Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The present invention provides a management system and method for a telecommunications system, the telecommunications system having a plurality of objects representing elements of the telecommunications system and/or operations that may be applied to those elements. The management system comprises a management controller connectable to an item of telecommunications equipment of the telecommunications system for passing messages over a communications link between the management controller and a management element of the telecommunications system to invoke management operations. Further, the management system comprises means for defining a number of messages which may be generated by the management controller or the management element for passing over the communications link, each message being arranged to include one or more information elements. At least one of the messages is arranged to identify one of said objects as an information element and to cause different management operations to be invoked dependent on the object identified. By this approach, a separate message is not required for each management operation, and instead particular management operations can be invoked by virtue of the object specified within a particular message. This enables a simple generic interface to be provided between the management system and the telecommunications system that is independent of the particular management functions that need to be performed on any particular telecommunications system. Hence, this enables the management system to be readily reused with different telecommunications systems without the requirement to alter the message interface between the management system and the telecommunications system.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim