Abstract: A software object model for modeling (resource instances and resource types in a network management system. The model comprises object instances and object classes. Each class comprises fragments of data and/or program code and is a generalization of one or more object instances. The model models each resource type by an object class and assigns to the class a class version identifier which indicates at least some capabilities of the resource instance/types and a collection of the fragments included in the class of the version in question. The model further models each resource instance by an object instance of the corresponding class, and assigns to the instance an object instance identifier and an instance version identifier which indicate the version of the class used for modeling the resource type in question.

Abstract: A software object model for modelling resources (resource instances (RI) and resource types (RT)) in a network management system. The model comprises object instances (OI) and object classes (OC). Each class comprises fragments (FG) of data and/or program code and is a generalization of one or more object instances (OI). The model models each resource type (RT) by an object class (OC) and assigns to the class a class version identifier (CVI) which indicates at least some capabilities of the resource (RI, RT) and a collection of the fragments (FG) included in the class (OC) of the version in question. The model further models each resource instance (RI) by an object instance (OI) of the corresponding class, and assigns to the instance (OI) an object instance identifier (OII) and an instance version identifier (IVI) which indicate the version of the class (OC) used for modelling the resource type (RT) in question.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for defining an interface between a network management system and a network element in a telecommunication network, wherein data elements that can be transferred over the interface are defined and stored in the network management system and network element. The data elements that can be transferred over the interface are defined by means of a self-describing mark-up language, the data elements and their values are coded by means of the self-describing mark-up language, the coded data elements and their values are conveyed over the interface and decoded at the receiving end. Different element definitions can be stored in the network management system and network element, whereby the element definition that can be transferred over the new interface can be stored either in the network management system or in the network element.