Intelligent Network Interface

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for interconnecting disparate communications systems. A call request that originates from a communications network is directed to a network interface. The network interface consequently redirects the call request to a communications entity, such as a radio or a cellular radio system that serves the user associated with the call request. The network interface may support address translation functionality for identifying the communications entity, control conversion functionality for generating control and signaling with the communications entity, transmission content conversion functionality for converting the transmission content during the call, and security functionality for encrypting and decrypting the transmission content. Also, the present invention enables non-networking communications entities to interact with applications that are being executed on another terminal through the network, enables network management systems to manage non-networking communications entities through a network, and enables non-networking communications entities to utilize networking routing services.

1 . A method for a network management system (NMS) managing a communications entity through a network interface, the NMS associated with a communications network, the method comprising: 
 (a) receiving, from the NMS through the communications network, a network management request conforming to a network management protocol;    (b) translating the network management request between the communications network and the communications entity to a translated request that is compatible with the communications entity;    (c) determining whether the translated request is intended for the communications entity; and    (d) in response to (c), sending the translated request from the NMS through the communications network to activate the communications entity.    
   
   
       2 . A network interface for supporting a network management system (NMS) to manage a communications entity through a network interface, the NMS associated with a communications network, the network interface comprising: 
 at least one data port that interfaces to the communications network and to the communications entity; and    a processor communicating through the data port to the communications network and to the communications entity, the processor configured to perform: 
 (a) receiving from the NMS through the communications network a network management request conforming to a network management protocol;  
 (b) translating the network management request between the communications network and the communications entity to a translated request that is compatible with the communications entity;  
 (c) determining whether the translated request is intended for the communications entity; and  
 (d) in response to (c), sending the translated request from the NMS through the communications network to activate the communications entity.  
   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , the communications entity being one of a PTT radio network and a cellular radio network and (b) including translating a signaling protocol between the communications network to either the PTT radio network or the cellular radio network to support a call.  
   
   
       4 . The network interface of  claim 2 , the communications entity being one of a PTT radio network and a cellular radio network and (b) including translating a signaling protocol between the communications network to either the PTT radio network or the cellular radio network to support a call.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) determining a fault in the communications entity.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 (f) repairing the fault in the communications entity.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) restricting access to a resource of the communications entity.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) managing at least one configuration parameter that is associated with the communications entity.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein (e) comprises: 
 (e)(i) modifying the at least one configuration parameter.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein (e) comprises: 
 (e)(i) installing the at least one configuration parameter.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein (e) comprises: 
 (e)(i) tracking the at least one configuration parameter.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) in response to (d), receiving status information about the communications entity.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (e) determining a performance measurement associated with the communications entity.    
   
   
       14 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components comprising: 
 (a) receiving, from a network management system (NMS) through a communications network, a network management request for a communications entity conforming to a network management protocol;    (b) translating the network management request between the communications network and the communications entity to a translated request that is compatible with the communications entity;    (c) determining whether the translated request is intended for the communications entity; and    (d) in response to (c), sending the translated request from the NMS through the communications network to activate the communications entity.