Guest Editorial: Topics in Integrated Management: Selected Papers from IM'2001

Abstract

The IEEE/IFIP International Symposium on Integrated Network Management 2001 (IM 2001, http://www.comsoc.org/confs/im/2001) took place in Seattle, Washington, USA, May 14–18, 2001. This premier symposium continues the highly regarded series sponsored by the IEEE Communications Society Committee on Network Operations and Management (CNOM), and the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) Working Group 6.6 on Management of Networks and Distributed Systems. This was the seventh since the initial one in 1989 in Boston, which was followed by 1991 in Washington D.C.; 1993 in San Francisco; 1995 in Santa Barbara; 1997 in San Diego; and 1999 again in Boston to celebrate its 10 years. The theme for IM 2001 was “Integrated Management Strategies for the New Millennium,” focusing on the central role integrated management plays in worldwide information networking. At the dawn of the new millennium, the ubiquitous explosion of the Internet and the fast proliferation of networked devices create a unique challenge. Innovative solutions are required and new ways of strategic thinking must be incorporated into future management products and services. Management in this new information era should support the integration of data and telecommunication networks, from narrowband to broadband, terrestrial to satellite, fixed to mobile, and uni-media to multimedia. The IM 2001 Technical Program Committee followed through on this theme by assembling a technical program covering key aspects of integrated management in the new networked era. There were sessions to cover emerging areas such as IP management, cellular network management, active and programmable network management, mobile code, and pricing. At the same time, the program