Abstract: 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, the DSNE automatically distributes the identity information of all network elements in a sub-network to all the network elements in that sub-network. Specifically, the DSNE automatically distributes all the identity information for all network elements within a sub-network to a newly registered network element and also supplies the identity information for the newly registered network element to all the other network elements within the sub-network. Since, each sub-network can be defined as a set of network elements that require significant communications with each other, distribution of the identity information for all the network elements in the sub-network to all the network elements in that sub-network significantly reduces the number of queries made to the DSNE.

Abstract: Development cost and time required to support new transmission interfaces is reduced in a digital communication system including a network element provisioned as a Directory Services Network Element (DSNE) by partitioning the telecommunications management network in such a manner that permits the integration of the DSNE with other network elements, or portions thereof, to present an external appearance of it being a single, integrated network element from an OAM&P perspective. This is realized by provisioning the integrated network element, or portions thereof, such that it can only provide its identity information to the DSNE and can only receive the DSNE identity information. The DSNE will not provide the identity information of the integrated network element, or portions thereof, to any network elements in a sub-network interfaced to the integrated network element.

Abstract: In a telecommunications management network indications of newly reachable network elements and indications that existing network elements cease to be reachable are maintained automatically and the need for manually inputting such information is eliminated by employing a routing exchange protocol to dynamically maintain identity information of network elements reachable within the network, and by enhancing the routing exchange protocol interface to automatically supply an indication that a newly reachable network element has been detected or an indication that an existing network element has ceased to be reachable to an applications layer protocol.