Monitoring system status

• US 5,557,547 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.), Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Phaal, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/481,196
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 364/550, 364/551.01, 364/514 R, 364/514 B, 395/103, 395/140, 395/143
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0894 Packet rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13535 distributed systems - also domains in service creation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13545 monitoring of signaling messages, intelligent network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements

Abstract

In order to monitor the status of a system in the form of a communications network, such as a computer local area network (LAN) 10 or an SS7 telecommunications signalling network, measurements are made of various operating parameters for each domain (S1 . . . S14) or segment of the network. The measurements for each parameter are scaled in accordance with a respective piecewise-linear scaling function (300) for that parameter, so that all scaled measurements for all parameters have values in a range from 0 to 3, values of 1 and 2 corresponding to threshold values T₁ and T₂ of interest. An extreme scaled value, such as the maximum or minimum value, is selected for each parameter, and plotted on a respective one of multiple radially-extending axes (301-306), each of which is associated with a respective parameter. The plotted values are connected to form a polygonal figure (309).

Claims

1. A method of monitoring and displaying measurements of each of multiple different parameters related to an operational status of a system, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

acquiring multiple measurements of each of said parameters by monitoring the operational status of the system;

for each parameter, applying a scaling function to each measurement of that parameter to derive a scaled value thereof as a function of predetermined threshold values for that parameter, said scaled values being within a predetermined range common to all said parameters;

for each parameter, selecting a maximum one of said scaled values;

creating a graphical display including plural axes, each axis manifesting a scale which is associated with a parameter being measured, each axis identified as to a respective parameter being measured, said display further indicating at least one threshold value for each axis;

indicating on said display for each said measured parameter, said selected maximum one of said scaled values corresponding thereto on a corresponding axis and thereby indicating if any said selected maximum one of said scaled values exceeds said threshold indicated on said axis; and

altering a graphical component of the display to indicate that a threshold has been exceeded by at least one said maximum one of said scaled values.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said axes extend radially from a common point.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameters comprise CRC error rate and alignment error rate.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameters comprise network utilization and frame utilization.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameters comprise broadcast rate and multicast rate.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises a multiple domain data communication network, respective ones of said multiple measurements of each parameter being acquired for respective domains of said network.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said domains comprise segments of a local area computer communications network.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said parameters comprise call-related measurements in a telecommunications signalling network.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein said parameters comprise loads on at least some of signalling links and signalling points in a telecommunications signalling network.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein call-related measurements are plotted on a first multiplicity of axes, and loads on said signalling links and signalling points are contemporaneously plotted on a second multiplicity of axes.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scaling function is piecewise linear between said threshold values.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scaling function has an upper threshold value, a lower threshold value and at least one intermediate threshold value.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said scaling function has four threshold values.

14. A method according to claim 1, including the step of excluding at least one measurement of a parameter from said selection of an extreme value of that parameter, in response to operator identification of said measurement.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein said threshold values are adjustable under operator control.

16. A method according to claim 1, including the step of providing a display of respective values of a selected one of said parameters for a plurality of respective sections of said system in response to operator selection of that parameter.

17. A method according to claim 16, including the step of providing a display of multiple measurements of a parameter for a section of said system in response to operator selection of said section.

18. A method according to claim 1, including the step of connecting each value plotted on a respective said axis to its neighbouring plotted values to define a polygonal figure.

19. Computer apparatus for monitoring and displaying measurements of each of multiple different parameters related to an operational status of a system, comprising:

means coupled to said system for receiving measurements of each of said parameters;

means for applying, for each parameter, a scaling function to each measurement of that parameter to derive a scaled value thereof as a function of predetermined threshold values for that parameter, said scaled values being within a predetermined range common to all said parameters;

means for selecting, for each parameter, a maximum one of said scaled values;

means for creating a graphical display including plural axes, each axis manifesting a scale which is associated with a parameter being measured, each axis identified as to a respective parameter being measured, said display further indicating at least one threshold value for each axis;

means for indicating on said display for each said measured parameter, said selected maximum one of said scaled values corresponding thereto on a corresponding, axis and thereby indicating if any said selected maximum one of said scaled values exceeds said threshold indicated on said axis; and

means responsive to any said selected maximum one of said scaled values exceeding a threshold indicated on a corresponding axis for altering a graphical component of the graphical display to indicate that at least one said scaled values exceeds a threshold on a corresponding axis.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said axes extend radially from a common point.