Method and system for correlating condition reporting messages in a communication network

摘要

Error or condition reporting messages known as "alerts" transmitted to a communication network management facility are correlated by including with each reporting message or alert a unique token having a length field, a key identifier field identifying the nature of the message and a data message field containing a unique n-byte pattern. Incoming reporting messages or alerts received at the communication network management facility are scanned for the existence of a reporting message correlation subvector and, if such a message is found, its token is extracted and compared against a list of previously received tokens to determine whether the reporting message concerns a facility or resource which has already been the subject of a previous report or alert. The inclusion of the length and key identifier fields in addition to the unique n-byte field to make up the token assures that correlation tokens generated under different communication protocols will not contain identical tokens.