services, regardless of their current location, terminal and network capabilities. This paper provides an overview of a personal communications support system (PCSS). The PCSS represents a platform providing advanced PCS capabilities in a uniform way to numerous communication applications in distributed multimedia environments. From a functional perspective, the PCSS provides enhanced intelligent network (IN) and universal personal telecommunication (UPT) capabilities with respect to user addressing (based on logical names instead of numbers) and advanced user control capabilities. From a design perspective, the centralistic IN/UPT approach to the realization of service logic has been replaced by a highly distributable, object-oriented approach based on X.500/X.700/telecommunications management network (TMN) concepts. This paper addresses the basic aspects of the PCSS, including design criteria, system architecture, supported applications, and evolution issues     

Telecommunications management network: vision vs. reality

Since the early 1980s, the standards bodies have been specifying the telecommunications management network (TMN) principles. Millions of dollars have been spent. The TMN principles aim at being applicable across telecommunications technologies. They recommend the use of independent management networks to manage telecommunications networks, elements in the telecommunications networks (managed networks), and managing systems (in managing networks), communicating via well defined, standardized interfaces. The standards bodies envisioned TMN as a possible solution to the complex problem of telecommunications networks and services operation, administration, maintenance and provisioning (OAM and P) in the open, multivendor environment. However, the vision stumbles against the reality. Various factors still hinder the implementation of TMN-based OAM and P systems. The present article provides a tutorial on TMN by contrasting the vision and the reality     

Implementing OSI agent/managers for TMN

The telecommunications management network (TMN) architecture defines a framework for the management of telecommunications networks and services. It is based on a set of TMN standards developed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU-T), and is finding increased interest in the telecommunications industry, where rapid development of services and open architectures are in demand. Open systems interconnection (OSI) agent/managers as defined by the OSI systems management standards play a major role in the TMN architecture. However, the complexity of these standards, make the implementation of agent/managers and thus TMN systems a challenging task; methodologies and tools to ease the task of building agent/managers are needed. This article discusses the key difficulties in building OSI agent/managers and presents an architecture and a toolkit that can overcome them. The toolkit automates the generation of code that conforms to TMN and OSI standards, allowing the implementor to focus on the implementation of agent and manager specific components using the facilities provided by the toolkit     

CORBA for network and service management in the TINA framework

The Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) specification defines interfaces and services to support interoperability and distribution transparencies for building distributed applications. The Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture (TINA) defines a framework for development of service and network management applications which relies on the use of a distributed processing platform such as CORBA. This approach is presented in the article, which discusses also the interoperation with the current TMN infrastructure     

TMN-based broadband ATM network management

ATM has rapidly transitioned from a standards and prototyping concept to become the next-generation switching technology used in products available on the market. With the rapid introduction of ATM switches into networks, there is an urgent need to manage them. The article discusses the telecommunication management network (TMN) interfaces being defined for management systems to communicate with ATM network elements (NEs) and other management systems. ATM management systems will have to communicate with ATM NEs in their jurisdiction using TMN interfaces. Networks will usually contain equipment from different suppliers. Thus, it is vital that there be standard management interfaces so that these different NEs can be managed. Some standard interfaces for ATM networks are defined, while others are being defined. The status of these interfaces is reviewed in the article. Communication between different networks is also needed, both between public networks and between public and private networks. Management personnel of one network need to exchange information with other networks for certain functions (e.g., initial service provisioning), and so management systems of different networks will exchange information through a combination of mechanized and manual interfaces. The status of these interfaces is also reviewed in the article     

Telecommunications management network (TMN) architecture andinterworking designs

The authors discuss data communications networks (DCNs) used by operating telephone companies to interconnect large numbers of telecommunications network elements with operations systems and workstations to support and manage telecommunications networks, referred to by the international telegraph and telephone consultative committee (CCITT) as a telecommunications management network (TMN). The TMNs can include different types of DCNs such as private lines, circuit-switched networks, packet-switched networks, and integrated services digital networks (ISDNs). These can be divided into two classes: connection-mode and connectionless-mode networks. The authors briefly consider TMN concepts and implementation architectures. They then focus on TMN internetworking design alternatives, issues, and protocol stacks, in order to provide data network designers and implementors with the necessary fundamentals in considering and choosing interworking solutions for TMN applications     

电信管理网

阐述了TMN的概念、管理功能和管理业务其及体系结构,并介绍了以我国TMN技术和标准为基础的综合电信管理网的建设情况。认为传统的电信管理网络已不适应现代电信网的管理要求,而由国际电信联盟——电信部(ITU-T)提出的,具有标准协议、接口和结构的电信管理网(TMN)将成为未来电信网管理的基础。     

Inter-operator OSS Interface for Delivering Pan-European ATM VP Service

The provision of ATM virtual paths across multiple network domains requires interaction between the operational support systems (OSS) used by the different network operators to manage those networks. This paper describes the interfaces needed between such OSS to support performance and accounting management. It also describes an approach to ensuring those interfaces are secure. The results may be suitable for operational deployment and applicable with further development for other ATM services such as virtual circuits and switched services.     

基于TR-069协议的家庭网络设备远程管理的研究

家庭网络承载着众多的电信业务,为保证电信业务端到端的服务质量,运营商要对端到端通信的终端设备进行协调统一管理.结合无源光网络EPON和TR-069管理体系协议,论述一种基于该协议的家庭网络设备的远程管理方法,研究表明TR-069协议相比于传统的SNMP协议减少了运维成本,在广域网的管理协议中具有更大的发展前景.     

智能网的管理及其与TMN的关系

智能网是８０年代中期出现的一种新型网络，因其能够快速灵活的在网络中引入新业务而得以迅速发展，并成为未来电信网的方向。电网管理网作为现代电信网的有效管理手段，必须对智能网的发展产生巨大影响，而智能网的发展也将使ＴＭＮ的管理功能更加完善。本文将首先介绍智能网的管理要求，然后从网络管理的角度探讨其与ＴＭＮ的相互关系。     

An approach to the cooperative management of multitechnologynetworks

This article presents a TMN-compliant X interface, the so-called Xcoop interface, as a fundamental component of an operations system developed to cope with the challenges of multidomain, multitechnology networks. Defined at the network level, between operations systems of different TMN domains, it is intended as a support for the management of broadband connectivity services with end-to-end QoS and scheduling constraints in backbones operated by many network operators. The key feature of the present approach, distinguishing it from other existing Xcoop solutions, is in handling the integrated ATM and SDH technologies, covering both the configuration management and fault management functional areas     

A QoS-Aware Joint Power and Subchannel Allocation Algorithm for Mobile Network Virtualization

Mobile network virtualization is a promising technology due to its flexibility and feasibility. Since it enables physical resources abstraction and sharing, the overall resource inefficiency can be reduced dramatically. By means of virtualization, mobile service providers can share their physical resources with multiple virtual network operators. In this paper, a joint power and subchannel allocation algorithm for mobile network virtualization (MNV) with quality of services support is proposed. It presents a resource allocation scheme for orthogonal frequency division multiple access-based MNV with multiple virtual network operators. An optimal solution is provided to maximize the total data rate of both infrastructure providers and virtual network operators. Numerical results have shown that the proposed resource allocation algorithm improves the overall performance.

     

ATM in MPLS-based converged core data networks

Services supported by asynchronous transfer mode account for the majority of data and Internet service revenues generated by carrier networks today. This is based on ATM's ability to support high availability services with quality of service. However, the influences of the Internet and a highly dynamic telecommunications market have raised demands for increased flexibility while controlling costs. Therefore, future carrier networks are likely to continue to be based on established technologies, such as ATM, as well as IP. In many cases, this is achieved through maintaining separate ATM and IP core networks, with the IP network supporting Internet services, while the ATM network continues to support guaranteed services such as private lines, broadband access, and video. In some cases, however, it can be advantageous for a carrier to transport segments of their ATM network over their IP network core; for example, to transport ATM traffic currently carried on leased facilities onto an IP network where the service provider owns the facilities. Developments in IP and MPLS-based traffic engineering and QoS may increase the ability of IP-based networks to support ATM services using MPLS. This article provides an overview of approaches enabling a network based on MPLS that naturally supports IP services to also support ATM services. The drivers and requirements for convergence on an IP/MPLS core network are presented, followed by an overview of the different approaches and associated challenges currently being debated in the standards bodies.     

Application of control plane technology to dynamic configurationmanagement

The distinction between switched and leased line services is beginning to disappear. Many network operators and suppliers are developing control plane technology for application in transport networks. This will allow faster service provisioning, particularly between network operators, and the creation of new network services. However, such systems will still require comprehensive management systems, and successful operators and vendors of the future will be those that are capable of developing operational support systems that complement the control plane with service management capabilities, automated plan and build processes, inventory management, and capacity planning. This article examines the distribution of functionality between the management and central planes for support of soft permanent and switched connections     

Use of policy management to achieve flexibility in the delivery of network-centric ICT solutions

Network-centric ICT solutions present significant challenges for telecommunications operators. Enterprise-scale customers want joined-up IT functionality combined with increased flexibility, improved control and predictable performance. However, ICT is much too dynamic and complex to deliver and support efficiently using current service management methods. To fully deliver against the vision, changes need to be made to the models that underpin the use of the technology. This paper explores the role that policy-based management has to play within an integrated IT and communications infrastructure. It argues that profitable ICT deployment and management will be dependent on policy-driven business systems that provide extensive automation and flexibility, providing a unified means of managing services to meet the needs of the user. To assess the practical benefits, details are also presented of a proof-of-concept demonstrator employing policy-based ICT service management within the context of on-demand IP-VPN access.     

Policy-based model-driven engineering of pervasive services and the associated OSS

This paper presents our work towards a fully functioning platform for pervasive service engineering in an operational support services (OSS) context for an ICT service provider. The focus of the paper lies in a proof-of-concept for a novel means to develop and execute pervasive services, with simplicity and maintainability as prime drivers. The essence of this approach is the novel integration of the policy-based management (PBM) techniques and the model-driven architecture (MDA) techniques for specifying pervasive services and their behaviour, together with auto-generation of middleware implementation and policy enablement. The presence of policies provides pervasive services with the high flexibility and adaptability needed for dealing with changing environments and resource availabilities, while the introduction of MDA for defining pervasive service information models fundamentally solves the information modelling puzzle of current policy-based approaches. Additionally, MDA’s middleware-neutral feature benefits the smooth evolution of pervasive services as a piece of software artefact in the face of heterogeneous devices and platforms. A preliminary case study has demonstrated the practical feasibility and benefits of this approach. The case study revolves around an ICT service called TEANU — transparent enterprise access for nomadic user. The service provides a means for nomadic users to maintain a secure access to their enterprise network in the presence of multiple access network providers with different service level guarantees.