Process for integrated traffic data management and network surveillance in communications networks
First Claim
1. A method for prioritizing maintenance problems in a communications network having a plurality of network elements, comprising:
- interfacing with the network elements to gather in real-time and at predetermined time intervals, traffic data corresponding to measured levels of utilization of the plural network elements;
storing said gathered traffic data in a database for subsequent analysis by network planners;
processing said stored traffic data by comparing utilization level measurements obtained during said interfacing step with a predetermined range of acceptable values in order to detect first and second measurements outside of said predetermined range;
said processing step generating first and second traffic data exception messages corresponding to first and second detected measurements outside of said range, said first traffic data exception message indicative of a first traffic abnormality having a first traffic affecting severity level, and said second traffic data exception message indicative of a second traffic abnormality having a second traffic affecting severity level;
comparing, in said processing step, said first traffic affecting severity level to said second traffic affecting severity level and generating a comparison output; and
outputting to a message center said first and second traffic data exception messages along with a representation of the traffic affecting severity levels associated therewith and said comparison output, so as to provide maintenance personnel with a priority of maintenance problems requiring repair.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The dual operations of traffic data analysis and network surveillance in a telecommunications network are integrated to allow maintenance personnel to readily assess the impact of network element problems on the level of service. More specifically, the present invention utilizes traffic data measurements to monitor the level of service provided by various network components. By utilizing real-time or near real-time traffic data in this manner, switch maintenance activities may be prioritized so that, for example, equipment malfunctions having the greatest impact on the level of service may receive attention before those having little or no impact on service.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for prioritizing maintenance problems in a communications network having a plurality of network elements, comprising:
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interfacing with the network elements to gather in real-time and at predetermined time intervals, traffic data corresponding to measured levels of utilization of the plural network elements; storing said gathered traffic data in a database for subsequent analysis by network planners; processing said stored traffic data by comparing utilization level measurements obtained during said interfacing step with a predetermined range of acceptable values in order to detect first and second measurements outside of said predetermined range; said processing step generating first and second traffic data exception messages corresponding to first and second detected measurements outside of said range, said first traffic data exception message indicative of a first traffic abnormality having a first traffic affecting severity level, and said second traffic data exception message indicative of a second traffic abnormality having a second traffic affecting severity level; comparing, in said processing step, said first traffic affecting severity level to said second traffic affecting severity level and generating a comparison output; and outputting to a message center said first and second traffic data exception messages along with a representation of the traffic affecting severity levels associated therewith and said comparison output, so as to provide maintenance personnel with a priority of maintenance problems requiring repair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification