METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR OPTIMIZING NETWORK PERFORMANCE

• US 20070124727A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Behi, Fariborz, Fitzpatrick, Stephen, Tennyson, Gary, Hill, Trevor, Sheikh, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/158
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/508 based on type of value added network service under agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1446 of transmission speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/306 for frequencies above the voice frequency, e.g. xDSL line qualification test methods, test equipment and test arrangements for subscriber lines using xDSL modems H04M3/304; systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality H04L1/0001; monitoring and/or testing of line transmission systems H04B3/46
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products, for optimizing performance of ports in a network are provided. The method includes gathering a set of performance data for a port provisioned with a profile. The profile is defined by parameters with associated metrics that are used to establish a level of service for the port. The method also includes analyzing the set of performance data in light of the parameters in the profile to determine a current performance level of the port and performing a set of actions using the current performance level as a baseline. The set of actions include incrementally adjusting at least one of the parameters, determining another set of performance data in response to the adjusting, evaluating the performance data to determine a new performance level, and determining from the new performance level if a maximum performance level for the port is realized.

Claims

1. A method of providing performance optimization for ports operating in a network, comprising:

gathering a set of performance data for a port provisioned with a profile, the profile defined by parameters with associated metrics that are used to establish a level of service for the port;

analyzing the set of performance data in light of the parameters in the profile to determine a current performance level of the port; and

performing a set of actions using the current performance level as a baseline, the set of actions comprising;

incrementally adjusting at least one of the parameters;

determining another set of performance data in response to the adjusting;

evaluating the performance data to determine a new performance level; and

determining, from the new performance level, if a maximum performance level for the port is realized.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

iteratively performing the set of actions until results of the evaluating indicate at least one of;

the maximum performance level for the port is realized; and

available adjustments to the parameters have been exhausted.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the parameters resulting from the adjusting where the maximum performance level of the port is realized if the parameters resulting from the adjusting coincide with the profile provisioned for the port; and

returning the parameters to those which coincide with the maximum performance level defined for the profile provisioned for the port if the parameters resulting from the adjusting do not coincide with the profile provisioned for the port.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the metrics include data rate and maximum attainable data rate, and at least one of:

code violations;

forward error corrections; and

modem re-initializations.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjusting at least one of the parameters includes:

increasing the data rate in the profile when the current performance level meets or exceeds a defined threshold level.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjusting at least one of the parameters includes performing at least one of:

decreasing the data rate in the profile when the current performance level is below a defined threshold level;

increasing noise immunity via imposing an increased noise margin when the current performance level is below a defined threshold level; and

increasing noise immunity via interleaving in the profile when the current performance level is below the defined threshold level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering performance data is initiated in response to a triggering event, the triggering event including at least one of:

provisioning a new service for the port;

modifying an existing service for the port;

a manual change made to the profile for the port;

moving the port to a different network element;

occurrence of a condition that is determined to have an impact on performance of the port;

random selection of the port;

a request to test the port;

a threshold duration of time transpiring between tests for the port; and

port designated as high priority.

8. A system for providing performance optimization for ports operating in a network, comprising:

a computer processor; and

an application executing on the processor, the application implementing a method, comprising;

gathering a set of performance data for a port provisioned with a profile, the profile defined by parameters with associated metrics that are used to establish a level of service for the port;

analyzing the set of performance data in light of the parameters in the profile to determine a current performance level of the port; and

performing a set of actions using the current performance level as a baseline, the set of actions comprising;

incrementally adjusting at least one of the parameters;

determining another set of performance data in response to the adjusting;

evaluating the performance data to determine a new performance level; and

determining, from the new performance level, if a maximum performance level for the port is realized.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the application further performs:

iteratively performing the set of actions until results of the evaluating indicate at least one of;

the maximum performance level for the port is realized; and

available adjustments to the parameters have been exhausted.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the application further performs:

maintaining the parameters resulting from the adjusting where the maximum performance level of the port is realized if the parameters resulting from the adjusting coincide with the profile provisioned for the port; and

returning the parameters to those which coincide with the maximum performance level defined for the profile provisioned for the port if the parameters resulting from the adjusting do not coincide with the profile provisioned for the port.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the metrics include data rate and maximum attainable data rate, and at least one of:

code violations;

forward error corrections; and

modem re-initializations.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the adjusting at least one of the parameters includes:

increasing the data rate in the profile when the current performance level meets or exceeds a defined threshold level.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the adjusting at least one of the parameters includes performing at least one of:

decreasing the data rate in the profile when the current performance level is below a defined threshold level;

increasing noise immunity via imposing an increased noise margin when the current performance level is below a defined threshold level; and

increasing noise immunity via interleaving in the profile when the current performance level is below the defined threshold level.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the gathering performance data is initiated in response to a triggering event, the triggering event including at least one of:

provisioning a new service for the port;

modifying an existing service for the port;

a manual change made to the profile for the port;

moving the port to a different network element;

occurrence of a condition that is determined to have an impact on performance of the port;

random selection of the port;

a request to test the port;

a threshold duration of time transpiring between tests for the port; and

port designated as high priority.

15. A computer program product for providing performance optimization for ports operating in a network, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising:

gathering a set of performance data for a port provisioned with a profile, the profile defined by parameters with associated metrics that are used to establish a level of service for the port;

analyzing the set of performance data in light of the parameters in the profile to determine a current performance level of the port; and

performing a set of actions using the current performance level as a baseline, the set of actions comprising;

incrementally adjusting at least one of the parameters;

determining another set of performance data in response to the adjusting;

evaluating the performance data to determine a new performance level; and

determining, from the new performance level, if a maximum performance level for the port is realized.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for implementing:

iteratively performing the set of actions until results of the evaluating indicate at least one of;

the maximum performance level for the port is realized; and

available adjustments to the parameters have been exhausted.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for implementing:

maintaining the parameters resulting from the adjusting where the maximum performance level of the port is realized if the parameters resulting from the adjusting coincide with the profile provisioned for the port; and

returning the parameters to those which coincide with the maximum performance level defined for the profile provisioned for the port if the parameters resulting from the adjusting do not coincide with the profile provisioned for the port.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the metrics include data rate and maximum attainable data rate, and at least one of:

code violations;

forward error corrections; and

modem re-initializations.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the adjusting at least one of the parameters includes:

increasing the data rate in the profile when the current performance level meets or exceeds a defined threshold level.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the adjusting at least one of the parameters includes performing at least one of:

decreasing the data rate in the profile when the current performance level is below a defined threshold level;

increasing noise immunity via imposing an increased noise margin when the current performance level is below a defined threshold level; and

increasing noise immunity via interleaving in the profile when the current performance level is below the defined threshold level.