WO1999066737A1

WO1999066737A1 - Telecommunication management device with data link

Info

Publication number: WO1999066737A1
Application number: PCT/DE1999/001723
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harald Zottmann
Original assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy
Priority date: 1998-06-17
Filing date: 1999-06-12
Publication date: 1999-12-23
Also published as: DE19826631A1; DE19826631C2; AU5278599A

Abstract

The invention relates to a telecommunication device for a digital telecommunication network, comprising a subscriber exchange (LE), an access node (AN) and a management system (MS) for the telecommunication network. If required, a data link between the node management in the access nodes (AN) and the management system is established temporarily through one or several base channels (Lx-TSy). To this end, a virtual ISDN terminal (TE-v) is installed in the access node (AN) which dials the management system through the subscriber exchange (LE) for data communication. The virtual ISDN subscriber terminal exchange (TE-v) consists of a dial software (DU-SW), which can be dialed by the management system (MS) through an unequivocal address, in addition to a configuration software (CFG-SW) which executes the operational and maintenance functions (OA & M) in the access nodes (AN) and updates the operational software. The invention enables high data speed for file transfer services according to FTP(TCP/IP) or FTAM(OSI), especially in a V.5 interface.

Description

TELECOMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT DEVICE WITH ONE

DATA CONNECTION

Technical field

The invention relates to a telecommunications device in a digital telecommunications network, such as the ISDN, with a bidirectional data connection between the node management in a subscriber access node (AN) and the management system (MS) of a telecommunications network. The management system uses such a connection for operating and maintenance functions (OA&M), for polling services or for transferring software for updating operating software in the access node. In the present case, the access node is connected to the subscriber exchange via a V.5 interface.

State of the art

The invention In order to manage the resources of network devices in an ISDN network, such as, for example, for flexibly configuring the node management of access nodes (AN) for subscriber lines as part of the operating and maintenance functions, there are data connections between the management system of the telecommunications network and the network devices. Such data connections are either implemented in the form of a separate data communication network (DCN), which provides separate data channels to the access nodes, or overhead channels are used by existing user channel connections. In addition, certain individual user channels, which are usually used for transmitting message signals of the subscriber connections, are also kept free for this purpose in some telecommunications networks. For economic reasons, however, existing solutions usually use either a separate data communication network (DCN) or overhead channels. A separate data communication network must be set up either as a modem network or as a local data transmission network (LAN). For example, complex network elements, such as large network nodes in the form of concentrators, are connected to the management system of the telecommunications network via a management interface (QAN), which can be a standardized Q3 interface, for example. With the help of one in node management Installed configuration software, the operator of the access node can use the management interface to adapt it to the respective tasks and operating conditions. It is disadvantageous, however, that conventional Q _AN interfaces have a relatively low data rate, so that it takes several hours, for example, to configure a new network node or to update the operating software through software upgrades of a node used.

Only a low data rate is available for management functions in overhead channels. This means that there is hardly any possibility of changing the telecommunications network sufficiently quickly and flexibly

Adapt operating conditions. In addition, continuous use of overhead channels is not possible in all cases because the connections used do not have frame headers (headers) in their multiplex frames at all levels of the connection hierarchy. Especially systems with interfaces V.5.1 and V.5.2 according to ITU-T

Recommendations G. 964 and G. 965 do not contain standardized options for using overhead channels for data communication from the network management to the access node.

ITU-T recommendation G. 964 "V-Interfaces at the Digital Local Exchange (LE) -V.5.1 -Interface (based on 2048 kbit / s) for the Support of Access Network (AN)", Geneva: ITU 1994 , defines an interface for ISDN subscriber exchanges and an access node, for example to a multiplexer, via a single 2048 kbit / s connection.

In contrast, ITU-T recommendation G. 965 defines "V-Interfaces at the Digital Local Exchange (LE) -V.5.2-Interface (based on 2048 kBit / s) for the Support of Access Networks (AN)", Geneva: ITU 1995, an interface for ISDN subscriber exchanges with up to 16 separate 2048 kbit / s connections, which can be used on the subscriber side as individual 2048 kbit / s connections as well as a primary rate connection extensive networked apron devices in the form of subscriber line networks instead of conventional subscriber lines, and can be used for access node devices of any manufacturer without specific peculiarities of the manufacturer must be observed.

Every 2048 kbit / s connection L 1 to L n transmits 32 time channels (TS 0 to TS 31) in accordance with ITU-T recommendations G 703 and G 704 in time-division multiplex operation, which according to the "A law" as pulse code modulation with 8 bits Regardless of the content, all time channels are available with a uniform basic data rate Tb = 64 kbit / s and have a fixed time sequence to each other in time division multiplex operation.

All 2048 kbit / s connections L 1 to L n have a uniform structure with regard to the transmission of control and signal data. The time channel TS 0 is used for frame identification and frame synchronization in every connection. Some of the 64 kbit / s time channels TS 1 to TS 31 are also required for so-called "communication channels" (C channels). These contain data packets of one or more "communication paths" (C branches), mostly of different types Data for signaling, protocol control and ISDN data from subscriber lines. In the special case of a V.5 interface, the C channels are, depending on the configuration for the place of use, some of the time channels TS 15, TS 16, TS 31.

The remaining time channels are available as user channels and transmit message signals. The C channels of the V.5 interfaces communicate via the connection access protocol LAPV5, which is standardized in ITU-T recommendations G. 964 and G. 965. This is based on the access protocol LAPD of the data channel in accordance with ITU-T recommendations Q.920 and Q.921. However, the LAPV5 protocol and the C-channel data frame are more complex than with the D-channel because of the variety of C-branches and the addresses they contain. The data channels Those of ISDN terminals or the data channels D ₆₄ can therefore not communicate directly with the C channels of the V.5.2 interface due to the different data frame formats. This is only possible by adapting the protocol and frame structures using a mapping function and a frame relay function. The data packets of the various C branches are separated or combined depending on the transmission direction and converted into the corresponding multiplex structure and protocol form.

The existing in an access node with a V.5 interface Protocol architecture shows the ITU-T recommendations G. 964 and G. 965, section 8.2 in conjunction with FIG. 6, and section 8.5. Then the layer 2 protocol functions in the access node are divided into sub-layers. These are the so-called "Enveloping Function" sublayer LAPV5-EF, which supports the transition from and to the C-channel protocol, the "AN Frame Relay" sublayer AN-FR, which supports the transition between the LAPV5 data frame and the LAPD Data frame realized, and the "Data Link" sublayer LAPV5-DL. In the present description, FIG. 2 shows excerpts of the protocol architecture for the access node in the form of the function block V.5.2-PM.

Since in practical operation of an access node only a small number of subscribers simultaneously require a connection between the access node and the subscriber exchange, the exchange manages the time channels available as user channels to the access node and dynamically assigns them according to the connection requirement.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to show an inexpensive data connection between an access node and the management system, which has a high data rate, does not require any additional hardware and uses as little valuable useful channel capacity as possible. To achieve the object, an additional software component is installed in the access node according to the invention, which is referred to below as selection software. The selection software forms, together with configuration software in the access node, a virtual ISDN terminal device which can be selected by the subscriber exchange on the connection layer via a unique address.

As part of the self-dial function, the management system sends a call to the virtual ISDN terminal. After the call software accepts the call, the local exchange switches a nx 64Kbit / s connection between the management system and configuration software in the network access node for a limited time. The subscriber exchange uses between the subscriber exchange and the access node at least one time channel of the interface, which it otherwise assigns as a user channel. This enables the management system to carry out bidirectional data communication with the configuration software of the access node with a high data rate.

The invention will be explained below using an exemplary embodiment. The associated drawings show:

FIG. 1 shows an extract from a telecommunications network with the network devices relevant to the invention

FIG. 2 Details to explain the function of the access node used

Both drawings show only functional elements in the form of hardware and software components. The excerpt from the telecommunications network shown has been reduced to those functional units which are absolutely necessary to explain the invention. For a better understanding of the invention, these are shown in the form of functional units. In practice, these can be made much more complex and in the form shown as individual real assemblies can sometimes not be localized.

FIG. 1 shows a subscriber exchange LE and an access node AN, which are connected to one another via a transport network STM n. In the present example, the transport network STM n is designed as a ring as a synchronous transport module STM 1, but can also be implemented in a different structure and / or with different multiplex stages of the plesiochronous digital hierarchy or the synchronous digital hierarchy. The network transitions from and to the lower hierarchical level implement branch multiplexers ADM, so-called add-drop multiplexers.

The interface between the local exchange LE and the transport network contains time-division multiplex connections based on the ITU-T

Recommendations G 703 and G 704 with data rates of at least 2048 kbit / s and pulse frame structures with a duration of 125 μs. The access node AN and the subscriber exchange LE are connected via the transport network STM n to an interface V.5.2 with n × 2048 kbit / s connections L 1 to L n, as described above.

Each user channel connection between the access node AN and the telecommunications network runs in a separate time channel as a transparent one Connection through a switching network GSW in the local exchange LE. The switching network GSW forms the access to the time channels of the interface V.5.2 on the side of the telecommunication network and mediates subscriber connections with terminals TE 1 or TE 2 of the access node AN. On the side of the access node AN, access to individual time channels of the interface V.5.2 takes place through the interface device V.5-IF, which, depending on the communication direction, multiplexes or demultiplexes the time channels of the interface V.5.2, so that each time channel is available separately regardless of the content is. The transport network can have any shape between these two access points.

Configuration software CFG-SW in the form of management applications and programs for updating the operating software are usually installed in an access node device for the operator. The operator thus implements the operation and maintenance function (OA&M) for the node. To implement the invention, in the access node AN, as FIG. 1 shows, using software, a virtual ISDN terminal TE-v installed. In addition to the CFG-SW configuration software, another software component is installed, the DU-SW selection software.

The dialing software DU-SW receives its own address in order to be able to dial the virtual ISDN terminal TE-v from the subscriber exchange LE via a C-channel. This address is assigned in the data link layer (layer 2, according to the OSI reference model).

The management system MS is connected to the subscriber line switching center LE via a standard ISDN connection n x 64 KBit / s. The connection can be implemented either as a base channel connection or as a primary rate connection.

FIG. 2 shows further details of the exemplary embodiment with selected functional units of the access node AN with hardware and software components which are relevant for the implementation of the invention. The access to the C channels of the interface V.5.2 takes place in the access node via a functional unit, which is referred to below as the protocol machine V.5.2-PM and is connected to the interface device V.5-IF. The protocol machine V.5.2-PM corresponds to the known version according to the ITU-T recommendations G.964 and G.965, FIG. 6 and remains unchanged when used according to the invention compared to conventional use.

The V.5.2-PM protocol machine realizes bidirectional data communication between the various sub-layers mentioned at the beginning by adapting the access protocols and the data frame structure. In the present case, the selection software DU-SW is designed so that the virtual ISDN subscriber connection TE-v is reached via a 16 Kbit / s data channel Die.

Thus, a data connection between the C channel Cβ of the interface V.5.2, on which the call from the management system MS arrives, and this D channel Dι _{6 must be} established. The selection is made from C-channel Cβ ₄ via the sub-layer LAPV5-EF. The complex LAPV5 data multiplex of the C channel with the data packets from different C branches is broken down into individual C branches in the mapping function and distributed to the other sublayers according to the layer 2 addresses. In the present case, the AN frame relay function AN-FR converts the call of the virtual ISDN terminal device contained in a C branch into a D channel signal in LAPD format.

According to ITU-T recommendations G.964, section 9, the address of the virtual ISDN terminal device in layer 2 consists of a number with 13 bits in the number range 0 ... 8175.

The invention works as follows:

The management system MS sends a call to the address of the virtual ISDN terminal TE-v via the ISDN signaling, which the dialing software DU-SW accepts. The subscriber switching center LE between the management system MS and the interface device V.5-IF of the access node AN then establishes a temporary data connection on any time channel Lx-TSy of the interface V.5.2 that is otherwise used as a useful channel, and the configuration software CFG-SW and the management system MS enter the desired data communication. In addition to subscriber connections with conventional terminals TE 1 or TE 2, the switching network GSW also mediates a data connection between the management system MS and the virtual ISDN terminal TE-v via a time channel Lx-TSy of interface V.5.2, which the Subscriber exchange LE flexibly managed as a user channel.

According to a further development of the invention, the dialing software in the access node can be requested by the subscriber exchange LE to provide a bundle of 64 kbit / s connection to increase the transmission speed. In this case, the selection software establishes a temporary data connection that extends over several time channels in the V.5 interface.

Via the temporary data connection, any type of data communication can be carried out between the management system and the node management for operational and maintenance tasks, polling services and upgrades of the operating software, the transmission speed being flexibly adaptable to the application. Various known data transmission services can be used for updating the operating software, such as, for example, the so-called "File Transfer Access and Management - FTAM" according to the recommendation ISO 8571 or the "File Transfer Protocol - FTP" known from the Internet. In this way, for example, the operating software or the configuration software CFG-SW of the node can be updated.

A major advantage of the invention is that if necessary, without changing the standardized V5 protocol, ISDN signaling enables a bidirectional n x 64 kbit / s data connection to be set up very quickly on one or more 64 kbit / s user channels. The connection capacity required for this is available outside of temporary data communication for user channels. To carry out the invention, the operator of an access node device only has to install the selection software DU-SW and adapt the configuration software to the invention.

Claims

claims

1. Telecommunications device for a digital telecommunications network with a subscriber exchange (LE), an access node (AN), which has a node management, and with a data connection between the node management and a management system (MS), which at least between the subscriber exchange (LE) and the access node (AN) of the telecommunications network uses a base channel (Lx-TSy) set up as a useful channel, characterized in that a virtual ISDN terminal device (TE-v) is installed in the access node (AN), which is managed by the management system (MS) via a unique

Address can be selected in the connection layer and that when the virtual ISDN terminal device (TE-v) is selected, a base channel (Lx-TSy) is temporarily provided for the data connection, which the subscriber exchange (LE) manages dynamically.

2. Telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the access node (AN) a selection software (DU-SW) is installed, which forms the virtual ISDN subscriber line (TE-v) together with a configuration software (CFG-SW)

3. Telecommunication device according to claim 2, characterized in that the selection software (DU-SW) activates the configuration software (CFG-SW) when selected from the management system (MS) so that this data communication with the management system (MS) is carried out.

4. Telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the access node (AN) and the subscriber exchange (LE) are connected via a V.5 interface.

5. Telecommunication device according to claim 3, characterized in that the subscriber exchange (LE) manages the base channel (Lx-TSy) by a dynamic channel assignment as a user channel if no selection is made on the part of the management system.

6. Telecommunication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the selection software (DU-SW) is installed at a terminal of the access node (AN) for a data channel (Die) and communicates via its access protocol (LAPD).

7. Data connection according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the subscriber exchange (LE) on request by the management system (MS) to increase the transmission speed provides an n x 64 k bit / s connection with several base channels.