TIMS : a TMN-based information model simulator, principles and application to a simple case study

The main contribution of the paper is to set up an architecture for the behavior simulation and the rapid-prototyping of TMN systems. The underlying formal system is classically defined in terms of a formalism used to specify the simulated behaviors along with a simple operational semantic. A general outline of the so-called Behavior Language (BL) formalism is given, defining how the managed object behaviors are emulated when solicited from any interface. A hybrid approach, combining both imperative (triggered behaviors) and declarative (untriggered behaviors) specification in the context of relationships is used. Finally, since rapid-prototyping is the key feature of the targeted tool-set, the behavior integration and development environment is considered as an actual third dimension of the system. Thus, the different alternatives for behavior integration are evaluated, with respect to the well stated hypothesis and assumptions leading the project. This evaluation results as a non monolithic but rather integration approach : the so-called eXternal Behavior Integration (XBI). The concepts as well as the XBI approach are validated through a "not so" simple case study dealing with configuration management in the optical access network and service life-cycle provisioning.