US7280529B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Providing network management access through user profiles
Assignee: Ciena Corp
•
Filing: 2000-08-04
•
Granted: 2007-10-09
•
Expires: 2020-08-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a method for managing telecommunications networks through user profiles that establish management capabilities and lists of network devices capable of being managed through each user profile. Through profiles, users may be given controlled access to configure network devices, provision services or simply view the network devices, services or portions thereof. For example, customers may be enabled to view services dedicated to their particular networks while being simultaneously prevented from viewing services particular to other customer's networks. This provides security while enabling controlled customer network management. In addition, profiles may be used to limit the management capabilities of network managers to only those network devices and capabilities for which each network manager is responsible and authorized. This controlled access again provides security and may prevent network outages due to inexperienced network management errors as well as simplify network management for each level of network manager. The user profiles may also be used to customize the user interface each user accesses to improve efficiency and ease of network management. Profiles may also be used to establish local network connections and set up appropriate network communication channels to improve the efficiency of user access.
Inventors
- 👤 Darryl Black
- 👤 Kevin D Snow
- 👤 James R Perry
- 👤 Thomas R Perry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1433; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2056; G06F11/2069; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99938; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99954
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of managing a telecommunications network, comprising: generating a plurality of user profiles each providing a network management access to a user, each user profile defining network management capabilities assigned to a respective user for configuring one or more network devices; generating a group access level for various management capabilities, wherein a level has a group name with an associated list of network devices; listing the network devices and/or the group name being managed through the user profiles; utilizing at least one of said user profiles to physically and logically configure one or more of said network devices within a scope of that profile, wherein at least one of enabling a network device port on the network device or provisioning a network path on a network device port is conducted; and displaying a graphical user interface in accordance with the user profile, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user-specific customized view with predefined network management capabilities, user-specific fields in the listing of network devices, and a custom presentation format.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of managing a telecommunications network, comprising: generating a plurality of user profiles each providing a network management access to a user, each user profile defining network management capabilities assigned to a respective user for configuring one or more network devices; generating a group access level for various management capabilities, wherein a level has a group name with an associated list of network devices; listing the network devices and/or the group name being managed through the user profiles; utilizing at least one of said user profiles to physically and logically configure one or more of said network devices within a scope of that profile, wherein at least one of enabling a network device port on the network device or provisioning a network path on a network device port is conducted; and displaying a graphical user interface in accordance with the user profile, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user-specific customized view with predefined network management capabilities, user-specific fields in the listing of network devices, and a custom presentation format.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein providing network management access further comprises: receiving a user name and password; and comparing the received user name and password against values stored within the user profile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein defining management capabilities comprises: assigning the group access level corresponding to specific management capabilities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein assigning the group access level comprises: assigning an administrator access level to permit a user to read and write physical and logical objects.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein assigning the group access level comprises: assigning a provisioner access level to permit a user to read physical objects and read and write logical objects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein assigning the group access level comprises: assigning a customer access level to permit a user to read their logical objects.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein listing network devices comprises: listing a telecommunication network address for each network device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein listing network devices further comprises: listing an SNMP community string for each network device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein listing network devices further comprises: listing an SNMP retry value for each network device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein listing network devices further comprises: listing an SNMP timeout value for each network device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: designating a primary network management server associated with the user profile.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising: designating a secondary network management server associated with the user profile.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: setting network management policy flags within the user profile.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein setting network management policy flags comprises: setting a password control policy flag to enable a user to change a password within the user profile.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein setting network management policy flags comprises: setting an account disabled policy flag to disable the user profile and prevent access.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein setting network management policy flags comprises: setting an add device policy flag to enable a user to add network devices to the list of devices capable of being managed through the user profile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of listing network devices further comprises listing, for each user profile, one or more network devices capable of being managed through that profile.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of managing a telecommunications network, comprising: adding a user profile to a network management system comprising network devices; editing parameters within the user profile to establish management capabilities assigned to one or more users associated with said user profile for physically and logically configuring one or more of said network devices; assigning a group access level for various management capabilities, wherein a level has a group name with an associated list of network devices; and listing the network devices and/or the group name being managed through the user profile, wherein at least one of enabling a network device port on the network device or provisioning a network path on a network device port is conducted; and displaying a graphical user interface in accordance with the user profile, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user-specific customized view with predefined network management capabilities, user-specific fields in the listing of network devices, and a custom presentation format.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of managing a telecommunications network, comprising: adding a user profile to a network management system comprising network devices; editing parameters within the user profile to establish management capabilities assigned to one or more users associated with said user profile for physically and logically configuring one or more of said network devices; assigning a group access level for various management capabilities, wherein a level has a group name with an associated list of network devices; and listing the network devices and/or the group name being managed through the user profile, wherein at least one of enabling a network device port on the network device or provisioning a network path on a network device port is conducted; and displaying a graphical user interface in accordance with the user profile, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a user-specific customized view with predefined network management capabilities, user-specific fields in the listing of network devices, and a custom presentation format.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the network management system includes a plurality of user profiles and where the method further comprises: receiving a user name and password; comparing the received user name and password against user names and passwords stored in the plurality of user profiles; and displaying a user interface in accordance with a user profile including the received user name and password.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: receiving input from a user through the user interface; and configuring a network device from the list of network devices within the user profile in accordance with the management capabilities in the user profile.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein configuring a network device comprises: enabling a network device port on the network device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: receiving input from a user through the user interface; and provisioning services within a network device from the list of network devices within the user profile in accordance with the management capabilities in the user profile.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein provisioning services within a network device comprises: setting up a SONET path within the network device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: receiving user profile data from a user; and modifying parameters within the user profile in accordance with the received user profile data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising: copying the user profile to another user profile; and editing parameters within the other user profile to establish management capabilities and a list of network devices capable of being managed through the other user profile.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-10-08 | 2011-04-09 | 2011-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-10-08 | 2015-04-09 | 2015-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-10-08 | 2019-04-09 | 2019-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |