TINA Network Resource Information Model

Abstract

The TINA (Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture) Network Resource Information Model (NRIM) is a technology-independent network level resource model that provides the foundation for the management and control of networks envisioned in the TINA architecture. Such networks are capable of supporting multimedia and multipoint communication sessions and may consist of network elements based on different technologies. Different portions of such networks will be under the control of different network administrations. NRIM describes such a network abstractly in terms of network elements, aggregations of network elements, the topological relationship between the elements, transport entities, and endpoints of transport entities. In addition, NRIM defines management support objects for alarm surveillance, resource configuration, and accounting. NRIM is independent of the architecture of the individual management functions. Further, the model is described abstractly in terms of objects and relationships and it is independent of the protocols used for communication between management functions. Information models for the management of specific network technologies can be derived from the generic model defined by the NRIM. This paper presents an overview of the NRIM emphasizing the recent advances made in the NRIM specification.