METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SIGNATURE BASED PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE IN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

• US 20130028101A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eslambolchi, Hossein, Bajpay, Paritosh, McCanuel, John, Bienfait, Roberta, Bekampis, Carolyn, Vasilescu, Mihail, Rogaski, Mark, Li, Wen-Jui, Shariff, Mohammed, Dickey, Thomas, Soares, John, LU, DAVID
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability

Abstract

A method and apparatus for collecting and processing line performance data transmitted over cables, e.g., Y-cables, is disclosed. The present invention applies a method based on specific performance measurements, specific measurement time intervals, and compare results from different measurement time intervals to produce a “signature” that indicates deteriorating performance of a particular Y-cable. Once a “signature” is detected, the method will proactively and automatically generate a trouble ticket to trigger the dispatch maintenance staffs to service the cable, e.g., to perform the replacement of the Y-cable in question, thus completing the predictive maintenance process. A trouble ticket is a record used to report and manage the resolution of network related problems.

Claims

1. A method for enabling signature based predictive maintenance in a communication network, comprising:

detecting a signature associated with a cable, where said cable is for coupling one or more network elements (NEs) within said communication network, where said signature is indicative of a potential failure of said cable; and

generating a trouble ticket automatically for servicing said cable in accordance with said signature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network comprises at least one of:

a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) network, a Frame Relay (FR) network, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, a Multi-Protocol Label Switched (MPLS) network, an Internet Protocol (IP) network, and a packet network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said cable is a Y-cable.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said Y-cable comprises three connectors for coupling with ports of a plurality of line cards.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said signature is based on one or more transmission line performance parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said one or more transmission line performance parameters comprise at least one of:

a Line Code Violation parameter, a Line Errored Second parameter, and an Unavailable Second parameter.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said detecting comprises:

monitoring one or more of said transmission line performance parameters on a continuous basis within a first predefined period of time; and

sending a corresponding error trap flag if a corresponding threshold that is set for each of said transmission line performance parameters is exceeded, where said error trap flag is sent to an element management system (EMS).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said signature is premised on measurements collected on said transmission line performance parameters over said first predefined period of time and a second predefined period of time, where said second predefined period of time is a longer period of time than said first predefined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more network elements (NEs) comprise at least one of:

a cross-connect, a switch, and a router.

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for enabling signature based predictive maintenance in a communication network, comprising:

detecting a signature associated with a cable, where said cable is for coupling one or more network elements (NEs) within said communication network, where said signature is indicative of a potential failure of said cable; and

generating a trouble ticket automatically for servicing said cable in accordance with said signature.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said communication network comprises at least one of:

a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) network, a Frame Relay (FR) network, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, a Multi-Protocol Label Switched (MPLS) network, an Internet Protocol (IP) network, and a packet network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said cable is a Y-cable.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein said Y-cable comprises three connectors for coupling with ports of a plurality of Fine cards.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said signature is based on one or more transmission line performance parameters.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said one or more transmission line performance parameters comprise at least one of:

a Line Code Violation parameter, a Line Errored Second parameter, and an Unavailable Second parameter.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said detecting comprises:

monitoring one or more of said transmission line performance parameters on a continuous basis within a first predefined period of time; and

sending a corresponding error trap flag if a corresponding threshold that is set for each of said transmission line performance parameters is exceeded, where said error trap flag is sent to an element management system (EMS).

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein said signature is premised on measurements collected on said transmission line performance parameters over said first predefined period of time and a second predefined period of time, where said second predefined period of time is a longer period of time than said first predefined period of time.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said one or more network elements (NEs) comprise at least one of:

a cross-connect, a switch, and a router.

19. An apparatus for enabling signature based predictive maintenance in a communication network, comprising:

means for detecting a signature associated with a cable, where said cable is for coupling one or more network elements (NEs) within said communication network, where said signature is indicative of a potential failure of said cable; and

means for generating a trouble ticket automatically for servicing said cable in accordance with said signature.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said cable is a Y-cable.