Automated module tracking system for communications networks

• US 20030172152A1
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vaver, Jon G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/55 Testing of service level quality, e.g. simulating service usage

Abstract

A system for tracking modules in a network includes a service history recording arrangement associated with a module. The arrangement is configured to store data relating to the module. The system further includes a data storage arrangement configured to store data relating to the module. The system also includes a network monitoring arrangement configured to read information from or write information to the service history recording arrangement and to read information from or write information to the data storage arrangement. The system also includes a processor configured to receive and process data from the data storage arrangement and thereby produce analyzed network information. The service history recording arrangement may be integral to the module. The service history recording arrangement may include nonvolatile memory. Modules that include a service history recording arrangement are also provided. Associated methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for tracking modules in a network, comprising:

a service history recording arrangement associated with a module configured to store data relating to the module;

a data storage arrangement configured to store data relating to the module;

a network monitoring arrangement configured to access the service history recording arrangement and to access the data storage arrangement; and

a processor configured to receive and process data from the data storage arrangement and thereby produce analyzed information associated with the network.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the service history recording arrangement is integral to the module.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the service history recording arrangement includes nonvolatile memory.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the nonvolatile memory is selected from the group consisting of static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a combination of SRAM and EEPROM, Flash random access memory (Flash RAM), or ferroelectric nonvolatile random access memory (FRAM).

5. The system as recite in claim 1, wherein the system includes more than one network module and wherein the data storage arrangement includes a database that stores information relating to the more than one network module.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a field tool for accessing a service history recording arrangement associated with a module apart from the network.

7. A network component, comprising:

a network module; and

a service history recording arrangement configured to record information relating to the network module, the service history recording arrangement, including;

a nonvolatile memory element that stores the information relating to the module.

8. The network component as recited in claim 7, wherein the network module is selected from the group consisting of a transmitter, a receiver, a power supply, a controller and a relay a splitter, a tuner, an amplifier, a pump, a filter, a multiplexer, a gain equalizer, a dispersion equalizer, a CPU, a control processor, and a shelf processor.

9. The network component as recited in claim 7, wherein the nonvolatile memory element is selected from the group consisting of static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a combination of SRAM and EEPROM, Flash random access memory (Flash RAM), or ferroelectric nonvolatile random access memory (FRAM).

10. The network component as recited in claim 7, wherein the service history recording arrangement is further configured to be accessed by a network monitoring arrangement.

11. The network component as recited in claim 7, wherein the service history recording arrangement is further configured to be accesses by a field tool.

12. A field tool, comprising:

a memory element that stores information relating to a network module;

an interface that accesses a service history recording arrangement associated with a network module such that the information may be transmitted from the memory element to the service history recording arrangement and such that the information may be transmitted from the service history recording arrangement to the memory element.

13. A method of tracking the service history of modules in a network, comprising:

recording module service history information on a service history recording arrangement associated with each module;

causing the information to be transmitted to and stored on a data storage arrangement;

processing the information to produce analyzed information associated with the network.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising using a field tool to modify the module service history information.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the service history recording arrangement is integral to the module.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the service history recording arrangement includes nonvolatile memory.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the nonvolatile memory is selected from the group consisting of static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a combination of SRAM and EEPROM, Flash random access memory (Flash RAM), or ferroelectric nonvolatile random access memory (FRAM).

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the data storage arrangement includes a database system.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the analyzed information is made available over the Internet.

20. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the analyzed information is made available over a private network.

21. A method of using a field tool to track modules in a network, comprising:

connecting the field tool to a module; and

accessing a memory device associated with the module.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the information includes service history information relating to the module.