Abstract: Measuring management in networks is difficult because the allocation of managerial resources in network structures is fluid—that is, the utilization of management behaviors varies across time and space within a given program or project As a means of focusing the network management research agenda, propositions based in contingency logic are suggested to test ideas regarding when, why, and how network managers undertake these behaviors The propositions are intended to identify the vast inventory of network management behaviors and, most importantly, determine how the manager strategically matches behaviors with the governing context Suggestions are also offered to help us understand how and why managerial resources are re allocated over time and space The proposed research agenda is offered as a guide to help us determine which choices are most likely to be effective

Abstract: We investigate the possible role of optical CDMA (O-CDMA) in future access networks. We begin with a short review of the O-CDMA technique for those unfamiliar with the technology. Next, we investigate in detail those characteristics of O-CDMA that make it an attractive technology for application in metro access networks: fairness, flexibility, simplified network control and management, service differentiation, and increased security. Although O-CDMA has many favorable attributes, it also has several actual or perceived drawbacks. We discuss the technical, economic, and perception barriers that may have limited the widescale deployment of O-CDMA access networks. We try to determine which of these drawbacks may be surmountable in the near future and which may be true "showstoppers".

Abstract: A network security system includes a system data store capable of storing a variety of data associated with an encrypted computer network and communications transmitted thereon, a communication interface supporting communication over a communication channel and a system processor. Data corresponding to communications transmitted over the encrypted communication network are received. One or more tests are applied to the received data to determine whether a particular communication represents a potential security violation. An alarm may be generated based upon the results of the applied test or tests.

Abstract: A method of managing a network of sensors in an energy aware manner includes the steps of clustering the sensors to minimize energy consumption, routing the network (step 44), modeling the energy available at each sensor (step 45), and re-routing the network (step 47) when the sensor battery level drops to a predetermined value, or when the energy model is adjusted because it deviates from a sensor's actual energy state.

Abstract: A heterogeneous network includes network related hardware and software products from a plurality of vendors The network includes a storage system configured to store data, a server configured to process requests, a switch coupling the storage system and the server for data communication, and a network manager including an event dictionary to interpret an event message received from a device experiencing failure

Abstract: This document defines managed objects which describe the behavior of a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) entity. This document obsoletes RFC 1907, Management Information Base for Version 2 of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMPv2).

Abstract: A new extended signaling and traffic engineering method for the GMPLS-based photonic and electrical multilayer router (Hikari router) is proposed. The method allows dynamic optical network management and photonic signal recovery, such as regeneration, reshaping, etc., to be realized adaptively. Wavelength conversion is also adaptive, which reduces network cost. Multilayer traffic engineering, which yields the dynamic cooperation of IP and photonic layers, is described to provide IP services cost effectively. To realize multilayer traffic engineering, we propose the OSPF extension, which advertises both the number of total wavelengths and the number of unused wavelengths, and the RSVP-TE extension, which minimizes the number of wavelength conversions needed. In addition, this paper proposes a heuristics-based multilayer topology design scheme that uses IP traffic measurements in a generalized multi-protocol label switch (GMPLS). The proposed scheme yields the optical label switch path (OLSP) network topology, that is, OLSP placement, that minimizes network cost, in response to fluctuations in IP traffic demand. In other words, the OLSP network topology is dynamically reconfigured to match IP traffic demand. Networks are reconfigured by the proposed scheme so as to utilize network resources in the most cost effective manner.

Abstract: Techniques for communicating data through a network so as to satisfy various Quality Of Service (“QOS”) levels are described. The QOS levels may be selected based on a determined type of the data or the data communication, such as by a network manager after the data communication is registered, and QOS communication parameters are selected for the data communication to ensure that the QOS levels are achieved. Other techniques may also be used to ensure that a selected QOS level is achieved, including selecting an appropriate path through the network, controlling other data communications that use some or all of the selected path, and/or enabling preemption of such other data communications. QOS levels that are actually achieved may also be monitored, and the QOS communication parameters and/or path for a data communication may be dynamically modified based on differences between actual achieved QOS levels and desired QOS levels.

Abstract: The typical duration of multimedia streams makes wireless network interface (WNIC) energy consumption a particularly acute problem for mobile clients. In this work, we explore ways to transmit data packets in a predictable fashion; allowing the clients to transition the WNIC to a lower power consuming sleepstate. First, we show the limitations of IEEE 802.11 power saving mode for isochronous multimedia streams. Without an understanding of the stream requirements, they do not offer any energy savings for multimedia streams over 56 kbps. The potential energy savings is also affected by multiple clients sharing the same access point. On the other hand, an application-specific server side traffic shaping mechanism can offer good energy saving for all the stream formats without any data loss. We show that the mechanism can save up to 83% of the energy required for receiving data. The technique offers similar savings for multiple clients sharing the same wireless access point. For high fidelity streams, media players react to these added delays by lowering the stream fidelity. We propose that future media players should offer configurable settings for recognizing such energy-aware packet delay mechanisms.

Abstract: A system (100) for intelligent caching and network management. The system (100) includes event and time information (102) representing a user's schedule, a location database (106) including information about destination devices (110) and capabilities of the destination devices (110), a predictor (104) which receives the event and time information (102) and the information and capabilities of the destination devices to predict a location of the user and/or resources needed at the location, such that the resources are transferred to the user at a location when and where the resources are needed. User preference profiles (108), which include user preference information, are further employed by the predictor (104) to predict a location of the user and/or resources needed at the location.

Abstract: We present ultrafast slotted optical time-division multiplexed networks as a viable means of implementing a highly capable next-generation all-optical packet-switched network. Such a network is capable of providing simple network management, the ability to support variable quality-of-service, self-routing of packets, scalability in the number of users, and the use of digital regeneration, buffering, and encryption. We review all-optical switch and Boolean logic gate implementations using an ultrafast nonlinear interferometers (UNIs) that are capable of stable, pattern-independent operation at speeds in excess of 100 Gb/s. We expand the capability provided by the UNI beyond switching and logic demonstrations to include system-level functions such as packet synchronization, address comparison, and rate conversion. We use these advanced all-optical signal processing capabilities to demonstrate a slotted OTDM multiaccess network testbed operating at 112.5 Gb/s line rates with inherent scalability in the number of users and system line rates. We also report on long-haul propagation of short optical pulses in fiber and all-optical 3R regeneration as a viable cost-effective means of extending the long-haul distance of our OTDM network to distances much greater than 100 km.

Abstract: A managed network device maintains running configuration information, and changes the information in response to configuration change requests from a network management system (NMS) at a first interface and configuration change requests received from outside the NMS at a second interface, which may include a command line interface and dial-up connection such as TELNET Configuration information for the device is maintained in a database in the NMS, and can become outdated due to the configuration change requests received at the second interface To update the information in the NMS database, the NMS sends an upload configuration request to the network device, which responds by transferring a configuration file containing the running configuration information to the NMS The NMS uses the contents of the uploaded configuration file to update the information in the NMS database The synchronization process can be initiated by a network management client in the NMS in response to input from a user, and can also be initiated via a trap message from the network device at power-up or upon insertion or removal of a circuit card The configuration file may have an extensible format, for example by using the Extensible Markup Language (XML)

Abstract: Broadband integrated services are performed via digital, channelized or optically coded networks by a system which organizes, interfaces, provisions, loads and controls, in real time, the transport of grouped or organized information (such as packetized cell data) through interface access devices and packet switches that are compliant with domestic and international communication standards. A packet core network includes multiple packet switches and interface access devices coupled to an existing narrowband or broadband network. A signaling manager, a provisioning manager and a traffic manager perform all broadband and narrowband routing, port provisioning and connecting functions for all network devices. A set of software interface modules for each equipment vendor allows the provisioning manager, the signaling manager and the traffic manager to impose control demands and make network management decisions on a real time basis via an application protocol interface. Bit error rate caused by the disparity between low speed (such as TDM) networks and high speed (such as OCR) networks is substantially reduced by synchronizing the overall network and all switching components to a primary reference clock that has an accuracy of 1×10 −11 second per month or better.

Abstract: Event correlation has become one of the most important techniques in today's network management, and there is a clear trend to extend its use to other application domains as well. Unfortunately, existing event correlation systems are often platform-dependent and heavyweight solutions that have complicated design, being therefore difficult to deploy and maintain, and requiring extensive user training. Their complexity and size makes them often unfeasible to apply for smaller networks and for smaller event correlation tasks. Also, some systems are cumbersome to use outside the domain of network fault management. In addition, commercial event correlation products tend to be quite expensive. In this paper the author presents a lightweight, open-source, and platform independent tool for rule-based event correlation called SEC (simple event correlator), and describes its application experience.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which provide for management of wireless communications through the development and use of link space information. Such link space information provides link-centric information with respect to wireless links of a network to thereby provide a view of the network which takes into account phenomena affecting the wireless links. Utilizing such link space information, automated management of various aspects of a wireless network may be provided, including automated provisioning, management, and/or optimization of network links. Network operations may include use of link space information in providing network management applications such as automatic fault management, automatic performance management, operation advisories, and/or the like.

Abstract: A network management software system monitors and displays performance and capacity information about networks and computers using computer graphics similar to weather maps one might see on television. High-resolution color graphics allow the display of thousands of pieces of performance on network information on one computer screen. This allows end users to view computer performance metrics such as processor utilization, disc capacity and application availability, in large network computing environments across thousand of network elements at a glance. Virtually any metric that can be determined from a network element may be displayed. Thus, performance information is collected and displayed to the end user in a color-coded graphical format that also depicts the network as opposed to the traditional tabular format. This eliminates the need for the end-user to “work” the application in an attempt to monitor performance.

Abstract: Networks are monitored in order to ensure that the system operates within desirable parameters. The increasing complexity of networks and services provided by them increases this need for monitoring. Monitoring consists of measuring properties of the network, and of inferring an aggregate predicate from these measurements. Conducting such monitoring introduces traffic overhead that may reduce the overall effective throughput. This paper studies ways to minimize the monitoring communication overhead in IP networks. We develop and analyze several monitoring algorithms that achieve significant reduction in the management overhead while maintaining the functionality. The main idea is to combine global polling with local event driven reporting. The amount of traffic saving depends on the statistical characterization of the monitored data. We indicate the specific statistical factors that affect the saving and show how to choose the right algorithm for the type, of monitored data. In particular, our results show that for Internet traffic our algorithms can save more than 90% of the monitoring traffic.

Abstract: The goal of this paper is to make the similarities and differences of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and Mobile Ad Hoc (MANET) networks clear Thus we want to show the synergetic potential hidden in these two decentralized and self organizing networks As well as both networks are established on a different physical layer, both networks hold similarities concerning their routing and network management principles The reason therefore is, that both of them have to solve a similar goal, namely to provide networking functionalities in a completely unmanaged and decentralized environment One of the most interesting tasks in these networks is thus how queries are guided through the network Therefore we concentrate in this work on the different routing algorithms employed in Peer-to-Peer and mobile ad hoc networks Finally, the similarities of both networks can be used, to bring up the synergetic effects of looking at both networks at the same time

Abstract: A network of contact centres is managed by a network management server which allows contact centres (which may be independently run from one another) to register over the Internet or an intranet. Contacts received at a contact centre which is overly busy can be transferred to a different contact centre based on a determination made by the network management unit as to the most suitable agent in the network of contact centres. The network management unit receives events messages from the various contact centres as events occur which impact on the availability of individual agents. In this way, a dynamically updated database at the network management unit can determine the most suitable agent to which a contact should be transferred. The system allows independent contact centres to act as part of a larger network of contact centres without reducing the ability of a given centre to receive and handle contacts independently of one another.

Abstract: Existing network management architectures suffer from a set of architectural and integration problems. Policy-based management was targeted to solve most of these problems, but its promises have not yet been fully realized. This paper presents a new approach to building network management solutions that is based on a new version of the DEN information model, called DEN-ng. DEN-ng is being designed to solve these problems by providing facilities to translate the business rules and procedures of an organization to the policies that configure and control its networks. Accordingly, the case is made for policy to become more than "just" a means for executing a change in a configuration file. Rather, it should be used to tie together configuration changes with how the changes should be done using a workflow system. This holistically binds business rules to the construction and deployment of configuration changes and their management.

Abstract: The existing telecommunications infrastructure in most of the world is adequate to deliver voice and text applications, but demand for broadband services such as streaming video and large file transfer (e.g., movies) is accelerating. The explosion in Internet use has created a huge demand for telecommunications capacity. However, this demand is extremely volatile, making network planning difficult. In this paper, modern financial option pricing methods are applied to the problem of network investment decision timing. In particular, we study the optimal decision problem of building new network capacity in the presence of stochastic demand for services. Adding new capacity requires a capital investment, which must be balanced by uncertain future revenues. We study the underlying risk factor in the bandwidth market and then apply real options theory to the upgrade decision problem. We notice that sometimes it is optimal to wait until the maximum capacity of a line is nearly reached before upgrading directly to the line with the highest known transmission rate (skipping the intermediate lines). It appears that past upgrade practice underestimates the conflicting effects of growth and volatility. This explains the current overcapacity in available bandwidth. To the best of our knowledge, this real options approach has not been used previously in the area of network capacity planning. Consequently, we believe that this methodology can offer insights for network management.

Abstract: A network management tool is programmed to automatically: discover printing devices on a network; record information about the discovered printing devices in a main device list; and organize at least a portion of the information from the main device list, into one or more secondary device lists based upon criteria that define each of the one or more secondary device lists

Abstract: Data mining techniques have been successfully applied in many different fields including marketing, manufacturing, process control, fraud detection, and network management. Over the past five years, a growing number of research projects have applied data mining to various problems in intrusion detection. This chapter surveys a representative cross section of these research efforts. Moreover, four characteristics of contemporary research are identified and discussed in a critical manner. Conclusions are drawn and directions for future research are suggested.

Abstract: For a IPCS network to effectively deliver services to its mobile users, it must have an efficient way to keep track of the mobile users. The location management fulfills this task through location registration and paging. To reduce the signaling traffic, many schemes such as a local anchor (LA) scheme, per-user caching scheme and pointer forwarding scheme have been proposed in the past. In this paper, we present a new location management scheme which intends to mitigate the signaling traffic as well as reduce the tracking delay in the PCS systems. In this strategy, we choose a set of visitor location registers (VLRs) traversed by users as the mobility agents (MA), which form another level of management in order to make some registration signaling traffic localized. The idea is as follows: instead of always updating to the home location register (HLR), which would become the bottleneck otherwise, many location updates are carried out in the mobility agents. Thus, the two-level pointer forwarding scheme is designed to reduce the signaling traffic: pointers can be set up between VLRs as the traditional pointer forwarding scheme and can also be set up between MAs. The numerical results show that this strategy can significantly reduce the network signaling traffic for users with low CMR without increasing much of the call setup delay.

Abstract: A method for provisioning a service request in a computer network, the method including a) determining a service path within a model of the computer network from a source device component within the model, the source device component corresponding to a first network device, to a destination device component within the model, the destination device component corresponding to a second network device, b) determining for each network device corresponding to device components along the service path the configuration operations required to provision the service request, and c) configuring each of the network devices.

Abstract: A unified policy-based network management method and system for enforcing QoS defined by policy rules at a network node. The network management system employ a Policy Enforcement Agent (PEA) responsible for capturing a policy rule in flight and translating the policy rule to actual policy enforcement action executable at a network node.

Abstract: A hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network management method and system for use in a broadband network having a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network provided with network elements operable for communicating telephony, data, and video signals with customer-premises equipment of a subscriber includes an HFC network manager for monitoring status and configuration of the network elements and the customer-premises equipment. A service, design, and inventory (SDI) database is operable with the HFC network manager for storing data indicative of the configuration of the network elements and the customer-premises equipment. A fault manager having an alarm visualization tool is operable with the HFC network manager and the SDI database for generating visual displays of the status and configuration of the network elements and the customer-premises equipment.

Abstract: Network monitoring is a vital part of modern network infrastructure management. Existing techniques either present a restricted view of network behavior and state, or do not efficiently scale to higher network speeds and heavier monitoring workloads. We present a novel architecture for programmable packet-level network monitoring that addresses these shortcomings. Our approach allows users to customize the monitoring function at the lowest possible level of abstraction to suit a wide range of monitoring needs: we use operating system mechanisms that result in a programming environment providing a high degree of flexibility, retaining fine-grained control over security, and minimizing the associated performance overheads. We present an implementation of this architecture as well as a set of experimental applications.

Abstract: An intelligent communications capability that enhances legacy military tactical datalink systems by creating an interface between disparate civil and military communications systems onboard military aircraft, ground vehicles, and ground-based communications infrastructures. This capability performs various information management tasks to interface with avionics systems, ground vehicle computer systems, and ground-based infrastructure computer systems. The invention enhances message processing through automation in areas such as data collection, incoming message handling, outgoing message construction, communications network management, and message priority management and routing. The invention also incorporates learning techniques to improve the overall efficiency of integrated military missions, operations, and maintenance in areas such as intelligent consolidation of datalink information, intelligent message distribution, and adaptive message re-routing in response to communications network failures. These enhancements will benefit the military by improving mission effectiveness with real-time information integration and management while reducing their support costs.