A proposal on design scheme of TMN NEML management application framework for ATM switching systems

The TMN concept is the most common idea for implementing integrated network management system (INMS). TMN specifications provide a framework for telecommunication management through generic managed object models and the standard interfaces. So, it is possible to operate heterogeneous networks and NEs through TMN consistently. But, it is not easy to implement and adapt the TMN concept to real telecommunication management fields. All of the managed targets are redesigned as managed objects(MO), and the MOs also should be extended for just fit to real management resources. Furthermore, some management application components should be designed as supported MOs to support the management functions. We have to handle the MOs in association with UNIX processes/threads, and CMIP, ACSE, ROSE and communication infra protocols (e.g. ATM, TCP/IP, X.25, etc). Before everything else, the most important thing that we have to develop is to organize them into an integrally operable management application framework (MAFW). All of TMN management scenarios are implemented with management application functions (MAF), and should be comprised in the MAFWs. In this paper, we propose the functional role-based layered API architecture for the construction of the MAFWs. The MAFW is to support the extensible and adaptable management service environments. To ensure the extensibility and the adaptability, we design the MAFW as a task oriented layered API architecture. This architecture allows the distributed processing capability to several workstations and even scattered administration sites. The conceptual strategy proposed in this paper might be a basic methodology to adapt any managed targets into TMN infrastructure or any integrated network management domain for developers or engineers.