Abstract: A system is provided for building, operating, and managing a virtual network which integrates the configuration, the operation, and the management of plural information devices connected to a network. The system includes agents for operating, and managing information devices in the respective devices, a physical manager for building, operating, and managing the information devices, and a logical manager for logically building, operating, and managing the information devices. The agent operates to control the settings and the change of the information device in which the agent is mounted and communicates the information with the physical manager. The physical manager operates to manage the agent of each information device and communicates the information with a user and the logical manager.

Abstract: A hierarchical communication network management system is structured by a plurality of agents and sub-managers connected to lower communication networks and an integration manager connected to a higher communication network. Each of the sub-managers functions as an agent to the integration manager and functions as a manager to each agent, so that it becomes possible to employ a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) between each agent and its sub-manager and between a sub-manager and the integration manager.

Abstract: In a network management operation system connected via a communication line to a network having a plurality of object instances to be managed, the management information database stores management information of the containment relationship between object instances in the form of table. When an operator designates some object instances and enters a control command for the designated object instances, the management information of the designated object instances is retrieved from the management information database and a containment tree (management information having a containment structure) corresponding to the containment relationship between the designated object instances is generated, respectively within the network management operation system. In accordance with the generated containment tree, a scope pattern of Common Management Information Service (CMIS) of Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) is automatically generated.

Abstract: In a network management system, information items respectively of connection relationships, containment relationships, and display priority of a plurality of managed object instances (resources) are stored in a memory. According to a predetermined algorithm, there is calculated an evaluated value for display for each of the instances depending on the containment relationship information and display priority to select a limited number of instances representable on a screen. Displayed on the screen is a network layout diagram including icons representing the plural instances thus selected. When the user specifies one of the icons, the specified instance and a number of representable instances selected according to the evaluated values from a group of instances under the specified instance in the containment relationships are displayed in a new network layout diagram on the screen.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a network communication protocol specifically directed to implementation of fault management between managers, agents and test objects in the network. Timers for limiting the available times for implicit and explicit reports and instructions are provided to avoid excessive waits for instructions, responses or execution of the overall test. Agents can autonomously report test results to reduce manager responsibilities for improved operating efficiency.