Processor controlled system and method for operating a processor controlled system

0001The invention relates to a method for operating a processor-controlled Systems according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular a Network management system, and a processor-controlled system as claimed in the preamble of claim fifth

0002Systems of one or more for many applications Processors controlled by this one a control program such as execute operating system. For the control program is often a building selected from a plurality of hierarchical layers arranged program, each program layer provides various services and at least a part of the service of a higher layer to a lower services Program builds layer. Especially for network management systems use of multi-layer construction.

0003In the article "Management of SDH network elements: an application information modeling, "MP Bosse et al., Electrical Intelligence Q4 1993 S.329-338, is to build a Control program for a network management system of a synchronous digital communications system for SDH described. The Control program consists of different, hierarchically structured Program layers. These program layers include a network layer and an element layer. In the article it is also mentioned that the Network management system database functions has. The Communication between program layers via a defined as Q3 designated interface.

0004According to the article "Technology of SDH network elements: Software Platform "by S. Colombo et al., Electrical Communication. 4 Quarter of 1993, S.322-328, the element layer is also an after multilayer structure structured control program: In a first Program layer, the network element functions in the form of managed Objects settled. This program builds on layer functions from the program layer designated as a virtual hardware module offer. Among them is the on-board controller software, which ultimately accesses the SDH hardware. The first Program layer has a permanent memory for storing Configuration parameters (managed objects) in an as Persistency designated database.

0005With the stated multilayer structure is a communications required between adjacent layers program: Higher Program layer must demands on a lower program layer forward, the lower layer must program a confirmation of the Execution of the request, and optionally a result return. Usually waits a higher program layer to the Confirmation and the lower layer program sends the acknowledgment only After successful execution of the request.

0006In this procedure, there is the difficulty that, in a multilayer structure, the entire system may be blocked when a higher program layer for an acknowledgment from a lower Program layer waits the lower program layer but just is busy and for processing the higher of the program layer received request is not coming. The throughput through such Multilayer control program is therefore by the Working speed slowest layer limits. Also a decoupling of Program layers by queues here brings no fundamental Improvement since queues can overflow, eg if one of Program layer due to an error that occurred.

0007The object of the invention is to provide a method for operating a processor-controlled system, especially a Network management system, and a processor-controlled system indicate in which blocking due to a busy or failed program layer can not occur.

0008The object is in terms of the process achieved by the features of claim 1 and in terms of the system by the features Claim 5. Advantageous embodiments are the dependent refer claims.

0009An advantage of the invention is that the availability and the Ruggedness and survivability in the event of a failure of a System of the invention is improved.

0010A further advantage is that the performance of the invention System is improved, since a plurality of requests in a are combined program layer and edited together can. In addition, the flow rate through the individual Program layers not on the processing speed of the slowest program layer is limited.

0011As a further advantage turns out that the system of the invention also with total loss of a middle or lower program layer at least remains toward operated externally. As a special case of a total failure is here shall state that a part of the system is turned off or not connected. The invention thus enables a transparent Off-line configuration of inventive systems.

0012A preferred application of the invention lies in the field of Network management as a network management system of a Telecommunications network or as a controller Network element of a telecommunications network.

0013The invention will in the following with reference to Figures 1 to 3 in a described exemplary embodiment. It shows:<dl tsize="7" compact="compact"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>the schematic structure of a system according to the invention,</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>data flow through a layer of a program System of the invention and</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>a flow chart of the inventive method.</dd></dl>

0014To individual program layers of a control program in the time to entkopeln flow is achieved according to an asynchronous approach selected. Here is a basic idea of ​​the invention is a Request initially in a higher program layer locally edit and return a confirmation and the request then at a lower program layer for further processing forward. The statement of confirmation obtained by the character a promise to ensure the execution of the request. You therefore no longer have the significance that the request was processed successfully, but confirms the receipt of Requirement and promises to work through them. Through these measures, is an effective, complete decoupling of program layers reached.

0015A user receives according to the invention to a request to confirm an "OK" back before the request was actually executed. It is particularly advantageous if the request in a current Program layer is checked logically and semantically. Then ensures that the request is executable, and at least in principle the confirmation will then offer an assurance of implementation.

0016Thus a local processing of the request can be carried out, have the program layers its own memory, in which the stored current configuration parameters of each layer and are secured. Under configuration parameters are in this Context event and status data of the respective understood program layer. The storage of program layers logically separate memory, but physically in the same Memory device, such as a RAM, an EEPROM, a Hard drive or other media, may be included. Preferably, the memory is structured into a database in which the Configuration parameters are stored. The control program can also be a complex control software from a plurality of program modules exists, which as a distributed application on different processors be executed.

0017In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the inventive system SYS of four program layers LAYER1 up Layer4. The program layers each have a database DB1 to DB4. In the database configuration parameters are the associated program stored layer. An access to the system SYS expires so that a request REQ to the highest program layer Layer4 is passed. There occurs a local processing of Requirements REQ by affected by the requirement Configuration parameters in the database according to the DB4 Requirements are updated. Once this is done, then, in response to the request REQ confirmation CONF returned.

0018If a processing of the request REQ in the next lower Program layer LAYER3 required, the requirement now is to Program layer LAYER3 forwarded. There happen again same Steps: Local processing of requests by the affected Configuration parameters in the database DB3 are updated, and then send back an acknowledgment.

0019The forwarding to the respective next lower program layer is repeated until the lowest to the execution of the request necessary program layer is reached.

0020Using the example of a network management system that is easy to understand: The program is a layer Layer4 user layer in a central Network management equipment. The next lower program layer LAYER3 is called MIB (<i>Management Information Base</i>, as in ITU-T X.720 standardized) together with a software framework (Framework) in a control device of a network element, For example, a digital cross-connects. The next turn lower program layer LAYER2 is a virtual hardware module VHM, which performs the reaction between the MIB and the hardware. The lowermost layer program LAYER1 the firmware on the up individual circuit boards (boards) of the cross-connect is and the so-called on-board controller (OBC) controls.

0021The request of a user, a certain connection parameters to alter an existing connection, must by all four Program layers are processed to perform the request. Conversely, a request, a connection parameter a existing connection to read this first of the second or the Program layer are met, depending on the type of the parameter.

0022A particular advantage of the invention is that multiple requests in be summarized a program layer and edited together can. For example, if the top layer multiple program receive requests, which directly all a certain parameter or want to change indirectly, so is in the uppermost layer program In fact, the particular parameters several times in succession to a new value set. However, this is done only locally. When forwarding , the plurality of requirements are combined into a single be such that in the underlying layers jeweil only a must be carried out only change that parameter. This Procedure is particularly in the case of off-line configuration of the System of the invention advantageously, so if the bottom Program layers are unavailable. In this case, all made changes to the local database in order to Start-up of the whole system which was carried out by the off-line configuration necessary changes in a single request to the lower layers program forward.

0023Event reports can follow-up actions to the next lower layer trigger. This results as a further advantage of the invention that a Required to complete the follow-up action to the next lower Layer may be sent, even if the next higher layer to the event report is to be forwarded, this event reports currently can not process or accept. Several Event reports can be summarized as the higher Program layer to which they are forwarded, a long time can not accept any reports. This is only the current state passed. Events are so processed locally and summarized in forwarding if possible. It is about This is adaptive event suppression.

0024In Figure 2, the data flow is shown schematically in a program layer. The program layer LAYERS receives requests REQ from the the next higher channel layer, satisfies the request locally and responds by sending back a confirmation CONF. Thereafter, the Request REQ sent to the next lower program layer. In the opposite direction the program layer LAYERS of receiving the next lower channel layer event reports EVE (English: event reports). Certain events may require follow-up actions, so that in the program layer LAYERS processing of the event report in the Form is carried out that a request REQ to the underlying layer program is sent, the follow-up action perform. Due to the event reports will if necessary also the internal database updated. Then, the event report is to EVE the overlying layer program passed.

0025In Figure 3 is a flowchart of the method according to the invention ready. The method includes the steps of:<dl tsize="11" compact="compact"><dt>Step S1:</dt><dd>The system is accessed by a request to the highest layer program is sent. The highest Program layer is characterized for current program layer.</dd><dt>Step S2:</dt><dd>The request is in the current program layer executed.</dd><dt>Step S3:</dt><dd>The configuration data in the memory, preferably the Database are changed according to the requirement.</dd><dt>Step S4:</dt><dd>It is returned in response confirmation.</dd><dt>Step S5:</dt><dd>If the lowest required for execution of the request Program layer is not yet reached, the request for further processing to the next lower Program layer forwarded. The next lower Program layer thus becomes the current program layer. Then, steps S2 to S5 are repeated.</dd></dl>

0026As current program layer is in this context always the Program layer called that satisfies the request locally known.