Kevin M Snow

US Patent:

7020696, Mar 28, 2006

Filed:

Nov 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/703531

Inventors:

James R. Perry - Merrimack NH, US
Kevin D. Snow - Amherst NH, US
Darryl Black - Hollis NH, US

Assignee:

Ciena Corp. - Linthicum MD

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709223, 5225, 5227, 5217

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for implementing distributed user management information in telecommunications networks. At least a portion of a user's management information is stored in a team session file that is accessible by a network management system (NMS) client. For example, the team session file may be saved in memory that is local to the NMS client or, if a user logs in through a remote system using a web browser, the team session file may be saved as a cookie in memory local to the remote system. The NMS client may then utilize the user management information in the team session file while the user is logged into the NMS client. In one embodiment, the user management information stored within the team session file includes NMS server connection information. Thus, when a user logs into an NMS client, the NMS client uses the NMS server connection information to connect to an NMS server. The user management information stored within the team session file may be retrieved from user profile information corresponding to the user and stored in a central data repository, and since the user profile data is stored in a central repository, changes may be easily made to the user profile data and consequently pushed out to the team session files accessible by one or more NMS clients.

US Patent:

7280529, Oct 9, 2007

Filed:

Aug 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/632954

Inventors:

Darryl Black - Hollis NH, US
Kevin D Snow - Amherst NH, US
James R Perry - Merrimack NH, US
Thomas R Perry - Groton MA, US

Assignee:

CIENA Corporation - Linthicum MD

International Classification:

H04L 12/66
H04L 9/00
G06F 3/00
H04K 1/00

US Classification:

370352, 713166, 713182, 715736, 715741, 715745

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.

US Patent:

7693976, Apr 6, 2010

Filed:

Sep 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/938160

Inventors:

Thomas R. Perry - Groton MA, US
James R. Perry - Merrimack NH, US
Kevin D. Snow - Amherst NH, US
Darryl Black - Hollis NH, US

Assignee:

Ciena Corporation - Linthicum MD

International Classification:

G06F 13/42
G06F 3/00
G06F 15/173
H04L 12/28
H04L 12/66

US Classification:

709223, 370252, 370254, 370255, 370352, 340825, 710104

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for granular management of network resources by accessing network device resources through associated references. In one embodiment, the references are group names, and one or more resources (i. e. , a resource collection) within each network device in a telecommunications network may be linked with one or more group names. Group names (or other types of references) may then be used to limit a user's access to particular network device resources. That is, a user may only have access to those resources associated with group names to which the user has access. Over time, network device resources may be associated or disassociated with particular group names. As a result, group names provide users with dynamic access to network device resources. In one embodiment, the groups to which a user has access are defined within a user profile associated with the user.

US Patent:

20020001307, Jan 3, 2002

Filed:

Mar 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/803783

Inventors:

Peter Nguyen - Nashua NH, US
John Wagner - Nashua NH, US
Kevin Snow - Amherst NH, US

Assignee:

Equipe Communications Corporation

International Classification:

H04L012/50

US Classification:

370/386000, 370/395100

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving the configuration of virtual connections. Specifically, virtual path identifier (VPI) and virtual channel identifier (VCI) Availability Indexes are made available to network administrators. The Availability Indexes present valid, available values. Thus, the potential for misconfigurations is reduced and even less experienced network administrators may easily configure virtual connections. The Availability Indexes provide administrators with control over exactly which paths and channels are allocated for each connection while eliminating the guesswork and tracking burden present in current network/element management systems. Availability Indexes also reduce the time and frustration required to configure virtual connections.

US Patent:

20020116485, Aug 22, 2002

Filed:

Feb 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/789665

Inventors:

Darryl Black - Hollis NH, US
Kevin Snow - Amherst NH, US
James Perry - Merrimack NH, US

Assignee:

Equipe Communications Corporation

International Classification:

G06F015/16
G06F015/173

US Classification:

709/223000, 709/227000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving management and network availability by providing out-of-band management channels between network/element management system (NMS) clients and servers. High priority client requests and server notifications may be sent over the out-of-band management channels to ensure fast response times. In addition, periodic roll calls between NMS clients and NMS servers may be executed over the out-of-band management channels to allow for quick discovery of any disconnects and reclaiming associated client resources. Further, periodic roll calls may be conducted between the NMS servers and the network devices to which they are connected, and if a server discovers that a network device has gone down, it may send a high priority notification to appropriate NMS clients over the out-of-band management channels to ensure a fast response by the clients. Sending high priority messages over out-of-band management channels maximizes client/server management availability and, hence, network availability.