Network element including automatic network element identity information registration apparatus and method

摘要

In a telecommunications management network including a network element provisioned as a so-called Directory Services Network Element (DSNE) and at least one sub-network intended to include one or more network elements, automatic registration network element identity information is realized by employing a routing exchange protocol to dynamically maintain identity information of network elements reachable within the network, enhancing the routing exchange protocol interface to automatically supply an indication of detection of a newly reachable network element to an applications layer protocol, and using the indentity information of a newly reachable network element in the applications layer protocol of the DSNE to establish communications with the newly reachable network element. Then, the newly reachable network element supplies additional identity information (e.g., its name, network address and the like) to the DSNE. The DSNE, upon receiving the additional identity information, supplies its identity information to the newly reachable network element. Consequently, the identity information of the DSNE is supplied to each newly reachable network element as it is added to the network. This provides all network elements the capability of establishing communications with the DSNE, so that queries can be made for identity information of other network elements in the sub-network. The retrieved identity information can, in turn, be used by the individual network elements to establish communications with other network elements in the sub-network.