Use case driven integration of TMN interface specification and application design

This paper presents results from the EURESCOM project P414-TMN (telecommunications management network) Guidelines. A case study within the VPN (virtual private network) problem domain has been executed with the aim to provide the basis for TMN application development guidelines, which enhance the efficiency of developers performing both specification activity and design activity, by minimising the conceptual and notational differences inherent in the two types of activity today. The case study used a use case approach to fill the "gap" between functional-based TMN service requirements specification, object-oriented analysis and design methodologies, and the emerging (object-oriented) implementation techniques and platforms. This paper presents the proposed use case approach (originally taken from Objectory) and reports our experiences from applying an object-oriented method (OMT, object modelling technique) to TMN application development. The paper also provides guidelines for how to find a smooth path from a TMN interface specification to an application supporting the interface.