Method and equipment for monitoring the condition of an interconnection network

• US 5,917,886 A
• Filed: 11/25/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Halkio, Jari
• Primary Examiner(s): Loomis, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US08/750,095
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 379/36, 379/37, 379/12, 379/19, 379/20, 379/22, 379/113, 379/124, 379/137, 379/139, 379/93.05, 379/93.07, 379/100.12, 340/825.03
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring

Abstract

A method and equipment for monitoring the condition of an interconnecting interfaces, in which counters, specific to each interconnection interface are provided. Each counter is preset to a predetermined initial value, which is changed on the basis of the result of a monitoring cycle and at predetermined intervals. An alarm is given if the counter reaches or crosses a predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the condition of an interconnection network, by carrying out monitoring cycles for checking the condition of a plurality of interconnection interfaces, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing each of the interconnection interfaces with a respective counter which is specific to the respective interconnection interface;

(b) presetting each said counter to a respective predetermined initial value;

(c) checking the condition of each said interconnection interface, in a plurality of monitoring cycles, to obtain respective checking results;

(d) changing the respective existing value of each said counter, on the basis of said checking, providing that a failure of the respective interconnection interface has been detected in the respective monitoring cycle, said changing involving reducing the respective existing value by an amount obtained by shifting a bit-pattern corresponding to the respective existing value as indicated by the respective counter, a number of positions to the right, which number is predetermined by a slow-down coefficient chosen by a user;

(e) changing the respective existing value of each said counter periodically, providing that the respective existing value of the respective counter when a respective periodic occasion for changing occurs, said respective existing value is different from the respective preset predetermined value; and

(f) giving an alarm by a respective said counter when the respective value indicated by the respective said counter, as a result of said changing, reaches or crosses a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said changing of step (d) involves reducing the respective existing value; and

said changing of step (e) involves increasing the respective existing value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said changing of step (d) involves reducing the respective existing value by an amount having a size which depends on a slow-down coefficient predetermined by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each said counter is a 16-bit counter.

5. Monitoring equipment for monitoring the condition of an interconnection network, by carrying out monitoring cycles for checking the condition of a plurality of interconnection interfaces, comprising:

(a) a respective counter provided for each of the connection interfaces, each said counter being arranged to be specific to a respective said interconnection interface, each said counter being arranged to be preset to a respective initial value;

(b) a monitoring unit arranged for checking the condition of each said interconnection interface, in a plurality of monitoring cycles, to obtain respective checking results;

said monitoring unit being arranged for;

(i) changing the respective value of each said counter, on the basis of said checking, providing that a failure of the respective interconnection interface has been detected in the respective monitoring cycle, wherein said changing involves reducing the respective existing value by an amount obtained by shifting a bit-pattern corresponding to the respective existing value as indicated by the respective counter, a number of positions to the right, which number is predetermined by a slow-down coefficient chosen by a user; and

(ii) changing the respective existing value of each said counter periodically, providing that the respective existing value of the respective counter when a respective periodic occasion for changing occurs, said respective existing value is different from the respective preset predetermined value; and

(c) an alarm device arranged for giving an alarm by a respective said counter when the respective value indicated by the respective said counter, as a result of said changing, reaches or crosses a predetermined threshold.

6. The monitoring equipment of claim 5, wherein:

said changing which said monitoring unit is arranged to provide according to (b)(i) involves reducing the respective existing value; and

said changing which said monitoring unit is arranged to provide according to (b)(ii) involves increasing the respective existing value.

7. The monitoring equipment of claim 5, wherein:

said changing which said monitoring unit is arranged to provide according to (b)(i) involves reducing the respective existing value by an amount having a size which depends on a slow-down coefficient predetermined by a user.

8. The monitoring equipment of claim 5, wherein:

said monitoring equipment is arranged in serving relation to a telephone network for monitoring an interconnection network of the telephone network.

9. The monitoring equipment of claim 5, wherein each said counter is a 16-bit counter.