 |
Description  |
|
|
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the telecommunication field and
particularly to a method for configuring and operating a telecommunication
apparatus including a user interface module for handling the communication
with an operator, and a teleprocessing module for handling the
telecommunication procedures which are involved during the teleprocessing
operations.
BACKGROUND ART
Integrated Services Digital Network (I.S.D.N) is an international
communications standard that makes it possible to deliver multiple
services in addition to the normal telephone (voice) service. Thus, fax,
video, data, and all kinds of images can be transmitted to a terminal over
a single line. The ISDN service is provided by public network operators at
both national and international levels. They offer a choice of Basic or
Primary Rate access to the ISDN network. The Basic access (also called
2B+D) provides two 64 Kbps channels for voice or data communications plus
one D channel for controlling and monitoring of the transmission, giving
an aggregate speed of 144 Kbps. The Primary rate (which is called 30B+D)
offers up to 30 simultaneous 64 Kbps B channels and one 64 Kbps D channel
for an aggregate speed of 2 Mbps.
The performance offered by ISDN networks, and particularly the throuput
provided by the primary rate, has allowed the possibility of effective
national and international communications between host computers, either
IBM or non IBM, running X25, SNA, TCP/IP or OSI applications, and a wide
range of terminal equipment and users. Thus, a wide range of users, who
are generally not specialized in the telecommunication field or in the
structure and operating of sophisticated telecommunication equipments,
benefit from the high rates and possibilities of the ISDN equipment.
For instance, the possibilities offered by ISDN networks have allowed the
creation and development of electronic catalogs and multimedia databases.
Electronic images which are stored on a central database can thus be
accessed in a few seconds by multiple users within a country or across
borders. Electronic and up-to-date catalogs allow travel agents, for
example, to show specific resorts and hotels with much more detail than by
using a printed catalog. Tour operators can also benefit from these
possibilities since the update of one single, central data base appears
easier and cheaper. Also distributers and retailers can demonstrate
products clearly, whether the items are cars, fashion or technical
products, and they can let users browse through catalogs and place orders
directly. Retailers can show a wide variety of models electronically
without having to keep the whole expensive range on hand, and additions
and deletions are easily handled. The ISDN network allows a set of up to
30 users to simultaneously be connected to one electronic catalog.
Further, the possibilities which are offered by the ISDN networks also
allow the development of file transfers where software can be downloaded
or retrieved from a central host by remote branch office or distribution
centers to take advantage of lower tarifs during non-peak hours.
As a conclusion, a wide number of different telecommunication users are
allowed to benefit from the possibilities which are offered by the ISDN
telecommunication primary rate communications, including data, voice, and
image transfers by means of a corresponding wide number of
telecommunication applications.
This wide number of telecommunications applications is likely to include
travel agency, real estate, retailing and distribution applications.
These require that sophisticated telecommunication equipment or gateways
providing access to the ISDN primary interface be sufficiently simple in
terms of customization, configuration, line connections, directory
management and data traffic control so as to be operable by a user who
does not have the knowledge of a fully qualified telecommunication
engineer.
The problem to be solved by the present invention allows a simple operator,
who is not particularly qualified in the telecommunication field or
particularly in the ISDN network and the multiple connections between ISDN
terminals and X25, SNA, TCP/IP or OSI applications running in host
computers, to easily configure, operate and control a sophisticated
gateway equipment, thereby allowing access to a ISDN primary rate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This problem is solved by the method for configuring and operating a
telecommunication apparatus according to the invention which involves the
step of displaying of a Graphic Object Selection (GOS) display. The
display comprises a set of graphic objects associated with files
comprising parameters required for the teleprocessing functions performed
by the apparatus and particularly defining the parameters of the different
layers in the OSI model. With the method of the invention, the different
graphic objects are organized in such a manner that the storage or memory
which is needed for carrying out the multiple teleprocessing
communications through the ISDN network, particularly with multiple DTEs
having different protocols, can be decreased. In addition to this, the
configuration and the day-to-day operating functions are made much easier
for use by a non-experienced operator.
More particularly, the method according to the present invention comprises
the steps of:
displaying in a first window a first set of objects being associated with a
first set of parameters which are representative of the different
telecommunication protocols, the telecommunication network and the
hardware components thereof, said parameters being loaded in a first file
read by a teleprocessing module and which can be updated either by a user
interface module or said teleprocessing module,
displaying in a second window a second set of graphic objects being
representative of data and parameters relating to the problem
determination procedures in said network apparatus, said objects being
associated with a second file which can be read by said user interface
module and can be updated either by said teleprocessing module or said
user interface module, and
displaying in a third window a third set of graphic objects representative
of the state of said apparatus and associated with a third file which can
be read by said user interface module and which can only be updated by
said teleprocessing module active in the machine.
This results in increased independence between the functional code which
runs into the machine and also facilitates the configuration and the
operation of the apparatus. That further renders easier the future
correction and adaptation of the apparatus and more generally, maintenance
operations.
Preferrably, the color of each object is coded, thereby allowing the user
to instantaneously catch the status of the gateway equipment in a glance.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method according to the
present invention comprises two distinctive editing routines, a first
routine being associated with steps and procedures allowing the editing
and the updating of one object by a non qualified operator, and a second
routine which is associated with steps and editing procedure allowing a
quick editing and updating of the corresponding object by an operator
having more skill in the use of the system. In this way, control and
management of the ISDN primary gateway equipment is allowed for a wide
range of different users operating the gateway.
Preferrably, the first window includes a panel comprising a subset of
graphic objects representative of the LAPB, PLP, X.25 and SDLC protocols
parameters of the terminals which can communicate with said apparatus,
whereby the OSI layers 2 and 3 are easily editable and handled by the
operator.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first window further
comprises a graphic object representative of the parameters of the
hardware components of the machine, including the serial number of the
machine, the country where it is located, and the control mode of its
security access.
Additionaly, the first window displays a graphic object which comprises the
list and characterizing parameters of the Data Terminating Equipment (DTE)
which are authorized access to the apparatus. Preferrably, the object
comprising the parameters of the list of said authorized terminals
comprises a logical link to some of said graphic objects representative of
the X.25 and SDLC protocols, whereby said apparatus is capable of handling
the communication with a numerous set of different terminals.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method allows the
configuration and the operation of an ISDN primary gateway, allowing the
connection of DTE to X.25 host computers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates the technical environment of an ISDN primary gateway
which can incorporate the method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates the basic physical structure of an ISDN primary gateway
which can incorporate the method according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates the Graphic Object Selector (GOS) which is used in the
method according to the present invention.
FIG. 4a illustrates an editing function, in the CURRENT RECORD mode, and
also in PRIMER MODE, of the different parameters which are associated with
the SUBSCRIBER DIRECTORY object 322.
FIG. 4b is an illustrative view of the result of editing the GATEWAY object
315 which contains the physical parameters of a Personal System/2
workstation which embodies the telecommunication equipment using the
invention. A double click mouse-selection operation on the GATEWAY object
315 results in a call of a routine causing the first mode of editing to be
used.
FIG. 4c illustrates the result of the CURRENT RECORD mode editing action of
the X.25 CARDS, object 320, containing data characterizing the X.25 line.
FIGS. 4d, 4e, 4f and 4g respectively show the editing of the LAPB PROFILE
object 311, the PLP PROFILE object 312, the X.25 PROFILE object 313 and
the SDLC PROFILE object 314 in the simple CURRENT RECORD mode.
FIGS. 4h and 4i respectively illustrate the editing of the ERROR.sub.-- LOG
file in the CURRENT RECORD mode.
FIGS. 5 illustrates editing in the LIST mode, and also in ADVANCED mode, of
the different parameters which are associated with the SUBSCRIBER
DIRECTORY, object 322.
FIG. 6 shows the correspondence table between the different graphic objects
being used in the Graphic Object Selector and the different actions which
are authorized in those data,
FIG. 7 illustrates the flow chart of the editing routine of the different
graphic objects comprised in the Graphic Object Selector.
FIG. 8 illustrates the organization of the user interface module, the
general teleprocessing module and the status displaying module, in such a
way that each module can operate asynchronously.
FIG. 9 illustrates the organization of the software components of the
teleprocessing module which is distributed within the different storages
of the machines, the adapter cards 211, 220 and 221 and the ISDN primary
adapter 222.
FIG. 10 illustrates the initialization process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
With respect to FIG. 1, there is shown the general technical environment of
one ISDN primary gateway equipment 1 which can advantageously incorporate
the different technical steps of the method according to the present
invention. ISDN primary rate gateway equipment 1 allows different Data
Terminating Equipment (DTE), such as a terminal 10, interactive terminal
11, a terminal 12 to be connected to a cluster controller of the type IBM
3174 via an ISDN terminal adapter of the type IBM 7820, and also permits
connection of data processing system 13, 14 and 15 of the type IBM RISC
System/6000 which are connected to the ISDN network through their
associated IBM 7820 terminal adapters, for instance. In one embodiment of
the invention, each DTE 10 to 15 may be located in different towns. For
instance, DTE 15 can be located in Paris while DTE 14 operates in London
and DTE 13 in Munich, and each is provided a 2B+D basic access to their
national respective ISDN networks in order to get access to an electronic
database placed in a host computer 25 of the type IBM 3090, also located
in Paris, via a telecommunication controller equipment 21, such as a IBM
3745. Such a telecommunication architecture could be particularly useful
in the real estate field where up to 30 different remote DTEs, each one
being located in a corresponding real estate agency, can get the access to
a centralized database of the houses for sales in Europe. The database can
contain a wide and comprehensive description, including data, images and
possibly music or voice, within Host computer 25 in Paris. It should be
noticed that the architecture is not limited to one single host computer
25. The ISDN primary gateway i could also provide the access to additional
host computers, such as a IBM ES/9221 host 22, a RISC System/6000 host 23
and an AS/400 computer 24.
The reference numerals used in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7-10 indicate the figure in
which they appear. For example, elements introduced for the first time and
illustrated in FIG. 2 have reference numerals in the 2XX range. Similarly
FIGS. 3 and 7-10 have reference numerals in the 3XX, 7XX, 8XX, 9XX and
10XX ranges, respectively. In view of this numbering scheme it is not
necessary to clutter up the specification with superfluous references to
figure numbers since the reference numeral itself includes the figure
designation in the digits above the tens order.
With respect to the FIG. 2, there is described the general architecture of
the ISDN primary gateway which uses the method according to the present
invention. Gateway 1 comprises a computer 210, which is of the type such
as the IBM Personal System/2 8595-AH9 in the preferred embodiment of the
invention, into which is plugged one or two X25 cards 211 for allowing the
X.21/V.35 connections to the host computers. Additionally, it comprises
one to four ISDN cards 220 which allow the connection of the computer to a
ISDN primary adapter 222. Each X25 card 211 or ISDN card 220 is currently
available under the reference "IBM Real Time Interface Coprocessor
Portmaster Adapter/A" card (RIC) which is marketed by IBM and is well
known to those skilled in the art.
Briefly, each RIC Portmaster card 211 or 220 comprises its own
microprocessor operating with some memory and a Direct Memory Access (DMA)
controller, I/O devices etc. That microprocessor is associated with an
operating system providing time sharing and priority management. Each RIC
Portmaster card is directly connected to the Micro-channel Architecture
(MCA) bus of the computer 210, whose resources are therefore available to
all the cards which are plugged into the machine.
It should be noticed that in the preferred embodiment of the invention,
each X.25 card is a RIC Portmaster card or MOTHER board, on which is
plugged a (not shown in FIG. 2) additional corresponding DAUGHTER card of
the type ELECTRICAL INTERFACE BOARD providing the electrical interface,
either conforming with the X21 or V35 CCITT Recommendations, that is to
say, to the well known functions corresponding to the layer 1 of the OSI
model.
Assuming that one Host computer to which the ISDN primary gateway 1 is
intended to be connected has a V35 interface, the corresponding RIC
Portmaster card 211 will be fitted with a V35 DAUGHTER board card. In the
reverse case, i.e. the case of a Host computer communicating through a X21
interface, the RIC Portmaster card will be fitted with a DAUGHTER card
matching the CCITT X21 Recommendations. Similarly, each ISDN RIC
Portmaster card 220 is fitted with a corresponding ISDN DAUGHTER card 221
which allows the electrical connection to a ISDN primary adapter 222
achieving the Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) of the 30 B channels,
whereby the ISDN primary gateway provides the primary access to the ISDN
network.
The internal structure of the different RIC Portmaster cards 220 and 221,
with their associated DAUGHTER card, and also with the structure of the
multiplexing adapter 222 are not part of the present invention and they
will not be described further. Details of such elements can be shown in
the U.S. patent application entitled "Method and Apparatus for
Initializing ISDN Adapter Cards in a Workstation Operating as an ISDN
Primary Gateway" filed simultaneously herwwith by the same assignee, the
description of which is not necessary, but is incorporated by reference in
this application.
With respect to FIG. 3, there will be described now the Graphic Object
Selector panel for managing the operation of an ISDN primary gateway
system which is advantageously used in the method according to the present
invention.
The Graphic Object Selector panel is composed of a set of 14 graphic
objects which are displayed to the user. Some of the objects are
associated to a corresponding file containing information which is needed.
This allows a quick and efficient configuration and control of the
machine, even by a user or an operator without high qualification in the
telecommunication environment. As will appear below, the organization of
the functional characteristic features of the machine takes advantage of
the different relationships existing betwen the internal parts of the
machine so that an easy configuration and control of the latter is made
possible. In addition the user interface becomes completely independent of
the teleprocessing routines.
Generally speaking, the method according to the invention involves the
steps of displaying on the GOS of objects in a colour-coded manner in
order to facilitate control of the machine. In the preferred embodiment of
the invention a green color is used when the configuration data
corresponding to one displayed object has been successfully compiled
within the machine. In that case, the data will become operational on the
next starting of the ISDN gateway.
A graphic object is displayed in yellow when configuration data
corresponding to that object requires compilation. A graphic object is
displayed in grey when a physical entity within the machine corresponding
to the object is not installed or when characterizing data relative to the
object have been removed from the current configuration.
The different objects which are displayed on the Graphic Object Selector
(GOS) panel are organized in three distinctive classes, each class
corresponding to a specific range of functional routines operating in the
machine.
Graphic Object Selector (GOS) panel includes a first OPERATION window 310
area which contains information corresponding to technical characteristics
which are needed for operating the machine. Particularly, these include
the profile files containing protocol parameters for the terminals which
can be attached to the network, gateway files characterizing the network
and the computer workstation forming the basis for the gateway, the
technical data characterizing the different ISDN and X25 cards which are
possibly plugged in the workstation, and the ISDN Subscriber directory
listing the subscribers who are allowed access to the network.
The graphic objects corresponding to the profile files of OPERATION window
310 include LAPB PROFILE object 311, PLP PROFILE object 312, X25 PROFILE
object 313 and SDLC PROFILE object 314. LAPB PROFILE object 311 comprises
data characterizing the LAPB Link Access protocol, i.e. corresponding to
data relative to the Layer 2 in the OSI model, which can be used by the
X.25 terminals. Such protocols are well known to those skilled in the art.
Those parameters particularly include the definition of the window size,
i.e. the number of packets which the transmitter can send before waiting
for an acknowledgement, the size of the frames which are transmitted, the
values of timers which are involved in the LAPB procedures etc.
PLP PROFILE object 312 contains the Packet Level Protocol (PLP) parameters
for X.25 terminals using these profiles, i.e. corresponding to data
relative to the layer 3 of the OSI model, such as the packet size
consisting in the number of bits comprised within a packet etc.
The parameters which are respectively associated with the LAPB PROFILE
object 311 and the PLP PROFILE object 312 can be associated by means of an
additional object, a so-called X.25 PROFILE object 313 containing the
parameters characterizing the links which are used for the X.25 Data
Terminating Equipment (DTE). When the operator performs an editing of one
X.25 PROFILE object 313, the gateway automatically recalls the parameters
contained in LAPB PROFILE object 311 and PLP PROFILE object 312 which are
associated to that particular X.25 PROFILE object. This allows the
different configuration parameters of the numerous different terminals
which are likely to communicate via the ISDN gateway, to be stored with
less memory space. Further, this allows an easy and effective manipulation
of the numerous parameters so that the configuration of the system is made
much easier for the user.
Finally, SDLC PROFILE object 314 contains the parameters characterizing the
SDLC transmission and reception with the host computer 15 of FIG. 1 via
the ISDN network and the IBM 7820 Terminal Adapter (TA) illustrated in the
same figure.
It should be noticed that the manipulation of those objects described
above, and other objects described below, is facilitated by the monitoring
of a double-clicking mouse-selection operation from the user during the
editing of an object resulting in the loading of default parameters in the
corresponding files.
In addition to the above described PROFILE objects 311, 312, 313 and 314,
the OPERATION window 310 comprises a set of seven objects which
characterize the configuration of the personal computer which embodies the
ISDN primary gateway.
A GATEWAY object 315 comprises the parameters which are specific to the
gateway apparatus being used: they particularly define the ISDN number of
the machine, the country where it is located, the type of the ISDN network
which is used, the control mode of the security access which is involved
etc. GATEWAY object 315 can be manipulated by the user by means of the two
following operations: STOP.sub.-- GATEWAY and START.sub.-- GATEWAY which,
respectively, cause the machine to be stopped or started as explained
below.
The manipulation of the GATEWAY object 315 is achieved as follows: the
machine monitors the selection of this object by the user. Selection
results in a highlighting of the object on the display, and with the
displaying, on a dedicated area on the display, of menu bars of the two
actions START.sub.-- GATEWAY and STOP.sub.-- GATEWAY which are then
allowed to the user. Then, the gateway performs an additional monitoring
of either a further selection of the GATEWAY object 315 or the selection
of one among the two actions STOP.sub.-- GATEWAY or START.sub.-- GATEWAY
which are displayed within the Graphic Object Selector (GOS). If the
latter monitoring detects that the user has performed a second selection
of the GATEWAY object 315, then an editing routine is called which allows
the user to edit the corresponding object and address the parameters
therein included. In the case where the latter monitoring operation
results in the detection of the selection of the OPERATION action, then
the start (or conversely the stopping) of the gateway can be performed by
the user by means of an appropriate selection on one menu bar.
Four additional objects 316-319 respectively correspond to the different
ISDN adapter cards which can possibly be plugged within the computer 1 of
the FIG. 1. These objects are associated with configuration data. Those
four objects 316-319 can be manipulated by the user only by means of two
distinctive operations, a first CREATE and a second DELETE operation.
Similarly to the above, when the user selects one among the four objects
316-319, the gateway program performs the displaying of corresponding menu
bars associated with the CREATE and DELETE operations which are
authorized. Then, the program enters a monitoring process where it detects
either a second selection of the same object which was already selected,
in which case the latter can be edited, or the selection of one among the
two authorized CREATE or DELETE operations.
When the operator clicks the CREATE menu bar which is displayed within the
Graphic Object Selector (GOS), the object 316-319 which has been currently
selected can be created and the appropriate parameters which correspond to
the considered ISDN cards can be stored. The gateway then performs a
change in the color of that object which turns to yellow. A further change
in the color will occur after the compilation of the parameters of this
object, and the latter will then turn to green if the compilation
succeeds. When the operator clicks the DELETE menu bar which is displayed
within the Graphic Object Selector (GOS), the object which has been
currently selected can be, conversely, deleted, then resulting in the
latter having its color turned to grey. This indicates to the operator
that the corresponding ISDN card has been or will be removed from the
computer before the occurrence of the next Initial Program Loading (IPL)
procedures.
The ISDN primary gateway apparatus is also characterized by two additional
UPSTREAM.sub.-- X.25.sub.-- CARD objects 320 and 321 which are each
associated with a file containing parameters which define the 12 lines
which can be used for the connection of the ISDN primary gateway to the
two host computers. For a given line, those parameters particularly
comprise the logical name of the line, the port number which is used for
this line, the X.25 address of the upstream X25 DTE 21 which is connected
to this line, the X25 profile of the SDLC profile which is involved, i.e.
a pointer to one among the objects 313 and 314, etc.
OPERATION window 310 further comprises a ISDN SUBSCRIBER DIRECTORY object
322 which is associated to a file including the list of the ISDN
subscribers which will be allowed by the gateway to access a given
application running within one of the host computers 22, 23, 24 or 25. The
parameters contained in the ISDN SUBSCRIBER DIRECTORY object 322
particularly comprised the ISDN number and the extension number Called
Party Subaddress (CPS) used in the ISDN communication, the ISDN and X.25
addresses of the subscriber, its terminal type (either X.25 or SDLC), and
the appropriate profile, i.e. a pointer to the appropriate PROFILE objects
313 or 314.
As mentioned above, the method for controlling the configuration of the
ISDN gateway according to the present invention takes benefit of the
different relationships existing between the different, numerous
parameters which are involved during the customization and day-to-day
operating procedures of a sophisticated apparatus such as a ISDN Primary
gateway device. This first requires the use of only a limited amount of
storage memory since the organization of the objects which is described
takes advantage of the relationship between those parameters and thereby
prevents redundancy. In addition to this, the configuration and operation
of the sophisticated ISDN primary gateway apparatus is made much easier
for the non-experienced operator.
OPERATION window 310 also comprises a BACKUP object 323 which has the shape
of a diskette. The manipulation of this BACKUP object 323 provides save
and restore functions for the configuration parameters which are
associated with objects 311, 312, 313, 314, 316, 317,318, 319, 320, 321
and 322. The implementation of such store and save functions is well known
to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be described with
further detail.
An additional COMPILE ERROR object 324 allows the display of the
compilation errors or incidents which might have occurred during the
initialization of the machine. The compilation process of all the files
associated with the above objects provides a set of corresponding binary
files which will be used by the teleprocessing and operating code and
routines in the machine. During the compilation of the files containing
the above described parameters associated with the objects contained in
the GOS 310, tests are performed in order to detect incompatibility
between the different files associated with their corresponding objects.
For instance, the operator might have keyed the same ISDN number for two
distinctive DTEs during the editing process of SUBSCRIBER DIRECTORY object
322. The compilation process of the files that are associated with
corresponding graphic objects, which compilation is performed prior to the
general operating of the machine, i.e. the teleprocessing functions,
involves a series of test procedures whose purpose is the detection of
such incompatibily in the data that a non-experienced operator might
introduce. When an error in the compilation has been detected, this
information is recorded and made available to the user by means of the
graphic COMPILE ERROR object 324.
The Graphic Object Selector (GOS) also includes a second PROBLEM
DETERMINATION window which comprises a set of six distinctive graphic
objects, a so-called ERROR LOG object 331, a STATISTICS.sub.-- LOG object
332, a PS/2.sub.-- INTERFACE object 333, a ISDN.sub.-- IB.sub.-- MEMORY
object 334, an ISDN.sub.-- DTE object 335, and an X.25 LINE object 336.
ERROR LOG object 331 and STATISTICS.sub.-- LOG object 332 are associated
with files recording some events which are useful for statistical purposes
and for the management of error incidents which might have occurred on the
lines and which were reported by the ISDN primary gateway apparatus, e.g.
the occurrence of a transmission incident which might occur on one among
the 30 ISDN links, and generally speaking any hardware or protocol errors
or failures which have been reported to the gateway. STATISTICS LOG object
332 allows the browsing of protocol statistics, ie the number of sessions
which have been established between two determined instants etc. The two
files which are respectively associated with ERROR LOG object 331 and
STATISTICS object 332 are a EVENT LOG file and a ERROR LOG file which can
be browsed by means of two successive clicking operations on the mouse
which are operated by the operator.
PS/2.sub.-- INTERFACE object 333 can be manipulated by means of the mouse
and provides the initiating of a trace operation, i.e. the storage in
memory, for analysis purpose, of the fifty-four first bytes of every frame
of data which goes through each CIB interface card 221 of the FIG. 2.
ISDN.sub.-- IB.sub.-- MEMORY object 334 can also be manipulated by means
of the mouse controlling the machine and provides the dumping, i.e. the
storage in memory of the contents of the memory located within each CIB
card 221. This facilitates maintenance operations since the main computer
can obtain an instantaneous state of the different RIC cards 220 and their
associated CIB cards 221.
The two last objects of PROBLEM DETERMINATION window 330 allow the
possibility to start trace operation on specific lines. To achieve this,
assuming that the operator clicks object 236 relating to a X25 line for
instance, a routine is called which requests that the operator select a
specific line. Then, when the latter selection has been completed, the
gateway apparatus performs a trace, i.e. records in a determined file the
data flow which is transmitted through this specific line. Similarly, when
the operator clicks object 235 associated to the ISDN lines, a routine is
called which requests that the operator enter a specific ISDN subscriber
number, and then the corresponding data flow on the B or D channel is
recorded. Therefore, it should be noticed that, in addition to the
advantage already mentioned above, i.e. the possibility exists of
obtaining in one unique file an instantaneous state of the numerous cards
which are plugged within the machine, the possibility of tracing a
specific X25 or ISDN line to coordinate the numerous cards and subparts of
the sophisticated ISDN gateway. Such features allow easy maintenance of
the whole system and also provide the possibility to embody a
sophisticated telecommunication product such as a ISDN primary gateway
apparatus with a general purpose computer having appropriate multiple
cards.
Finally, the Graphic Object Selector (GOS) comprises a third window which
provides in real time the state of the different hardware parts of the
machine and also the state of the different operational teleprocessing
procedures which are currently performed. In the preferred embodiment of
the invention, the third window is called GATEWAY.sub.-- STATUS window
350. This third window comprises a first indicator, comprising an object
351 whose purpose is to inform the operator of the status of the ISDN
primary gateway apparatus as being either STOPPED, or STARTING, or
RUNNING, or STOPPING. A STOPPED indication informs the operator that no
data are being passed through the gateway, while a RUNNING indicating
reveals, on the contrary, that the gateway receives and transmits data. If
object 351 indicates a STARTING message, then the operator is made aware
that the machine has entered in an initialization procedure prior to the
performing of any teleprocessing operations. When the object 351 indicates
a STOPPING message, the operator is made aware that the machine has
initiated a end-of-session procedure.
An additional object 352 indicates the status for each RIC communication
adapter card 220. For this purpose, and to facilitate the operating of the
machine, a color code is used for the definition of each status. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, a green color characterizes one
card which is ready for transmitting and receiving data. A grey colour is
used to inform the operator that the corresponding RIC adapter card is not
configured or is not present in the slot, while a red color is
representative of the occurrence of a hardware failure. Similarly object
352 comprises two indicators, X1 and X2, which are representative of the
state of the two X.25 upstream cards (211).
The third window of Graphic Object Selector (GOS) further comprises a
graphic indicator 353 which indicates whether trace operations are
currently being performed. As mentioned above, such trace operations are
the result of a TRACE command which is selected in association with one
among the graphic objects 333, 335 and 336.
A DUMP graphic object 354 is used for informing the operator that a dump
operation has been requested by the manipulation of the object 334 and is
currently being performed.
To improve the configuration and day-to-day operating procedures,
particularly for non-experienced operators, the graphic objects which are
associated with files containing parameters are provided with the
following editing facilities. Indeed, the PROFILE graphics objects 311,
312, 313 and 314, the X.25 adapter card objects, 320 and 321, the
SUBSCRIBER.sub.-- LIST object 322, the COMPILE.sub.-- ERROR object 324,
and the ERROR.sub.-- LOG and STATISTICS.sub.-- LOG files are provided with
two distinctive modes of displaying the records according to the skill of
the operator.
A CURRENT RECORD mode is first provided which causes the simple display of
all the different records or parameters which are associated with a given
graphic object being edited. This mode can also be advantageously used
when updating the different records which are associated with the
considered graphic object. FIGS. 4a to 4i are illustrative view of the use
of this first mode.
However, for operators having a higher level of experience or skill in the
manipulation of parameters and data relating to the telecommunication
transmission, there is provided a second mode of editing, called a
LIST.sub.-- OF.sub.-- RECORD mode which results in the simultaneous
display of the records associated with the edited objects for all the
items. FIG. 5 illustrates the LIST.sub.-- OF.sub.-- RECORD editing mode on
the SUBSCRIBER DIRECTORY object 322, resulting in the display of a set of
row comprising records arranged in column, one row being dedicated to one
subscriber and one column of one given row containing one parameter of the
considered subscriber.
FIG. 6 illustrates the chart giving the associations between the different
actions and each graphic object being displayed in the Graphic Object
Selector (GOS) and the different operations available. This chart shows
the five following actions, i.e. EXIT, COMPILE, PASSWORD, DISPLAY STATUS,
and HELP actions, the latter resulting in the display of a help facilities
messages. EXIT is self-explanatory. The COMPILE action allows the checking
of the validity of the data which were keyed in by the operator and stored
in each object's file, and then compiled in order to generate the
executable code. The PASSWORD action allows the management of password and
other security facilities, and finally the DISPLAY STATUS initiates a
specific routine causing the general program to display the internal
status of the machine as will be described hereafter. The chart also
indicates that some actions are available only for certain determined
graphic objects: the RELOAD action, resulting in the gateway being
reconfigured with the default parameters, and the already mentioned START
and STOP actions are available for the GATEWAY object 315. Also the TRACE
action is only available for the PS/2 INTERFACE object 333, ISDN DTE
object 335 and X.25 LINE object 336. Three actions NEW, OPEN and DELETE
are available for objects which are associated with a configuration file.
However, the BACKUP object 323 is not manipulable by means of the NEW,
OPEN or DELETE actions. ERROR.sub.-- LOG object 331 and STATISTICS LOG
object 332 can only be read or deleted by the operator, however, they can
not be created since the associated files are generated by the operational
teleprocessing routines running in the machine. The COMPILE ERROR object
324 is created during a compilation process of the whole configuration
files which results in the detection of incompatibility between the data
which are recorded in different files. The COMPILE ERROR object 324 will
be erased after the next successful compilation.
An OPEN Action is available on the graphic objects which are associated
with a file, i.e. objects 311-322, 324, 331 and 332. Double clicking by
the operator on such an object (the two clickings being performed in less
than 500 millisecond) results in the OPEN action being performed on this
object. Consequently, the first RECORD edition mode is initiated which
allows the operator to update the file being associated to the edited
object. It should be noticed that in the preferred embodiment of the
invention, the same result can be obtained by means of a different
procedure. After a first click being performed on a given object, the
operator can select the FILE action which is proposed in the menu bar
being simultaneously displayed with the GOS. On the occurrence of the FILE
action, the software causes a submenu to be displayed comprising the OPEN
action which the operator can select. This submenu only comprises the
appropriate actions which are authorized for the considered graphic object
which was selected by the operator. This is achieved by using a
correspondence table stored within the memory storage affected to the user
interface program and which causes only the available actions to be
displayed on the display and selectable by the operator.
The editing routine which is used in the method according to the present
invention permits the operator to manipulate the files associated with
some graphics objects by means of well known COPY, DELETE, DUPLICATE and
CREATE operations, also operations for the manipulation of data, and at
last the SAVE or EXIT, which are well known file management operations. In
addition to these, the editing routine is provided with some SEARCH and
SORT facility functions. The management of the different files, either the
configuration files and the day-to-day operations files which are required
for the general teleprocessing operations is based on a set of two
different files. A first FILE DEFINITION file is associated with
corresponding DATA files. The FILE DEFINITION file comprises a template
characterizing all the different fields which are used for a considered
file, particularly the name of the field, the type (numeric data or
alphanumeric data), the range of possible values, the relationships
between the different values or parameters between the different fields
etc. For instance, the graphic object 320 is associated with a file having
template comprising a CLOCK field may have two states: either EXTERNAL if
the clock is externally provided or, on the contrary INTERNAL in the case
where the clock is internally generated. Assuming that the clock is
externally provided, the value of the speed which will be used will have
to be comprises within a predetermined ranges of values which is stored in
the FILE DEFINITION file. Similarly, in the case of an INTERNAL clock
generated in the machine, the value of the speed will have to be chosen
among a list of values which is also stored in the FILE DEFINITION file.
With respect to the FIG. 4a, the SUBSCRIBER DIRECTORY file will have a FILE
DEFINITION file comprising the definition of a template consisting of a
first field named TIME STAMP, a second field entitled ISDN NUMBER, a third
field called ISDN CPS etc. The FILE DEFINITION file also comprises the
test procedures and routines which ensure the integrity of data and which
will prevent the operator from keying erroneous data. The FILE DEFINITION
file is used by the user interface program when the operator wishes to
create a new file corresponding to a given object, in our case the
SUBSCRIBER DIRECTORY object 322. Then, when the operator keys the
different parameters which will be used for updating of that file, the
user interface program checks the data and stores them in the data file
which is associated with the considered FILE DEFINITION file.
Therefore, the definition of the file and the template (which are contained
in the FILE DEFINITION file) are clearly separated from the data which are
necessary for the teleprocessing functions. This first results in a higher
flexibility of the software program which can be maintained or modified
more easily. In addition to this, since the FILE DEFINITION file comprises
the test routines for the checking of the data, when the operator is
entering data within the system, a first checking of that data can be
immediately performed independently of the further checking operation
which will occur during the above mention compilation process. Therefore
the configuration and the use of the telecommunication equipment is made
much easier, even for a non-experienced operator who can immediately be
informed of the erroneous data he might have entered in the machine.
With respect to FIG. 7, there is shown a flow chart illustrating the
different technical steps which are involved by the user interface method
according to the present invention when the operator manipulates a graphic
object which is associated with a file. On the selection of a given
graphic object, also with the selection of the OPEN action, the user
interface routines look in the FILE DEFINITION file and the DATA FILE
which correspond to the considered object, step 710. Then, step 720, the
user interface program displays the contents of the different fields and
records of the object in the default mode of presentation. Then, the user
interface program monitors a further request from the operator which can
be either a request for VIEW, or data modifications, or still the other
actions which were already mentioned above.
Assuming that the user has requested a VIEW action, step 730, then the user
interface program causes a window to be displayed in which a selection for
either the RECORD presentation mode or the LIST presentation mode is
proposed to the user, step 732. As mentioned above, if the user requests
that the user interface program uses a RECORD presentation mode, the
latter program will display the different records of the considered
objects as illustrated in FIG. 4a to 4i, step 733. In the reverse case,
the user interface program will display the contents of numerous items
associated with the considered objects arranged in a set of rows and
columns such as illustrated in FIG. 5, step 734. In both cases, the
process then proceeds to step 720 again.
If the operator has requested that a manipulation action be performed on
the records, either a COPY, DELETE, DUPLICATE or CREATE, those are
performed in step 760 and the process proceeds to step 720 again.
In the case of a HELP request, step 750, the user interface program
displays a he | | |
