Shared Conceptual Schema

Information exchanged between enterprises may range from highly processed to very elemental data. Consequently, the effect of the exchange may range from widespread to very narrow impact. In either case, effective interoperability can only be achieved if the enterprises share a common understanding of the structure and meaning of management information - a shared conceptual schema. Adopting the approach suggested by OSI management standards the uses managed objects as the basis of its schemata. (See the single managed object viewpoint.) Managed objects are considered open by virtue of their registration. Any such managed objects (not only those registered by the TMN) are included as managed objects open to access across the interoperable interface. When necessary the will define managed objects specifically for interoperability when appropriate managed object definitions are not otherwise available. An enterprise is an organization or group of organizations together with the communications equipment they use and the management solutions which manage it. The goal of the is to allow different management solutions to interoperate to manage a communications network. Interoperability is achieved using the interoperable interface across a management network, and is subject to negotiated interworking policies. Human network management users have the responsibility of specifying network management requirements, and a functional client/server approach can be taken to analyze these requirements.