SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK UTILIZING STATE-BASED POLLING

A system and method are disclosed which utilize a state model for managing a network. A user can define a state model using, for example, a graphical user interface. A user may define one or more poll services that include state model(s) therein to be simultaneously executed, which enables efficient operation of such state models. A most preferred embodiment provides a central management system that is communicatively coupled to one or more distributed polling gateways for executing the user-defined state models to manage network elements. Upon the polling gateway determining that a state transition is proper, the state of the network element is transitioned, and user defined transition actions for such state transition are triggered in response thereto. A user may implement cross-correlation of various different state models in managing network elements. Additionally, a user may dynamically define/modify polling services and/or state models during runtime.