Method and system for providing automated data retrieval in support of fault isolation in a managed services network

• US 20060233310A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atlassian US, Inc. (Atlassian Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Christopher Lawson, Drescher, Richard Brian, Adams, Frank Paul Jr., Smith, Stephen Michael, Spieker, Jonathan Lyle, Smith, Michael Robert, Damle, Sanjiv Purushottam, Morris, Joshua Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0659 by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/344 Out-of-band transfers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/507 Filtering out customers affected by service problems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5074 Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

An approach for supporting automated fault isolation is provided. An alarm is received indicating a fault within a customer network that includes one or more network elements. The customer network being monitored by a service provider. A script is retrieved for specifying a dialogue with the network elements for data collection. A command is transmitted to the customer network according to the one script to obtain data from the network elements, wherein the data is utilized to determine the fault. Further, a workflow event corresponding to the alarm is generated, wherein resolution of the fault is automated according to the workflow event.

Claims

1. A method for supporting automated fault isolation, the method comprising:

receiving an alarm indicating a fault within a customer network that includes one or more network elements, the customer network being monitored by a service provider;

retrieving one of a plurality of scripts for specifying a dialogue with the network elements for data collection;

transmitting a command to the customer network according to the one script to obtain data from the network elements, wherein the data is utilized to determine the fault; and

generating a workflow event corresponding to the alarm, wherein resolution of the fault is automated according to the workflow event.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one script is created by a user associated with the customer network.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the command is transmitted to a network management equipment configured to communicate with the network elements to obtain the data.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the network elements is under control of the service provider, the one network element receiving the command.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating automated testing to resolve the fault as specified by the workflow event, wherein additional data is collected from the network elements after the testing.

6. A system for supporting automated fault isolation as a managed service by a service provider, the system comprising:

an automation engine configured to receive an alarm indicating a fault within a customer network that includes one or more network elements, wherein the automation engine is further configured to retrieve one of a plurality of scripts for specifying a dialogue with the network elements for data collection;

a command factory configured to transmit a command to the customer network according to the one script to obtain data from the network elements, wherein the data is utilized to determine the fault; and

a workflow engine configured to generate a workflow event corresponding to the alarm, wherein resolution of the fault is automated according to the workflow event.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the one script is created by a user associated with the customer network.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein the command is transmitted to a network management equipment configured to communicate with the network elements to obtain the data.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein one of the network elements is under control of the service provider, the one network element receiving the command.

10. A system according to claim 6, wherein the workflow engine is further configured to initiate automated testing to resolve the fault as specified by the workflow event, wherein additional data is collected from the network elements after the testing.

11. A method for supporting automated fault isolation, the method comprising:

transmitting an alarm to a network management platform operated by a service provider, the alarm indicating a fault within a customer network that includes one or more network elements, wherein the network management platform is configured to retrieve one of a plurality of scripts for specifying a dialogue with the network elements for data collection and to generate a workflow event corresponding to the alarm; and

receiving a command from the network management platform according to the one script to obtain data from the network elements, wherein the data is utilized to determine the fault.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the one script is created by a user associated with the customer network, the method further comprising:

communicating with a computing system to generate the one script.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

conveying the command to the network elements to obtain the data.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the network management platform is further configured to initiate automated testing to resolve the fault as specified by the workflow event, wherein additional data is collected from the network elements after the testing.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the scripts are stored in a database maintained by the service provider.

16. An apparatus for supporting automated fault isolation as a managed service by a service provider, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to transmit an alarm to a network management platform operated by the service provider, the alarm indicating a fault within a customer network that includes one or more network elements, wherein the network management platform is configured to retrieve one of a plurality of scripts for specifying a dialogue with the network elements for data collection and to generate a workflow event corresponding to the alarm; and

a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to receive a command from the network management platform according to the one script to obtain data from the network elements, wherein the data is utilized to determine the fault.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the one script is created by a user associated with the customer network, the apparatus further comprising:

another communication interface configured to communicate with a computing apparatus to generate the one script.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to generate convey the command to the network elements to obtain the data.

19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the network management platform is further configured to initiate automated testing to resolve the fault as specified by the workflow event, wherein additional data is collected from the network elements after the testing.

20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the scripts are stored in a database maintained by the service provider.