Management Service Design: From TMN Interface Specifications to ODP Computational Objects

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationships between Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) and Open Distributed Processing (ODP) standards in respect to the methodologies for the development of Management Services (MSs). In the light of emerging object-orientation in the telecommunications environment the development of object-oriented MSs becomes a major issue. ODP standards represent the foundation of object-oriented service design, for both telecommunication and management services. TMN represents the world-wide accepted framework for the management in telecommunications. Although TMN concepts promote the object-oriented modeling of management information, the modeling of MSs is still function-oriented and in infancy. Within this paper we will illustrate, that TMN concepts for MS design can be combined adequately with ODP computational modeling methodologies. The basic idea of this “integrated” MS design methodology is to map TMN Management Functions onto ODP Activities for computational modeling. An example for the presented approach will be given for the modeling of a User Registration MS in the context of an advanced Personal Communication Support System, currently under development at the Technical University of Berlin for the Deutsche Telekom Berkom.