Method and Article of
Manufacture for Communication to
Telecommunications Switches, such as IPX Switches
United States Patent
6,073,164
Zey
June 6, 2000
Method and article of
manufacture for communication to telecommunications
switches, such as IPX switches
Abstract
A method, system, and article of manufacture for
communicating to or querying telecommunication switches
in a telecommunications network first gathers relevant
information from a technician. Such information can
include user IDs, passwords, switch identification codes,
and required commands. The routine then automatically
establishes communication links with appropriate servers
and identified switches within the network using
previously supplied IDs and passwords. Thereafter,
commands are presented to such switches and results
reported to the technician. Numerous switches may thereby
be rapidly accessed and queried by the technician.
1. In a telecommunication network having at least one
digital switch coupled to a server, wherein the server
provides authority for access to the switch, a method
performed by a computer of a user to automate login
sequences to the at least one digital switch, comprising
the steps of:
collecting and storing switch and server access data from
the user;
collecting and storing at least one command directed to
the switch;
establishing a communication link from the computer to
the server with the server access data;
establishing a communication link with the switch using
the switch access data;
providing the command to the switch and receiving a
response; and
outputting the response of automated login sequences to
the user.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch is an IPX or
IGX switch, and wherein the step of collecting and
storing switch and server access data includes collecting
an identification code and password for the user.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of collecting
include displaying screens to the user via the computer,
each screen requesting specific user input, wherein at
least one screen requests an identification code of the
switch.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
again performing the steps of collecting and storing at
least one command, establishing a communication link from
the computer, establishing a communication link with the
switch, providing and outputting for another switch in
the network.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of establishing
a communication link from the computer includes
establishing a link with a UNIX-based server, and wherein
the step of establishing a communications link with the
switch includes first establishing a communications link
with an intermediate switch, the intermediate switch
being selected from a hierarchical set of switches.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
disconnecting the communication links with the switch and
the server after a predetermined time period.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps are performed
in the following order: collecting and storing switch and
server access data, collecting and storing at least one
command, establishing a communication link from the
computer, establishing a communication link with the
switch, providing and outputting.
8. In a network having at least one switch, a
computer-implemented method to automate login sequences
comprising the steps of:
storing switch data;
storing at least one command directed to the switch;
establishing a communication link with the switch using
the switch access data;
providing the command to the switch and receiving a
response; and
outputting the response of automated login sequences to a
user.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the network includes a
network computer associated with the switch, and wherein
the step of storing switch access data includes storing
network computer access data, and wherein the step of
establishing includes establishing a communications link
with the network computer with the network computer
access data.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the switch is an IPX
switch, and wherein the step of storing switch access
data includes collecting an identification code and
password.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of storing
switch access data includes collecting an identification
code of the switch.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of
again performing the steps of storing at least one
command, establishing, providing and outputting for
another switch in the network.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of
establishing a communication link with the switch
includes first establishing a communications link with an
intermediate switch, the intermediate switch being
selected from a hierarchical set of switches.
14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of
disconnecting the communication link with the switch
after a predetermined time period.
15. A computer-readable medium containing instructions
for a computer in a communications system to automate
login sequences, wherein the communication system
includes at least one digital switch, the instructions of
the computer-readable medium comprising the steps of:
storing switch access data provided by a user;
storing at least one command directed to the switch by
the user;
establishing a communication link with the switch using
the switch access data;
providing the command to the switch and receiving a
response; and
outputting the response of automated login sequences to
the user.
16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the
communication system includes a network computer
associated with the switch, and wherein the step of
storing switch access data includes storing network
computer access data, and wherein the step of
establishing includes establishing a communications link
with the network computer using the network computer
access data.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the
switch is an IPX switch, and wherein step of storing
switch address data includes collecting an identification
code and password for the user.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the
step of storing switch access data includes collecting an
identification code of the switch.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further
comprising the step of again performing the steps of
storing at least one command, establishing, providing and
outputting for another switch in the network.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the
step of establishing a communication link with the switch
includes first establishing a communications link with an
intermediate switch, the intermediate switch being
selected from a hierarchical set of switches.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further
comprising the step of disconnecting the communication
link with the switch after a predetermined time period.
22. In a telecommunications network having at least one
digital switch, an apparatus to automated login sequences
to said at least one digital switch, comprising:
a communication system coupled to the network and
permitting communication therewith;
at least one input device;
a memory; and
a processing unit coupled to the communication system,
input device and memory, wherein the processing unit
stores in the memory switch access data and at least one
command directed to the switch input via the input
device, establishes a communication link with the switch
through the communication system using the switch access
data, provides the command to the switch through the
communication system, receives a response, and output the
response of automated login sequences to a user.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the switch is an
IPX switch, and wherein the processing unit collects an
identification code and password input to the input
device.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processing unit
generates screens, each screen requesting specific user
input, wherein at least one screen requests an
identification code of the switch.
25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processing unit
again stores at least one command, establishes, provides
and outputs for another switch in the network.
26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processing unit
disconnects the communication link with the switch after
a predetermined time period.
27. In a telecommunication network having at least one
digital switch coupled to a server, wherein the server
provides authority for access to the switch, a method
performed by a computer of a user to automate login
sequences to the at least one digital switch, comprising
the steps of:
collecting and storing switch and server access data from
the user;
collecting and storing at least one command directed to
the switch;
establishing a communication link from the computer to
the server with the server access data;
establishing a communication link with the switch using
the switch access data wherein said link is established
by first establishing a communications link with an
intermediate switch selected from a plurality of
hierarchical set of switches;
providing the command to the switch and receiving a
response; and
outputting the response of automated login sequences to
the user.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the switch is an IPX
or IGX switch, and wherein the step of collect and
storing switch and server access data includes collecting
an identification code and password for the user.
29. The method of claim 27 wherein the steps of
collecting include displaying screens to the user via the
computer, each screen requesting specific user input,
wherein at least one screen requests an identification
code of the switch.
30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step
of again performing the steps of collecting and storing
at least one command, establishing a communication link
from the computer, establishing a communication link with
the switch, providing and outputting for another switch
in the network.
31. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of
establishing a communication link from the computer
includes establishing a link with a UNIX-based server.
32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step
of disconnecting the communication links with the switch
and the server after a predetermined time period.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to telecommunications
networks, and in particular, to communicating with
switches within such networks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Telecommunications networks include multiple links or
trunks interconnected with switches. Such switches are
typically high-speed digital switches using known
protocols such as internetwork packet exchange (IPX) and
the greater bandwidth version IGX. Communication with
such IPX/IGX switches is performed via routers over
access links using protocols such as the conventional
Frame-Relay protocol. Switches manufactured by Stratacom
are examples of such high-speed digital switches. Such
IPX/IGX switches are connected with other IPX switches in
a telecommunications network. One example of such a
network of interconnected switches is the Concert Frame
Relay Service network operated by MCI, Inc.
When customers experience failures with their permanent
virtual connections, technicians must perform
trouble-shooting for a reported problem. The technician
must access the IPX switch associated with a given
customer and initiate specific commands in order to
determine the condition of the customer's circuit path
and circuit status via the IPX switch. There are
typically six specific commands that the technician must
initiate to extract information from the switch to
determine the logical status of the customer's circuit.
One problem technicians experience is that many of the
IPX switches support only a single access method. If a
technician remains logged into a given IPX switch, he or
she ties up access for other technicians who may require
access to that switch. Such other technicians must move
to another IPX switch location or remain in queue until
the first technician releases the IPX switch.
An additional problem is a cumbersome method of accessing
the EPX switch. In general, the following steps are
necessary to access the IPX switch. The following steps
begin with standard call setup, and include commands used
for displaying a status of a customer's circuit path,
including the customer's frame relay port. In the
following example, the customer's circuit traverses an
IPX switch having a designation "HLB01", and
the customer's circuit is routed on port number 1 of card
21 in the switch.
Initially, the technician must access a
"MYRTLE"server (typically a UNIX-based
computer) using appropriate access protocols, such as the
Internet protocol (IP). The technician cannot gain access
directly to an IPX or IGX switch. Instead, access to such
IPX/IGX switches must be gained through such a UNIX-based
system. The technician typically enters a Telnet address,
such as "Telnet 10.xx.xx.xx". Thereafter, the
technician must then log into the MYRTLE server with an
appropriate user ID and password assigned to the
technician. Once the technician logs in, he or she will
receive a prompt, such as the prompt "MYRTLE%".
Thereafter, the technician must input a Telnet address
for a specific intermediate IPX/IGX switch, such as
"Telnet 159.xx.x.xxx". The technician must then
again log into the IPX switch with an appropriate user ID
and password, which is likely different from the
previously input user ID and password.
Once logged into the intermediate IPX switch, the
technician must enter or type in the desired virtual
terminal (VT) command to access the appropriate IPX
switch serving the customers' circuit (in this example,
HLB01). Thus, the technician types "VT HLB01"
to connect to the HLB01IPX switch. Once establishing a
connection with the desired switch, the technician may
initiate the necessary command for obtaining frame relay
port status, such as by entering the command
"DSPFRPORT 21.1", where the "21" and
"1" refer to the card and port numbers,
respectively.
After obtaining circuit status, the technician must
properly close the Telnet connection to the IPX switch,
otherwise, the switch may become tied up and thereby
inaccessible to others. The technician therefore enters a
command such as a control character sequence, of "
]", at which point the technician receives the
Telnet prompt and enters a "Quit" or
"Close" command. Finally, the technician is
returned to the MYRTLE% prompt, at which point he or she
must exit to properly close the Telnet connection to the
MYRTLE server, by typing "Exit".
Unfortunately, the technician must perform all of the
above steps for each customer circuit that he or she
wishes to analyze. If the technician is to analyze
multiple circuits, such a process is cumbersome,
repetitive, and time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a broad sense, the present invention embodies a
computer-implemented method and a method stored on a
computer-readable medium. The methods include the steps
of (a) storing, switch access data for a switch in a
network; (b) storing at least one command directed to
this switch; (c) establishing a communication link with
the switch using the switch access data; (d) providing
the command to the switch and receiving a response; and
(e) outputting the response.
The present invention also embodies an apparatus for use
in a telecommunications network having at least one
digital switch. The apparatus includes a communication
system, an input device, a memory, and a processing unit.
The communication system is coupled to the network and
permits communication therewith. The processing unit is
coupled to the communication system, input device, and
memory. The processing unit stores in the memory switch
access data and at least one command directed to the
switch input via the input device, establishes a
communication link with the switch through the
communication system using the switch access data,
provides the command to the switch through the
communication system, receives a response, and outputs
the response.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a portion of a
telecommunications network capable of embodying and
employing, an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a workstation.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are exemplary flowchart diagrams of a
method for accessing telecommunications switches under
the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a computer screen showing an
exemplary server user ID input screen.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the computer screen showing an
exemplary server password entry screen.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the computer screen showing an
exemplary switch user ID entry screen.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the computer screen showing an
exemplary switch password entry screen.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the computer screen showing an
exemplary switch, card and port entry screen.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the computer screen showing an
exemplary switch command menu screen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A telecommunications network, and in particular, a method
and apparatus for analyzing the network, is descried in
detail herein. In the following description, numerous
specific details are set forth such as screen layouts,
ordering and execution of steps, hardware platforms,
etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
present invention. One skilled in the relevant art,
however, will readily recognize that the present
invention can be practiced without use of the specific
details described herein, or with other specific steps in
a routine, different screens and layouts, different
hardware, etc. Well-known structures and steps are not
shown or described in detail in order to avoid obscuring
the present invention.
As explained herein, an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention provides a method that automates
technician login sequences, and command input, as well as
providing automatic logout and timers to prevent
technicians from tying up IPX switch access links. Under
the exemplary embodiment, access to IPX switches can be
more efficiently performed. As a result, errors in the
telecommunications network can be rapidly identified
using fewer technicians.
Referring to FIG. 1A, an exemplary portion of a
telecommunications network 100 includes multiple user
workstations 102. Each of the workstations 102 can
communicate with a MYRTLE server 104 via a token ring
network 106. The MYRTLE server 104 is a dedicated,
UNIX-based computer that coordinates or authorizes access
to digital switches within the network 100, such as to
IPX or IGX switches. The MYRTLE server 104 is preferably
a high performance computer, such as a minicomputer.
A router 108 connects the token ring network 106 to a
wide area network such as a transmission control protocol
(TCP)/IP network 110. The TCP/IP network 110 can be the
Internet. Routers 112, 114, 116 and 118, in turn, couple
IPX/IGX switches 122, 124, 126 and 128, respectively, to
the TCP/IP network 110. Each of the IPX switches 122-128
can be located at different geographic locations. For
example, the IPX/IGX switches 129, 124 and 128 are
located at Caracas, Venezuela, Columbia, and Austell,
Georgia, respectively. As explained below, the
workstations 102 access the IPX/IGX switches 122-128
under an exemplary routine.
As shown in FIG. 1B, each workstation 102 includes a CPU
130, display device 132, input device such as a keyboard
134, memory 136, and network adapter 138, all coupled to
a bus 140. The memory 136 includes an operating system,
as well as a routine 200 (discussed below). The network
adapter 138 couples the workstation 102 to the token ring
106, allowing, communications therebetween.
Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a routine 200 performed by
the user workstations 102 is shown. Those skilled in the
relevant art can create source code from the flowcharts
of FIGS. 2A and 2B, together with the detailed
description provided herein. For example, source code can
be written in Reflection Command Language that runs under
Reflections2 for Windows, or written in ProCom Plus.
Beginning in step 202, a user or technician inputs his or
her user identification code (user ID) and password. Such
user IDs and passwords are typically predetermined
specifically for the MYRTLE server 104. FIG. 3 shows an
exemplary MYRTLE server user ID input screen 302. The
technician initially selects a Concert Frame Relay
Service (CFRS) button 301 from a toolbar shown on the
screen 302. The button 301 is mapped to launch the
routine 200. Once launched, the routine 200 initially
displays the screen 302 shown in FIG. 3 with a welcoming
message such as "WELCOME TO THE CONCERT IPX/IGS
COMMAND AUTOMATION INTERFACE". The screen 302 also
prompts the technician to input his or her MYRTLE server
user ID. As shown in FIG. 3, an exemplary user ID
"dzey" has been input by a technician at one of
the user workstations 102.
After inputting a MYRTLE server user ID and pressing
enter, the routine 200 displays, as shown in FIG. 4, an
exemplary MYRTLE server password input screen 304. The
technician's password is obscured and only "*"
are output by the workstation 102. The technician then
presses enter to enter the password and move to the next
command.
In step 202, the technician also inputs his or her IPX
group ID and password. As shown in FIG. 5, an exemplary
IPX group user ID input screen 306 is shown. The
technician has input an IPX group ID of
"turbo". As shown in FIG. 6, an exemplary IPX
group password screen 308 is shown. The input screens 306
and 308 are similar to screens 302 and 304.
In step 202, the technician furthermore inputs a desired
IPX/IGX switch, such as a switch identified as possibly
corresponding to a customer's network failure complaint.
Additionally, the technician in step 202 inputs card and
port numbers associated with the customer's IPX/IGX
switch. As shown in FIG. 7, an exemplary IPX/IGX switch,
card and port number input screen 310 is shown.
Continuing the previously established example, the
technician inputs to the screen 310 the IPX/IGX switch
"HLB01", as well as card and port numbers 21
and 1, respectively. The workstation 102 stores all data
input by the technician under step 202, including the
passwords, group IDs, switch ID and card and port number.
In step 204, the workstation 102 presents a menu of
commands to the technician and receives input from the
technician based on a selected menu option. Referring to
FIG. 8, an exemplary command menu screen 312 is shown.
Exemplary commands for querying switches and displaying
switch data are presented in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
IPX/IGX COMMAND MENU
______________________________________
1. Display IPX/IGX Information
2. Display Frame Relay Port
3. Display IPX Log
4. Display Port Status
5. Display Break Out Box
6. Display TSTDELAY
7. Connect To Another IPX/IGX Site
0. EXIT
______________________________________
The technician can enter multiple commands in screen 312,
e.g., "2", "4" and "7" to
display Frame Port Relay, Port Status and to then connect
to another IPX switch. Following, step 204, the
workstation 102 under the routine 200 has received
sufficient input data and commands from the technician.
In step 206, the workstation 102 establishes a Telnet
connection to the MYRTLE server 104 via the token ring
106 and logs the technician in using the user ID and
password previously input in screens 302 and 304. In step
208, the workstation 102 determines whether login was
successful. If not, then in step 210, the workstation 102
prompts the user to reinput his or her user ID and
password for access to the MYRTLE server 104. The routine
200 loops through steps 208 and 210 until the login is
successful. Thereafter, in step 212, the workstation 102
attempts to establish a Telnet connection to a first
priority intermediate IPX/IGX switch, such as the switch
122 located in Caracas, Venezuela.
In step 214, the workstation 102 determines whether the
Telnet connection was available. If not, then in step
216, the workstation 102 attempts to establish a Telnet
connection to a second priority IPX switch, such as the
IPX switch 124 in Colombia. In step 218, the workstation
102 determines whether this second attempted connection
was available. If not, then in step 220, the workstation
102 establishes a Telnet connection to a lower priority
IPX switch, such as the IPX switch 128 in Austell, Ga.
The routine 200 attempts to establish connections with
IPX switches that typically have less traffic first,
before employing switches having greater amounts of
traffic. If a connection is determined to be available in
step 214 or 218, or after establishing connection with
the IPX switch 128, the workstation 102 in step 222 logs
the technician into the switch using the group ID and
password previously input by the technician in screens
306 and 308.
In step 224, the workstation 102 determines whether login
was successful. If not, then in step 226, the routine 200
prompts the technician to reinput his or her group ID and
password for accessing the intermediate IPX switch. The
routine 200 loops back and continues to perform steps
222, 224, and 226 until login is successful. Thereafter,
in step 228 (FIG. 2B), the workstation 102 places a VT
call to the specific or target IPX/IGX switch previously
input in screen 310 (FIG. 7). Continuing the above
example, the workstation 102 places a VT call to switch
126.
In step 230, the workstation 102 determines whether the
VT connection is established. If not, then in step 232,
the workstation 102 initiates a proper release sequence
and terminates all Telnet connections. For example, the
workstation 102 provides Quit or Close commands. The
workstation 102 also logs out of the MYRTLE server 104.
Thereafter, the routine 200 loops back to step 204, where
the technician can again input commands to the screen 312
(FIG. 8).
If the connection was established in step 230, then the
workstation 102 in step 234 transmits the selected
command to the connected switch. Importantly, the
workstation 102 transmits the command in the appropriate
command string format required by the switch, including
the card and port number previously identified in screen
310 (FIG. 7). Continuing the above example, assuming the
technician selected option 2 from screen 312 (FIG. 8),
the workstation 102 transmits the command "DSPFRPORT
21.1" to the switch 126 to display Frame Relay Port
status. In response thereto, the switch 126 provides data
to a workstation 102 indicating such status to the
technician. The workstation 102 then outputs the status,
such as displaying it to the technician.
In step 236, the workstation 102 waits and queries
whether the technician has requested to exit the switch,
such as inputting commands "7" or "0"
to the screen 312 (FIG. 8). If not, and during step 236,
a time-out timer counts down. If the timer has expired
before the technician has requested to exit the switch,
then the routine 200 proceeds to step 238. In the
exemplary embodiment, the timer is set to a short
duration, such as two minutes. After the timer expires,
the workstation 102 in step 238 initiates the proper
release sequences and terminates all Telnet connections.
The workstation 102, in addition to performing the
sequences of step 232 also performs required exit
sequences from the current IPX switch. Thereafter, the
routine 200 loops back to step 204, at which point the
technician can again input additional commands.
Similarly, if the technician had requested to exit the
current switch under step 236, then in step 240 the
workstation 102 initiates proper release sequences and
terminates all Telnet connections, and returns the
technician to the command menu screen 312 (FIG. 8).
Following steps 232, 238, or 240, the technician can
enter a new command in step 204. For example, the
technician can enter the command "7" to connect
to another IPX/IGX switch. In response thereto, the
workstation 102 again displays screen 310, for which the
technician can enter a new switch identification and card
and port numbers. The routine 200 then proceeds with
steps 204-240 as explained above.
If the workstation 102 under the routine 200 experiences
an unexpected condition, such as a condition that halts
operation of the routine, special commands or "hot
keys" permit the technician to perform additional
operations, without inputting commands via the screens
302-312. Such hot keys permit the technician to ensure
that the routine 200 has stopped, as well as properly
releasing Telnet connections and restarting the routine.
Table 2 below presents a series of keys on the keyboard
134 (FIG. 1B) and the corresponding command string each
key generates. Additionally, the function associated with
each key and command string is shown in Table 2 below.
TABLE 2
______________________________________
Key Command String
Function
______________________________________
Esc RCL Stop Script
Properly stops the routine 200 in progress.
Command
F1 N Required input at certain command prompts.
Has no affect to other command prompts.
F2 Key is mapped to
Backspace is an escape sequence required at
the Backspace key
certain command prompts of IPX/IGX
switches. It has no affect to other command
prompts. Backspace puts the user back to a
"Next Command" prompt.
F3 ] Escape sequence required by IPX/IGX
switches to release the technician's session
and returns the technician to the Telnet
prompt. This escape sequence is initiated at
the "Next Command" prompt.
F4 close mlogout m
Sends the command "Close" followed by a
carriage return to properly close the Telnet
connection. The "Logout" command is then
sent to log the user out of the MYRTLE
server 104.
F5 R:.backslash.CFRS.RCL
The F5 key is mapped to run the CFRS.RCL
routine from the appropriate directory/sub-
directory to thereby quickly initiate or restart
the routine 200.
______________________________________
Although specific embodiments of, and examples for, the
present invention are described herein for illustrative
purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention, as will be recognized by those skilled in the
relevant art. The teachings provided herein of
embodiments of the present invention can be applied to
other switches or communications or network systems, not
necessarily the exemplary IPX/IGX switches and
telecommunications system described above. Additionally,
the workstations 102 can include a UNIX-based operating,
system, thereby avoiding the MYRTLE server 104 and the
need to establish a connection with the server.
While operations under the present invention have been
described as occurring generally in a serial fashion,
those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that it
is within the scope of the invention to conduct some
operations more or less simultaneously, or even in
alternate order, from that described herein. These and
other changes can be made to the embodiments of the
invention in light of the above detailed description. In
general, in the following claims, the terms used should
not be construed to limit the invention to the specific
embodiments disclosed in the specification and the
claims, but should be construed to include any network
analysis and test system that operates under the claims.
Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the
disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined
entirely by the following claims.
![[US Patent & Trademark Office, Patent Full Text and Image Database]](Patent%206,073,164_files/patfthdr.gif){kind=small}
