Method and system for obtaining logical performance data for a circuit in a data network

• US 20040141464A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: June, Thad, Taylor, William Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate

Abstract

A method and system are provided for obtaining logical performance data for a network circuit in a data network. The network circuit includes both a logical circuit and a physical circuit. A legacy physical element module sends a request for logical performance data to a logical element module through a network management module in communication with the legacy physical element module and the legacy physical element module. Based on the request, the logical element module retrieves the logical performance data from one or more network devices in the network and transmits the data to the legacy physical element module through the network management module. Upon receiving the logical performance data, the legacy physical element module uses the performance data to troubleshoot the physical circuit. The network device may be a switch. The circuit may be a frame relay circuit or an ATM circuit.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining logical performance data for a network circuit in a data network, comprising:

obtaining logical performance data for the network circuit from a network management module, wherein the network circuit comprises a physical circuit and logical circuit;

based on the logical performance data, determining whether data is being transmitted over the network circuit;

if the network circuit is transmitting data, troubleshooting the logical circuit; and

if the network circuit is not transmitting data, troubleshooting the physical circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical circuit comprises a physical path for the network circuit in the data network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical circuit comprises data describing a logical data path for the network circuit in the data network

4. The method of claim 9, wherein obtaining logical performance data for the network circuit from a network management module comprises:

sending a request to the network management module to obtain the logical performance data;

at the network management module, requesting the logical performance data from a logical element module;

receiving the request at the logical element module;

based on the request, retrieving the logical performance data from at least one network device having access to the network circuit;

at the logical element module, sending the logical performance data to the network management module; and

receiving the logical performance data from the network management module.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical performance data includes errored packets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical performance data includes red octets.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical performance data includes green octets.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical performance data includes discarded eligible frames.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical performance data includes current octet rate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical performance data includes maximum octet rate.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical performance data includes minimum octet rate.

12. A system for obtaining logical performance data for a network circuit in a data network, comprising:

at least one network device having access to logical performance data for the network circuit, wherein the network circuit includes a logical circuit and a physical circuit;

a logical element module, in communication with the at least one network device, for retrieving the logical performance data;

a network management module for receiving the logical performance data from the logical element module; and

a legacy physical element module operative to,

send a request to the network management module for the logical performance data;

receive the logical performance data from the network management module; and

troubleshoot the physical circuit based on the logical performance data.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a test module, in communication with the legacy physical element module, for accessing a test point in the at least one network device to troubleshoot the physical circuit.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the network device is a switch.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the circuit is a frame relay circuit.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the circuit is an ATM circuit.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the logical performance data includes errored packets.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the logical performance data includes red octets.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the logical performance data includes green octets.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the logical performance data includes discarded eligible frames.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the logical performance data includes current octet rate.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the logical performance data includes maximum octet rate.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the logical performance data includes minimum octet rate.