Method and apparatus for on-line monitoring of telecommunication network switches

• US 6,389,112 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Stewart, David, Buckalew, Michael R., Simonsen, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/074,209
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1, 379/9, 379/10, 379/34, 379/29, 379/24, 379/14, 379/15, 379/27, 379/113, 379/112, 379/111, 379/133, 379/134, 379/266, 379/265, 379/309, 379/11, 379/13, 379/201, 379/29.09, 379/29.1, 379/1.01, 379/9.04
• US Class Current: 379/29.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2254 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1225 Details of core network interconnection arrangements

Abstract

Method and apparatus for on-line monitoring of a telecommunications network comprised of first and second switches. Data is collected at each of the first and second switches and transferred to a central data processing unit. The collected data for each one of the first and second switches is arranged, at the switch, into a first data subset containing log information for each one of the first and second switches, a second data subset containing configuration data for each one of the first and second switches and a third data subset containing operational management information for each one of the first and second switches. The arranged data is then transferred to the central data processing unit where first and second evaluations of operating conditions for the telecommunications network are generated therefrom. The first evaluation is a network log count produced from the first data subset for the first and second switches while the second evaluation is a call processing-based evaluation produced from the second and third data subsets for the first and second switches. The collected data for the first and second switches, as well as the first and second evaluations of the telecommunications network, is then reviewed from a remote location over the internet.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operation of a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a first switch having at least one component, and a second switch having at least one component, the second switch being coupled to the first switch, said method comprising the steps of:

collecting data, via at least one software module at the first switch, from the at least one component of the first switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of the first switch;

maintaining, in a memory subsystem at the first switch, the data collected from the at least one component of the first switch;

collecting data, via at least one software module at the second switch, from the at least one component of the second switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of the second switch;

maintaining, in a memory subsystem at the second switch, the data collected from the at least one component of the second switch;

transferring, to a central unit separate from the first and second switches via a first software module in the central unit, the data collected and maintained at the first and second switches;

generating, via a second software module in the central unit and the collected data of the first and second switches, an evaluation of operating conditions at the first and second switches, the evaluation including at least a network log count evaluation produced from raw log information and a call-processing based evaluation produced from the configuration data and the operational management information of the first and second switches;

reviewing, from a remote location separate from said central unit, the data collected and maintained at the first and second switches and transferred to the central unit; and

reviewing, from said remote location, the evaluation of operating conditions at the first and second switches,

wherein the at least one software module for each one of the first and second switches further includes a first software module for collecting log data and a second software module for collecting call processing data, and

wherein for each of the first and second switches, the memory subsystem is coupled to the first and second software modules and the memory subsystem includes a first memory area for maintaining log information and a second memory area for maintaining configuration data.

2. For a telecommunications network comprised of a first switch and a second switch, each of the first and second switches having at least one component, a method for on-line monitoring of the telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:

collecting data, via at least one software module at the first switch, from the at least one component of the first switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of the first switch;

maintaining, in a memory subsystem at the first switch, the data collected from the at least one component of the first switch;

collecting data, via at least one software module at the second switch, from the at least one component of the second switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of the second switch;

maintaining, in a memory subsystem at the second switch, the data collected from the at least one component of the second switch;

transferring, to a central data processing unit separate from the first and second switches via a first software module in the central data processing unit, the data collected and maintained at the first and second switches, respectively;

arranging, via a second software module and a memory subsystem in the central data processing unit, the collected data for each one of the first and second switches into a first data subset containing log information for each one of the first and second switches, respectively, a second data subset containing configuration data for each one of the first and second switches, respectively, and a third data subset containing operational management information for each one of the first and second switches, respectively, the memory subsystem in the central data processing unit having a first memory area for maintaining the first data subset, a second memory area for maintaining the second data subset, and a third memory area for maintaining the third data subset; and

reviewing, via an internet connection, the arranged data for the first and second switches,

wherein the first switch collecting, first switch maintaining, second switch collecting, second switch maintaining, transferring and arranging steps are machine implemented,

wherein the at least one software module for each one of the first and second switches further includes a first software module for collecting log data and a second software module for collecting call processing data, and

wherein for each of the first and second switches, the memory subsystem is coupled to the first and second software modules and the memory subsystem includes a first memory area for maintaining log information and a second memory area for maintaining configuration data.

3. For a telecommunications network comprised of a first switch and a second switch, each of the first and second switches having at least one component, a method for on-line monitoring of the telecommunications network comprising the steps of:

collecting data, via at least one software module at the first switch, from the at least one component of the first switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information for the first switch;

maintaining, in a memory subsystem at the first switch, the data collected from the at least one component of the first switch;

collecting data, via at least one software module at the second switch, from the at least one component of the second switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of the second switch;

maintaining, in a memory subsystem at the second switch, the data collected from the at least one component of the second switch;

transferring, to a central data processing unit separate from the first and second switches via a first software module in the central data processing unit, the data collected and maintained at the first and second switches, respectively;

arranging, via a second software module and a memory subsystem in the central data processing unit, the collected data for each one of the first and second switches into a first data subset containing log information for each one of the first and second switches, respectively, a second data subset containing configuration data for each one of the first and second switches, respectively, and a third data subset containing operational management information for each one of the first and second switches, respectively, the memory subsystem in the central data processing unit having a first memory area for maintaining the first data subset, a second memory area for maintaining the second data subset, and a third memory area for maintaining the third data subset;

reviewing, via an internet connection, the arranged data for the first and second switches;

generating, via a third software module in the central data processing unit and the collected data for the first and second switches, a first evaluation of the telecommunications network; and

reviewing, via the internet connection, the first evaluation of the telecommunications network,

wherein the at least one software module for each one of the first and second switches further includes a first software module for collecting log data and a second software module for collecting call processing data, and

wherein for each of the first and second switches, the memory subsystem is coupled to the first and second software modules and the memory subsystem includes a first memory area for maintaining log information and a second memory area for maintaining configuration data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first evaluation is a network log count produced from said first data subset containing raw log information for said first and second switches.

5. The method of claim 4, and further comprising the steps of:

generating at said central data processing unit, from said collected data for said first and second switches, a second evaluation of said telecommunications network; and

reviewing, via said internet connection, said second evaluation of said telecommunications network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second evaluation is a call processing-based evaluation produced from said second and third data subsets containing configuration information and operational management information, respectively, for said first and second switches.

7. A telecommunications network, comprising:

a first switch having at least one component;

means, within said first switch, for collecting data from said at least one component of said first switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said first switch, wherein said collecting means includes at least one software module of said first switch;

means, within said first switch, for maintaining said data collected from said at least one component of said first switch, wherein said maintaining means includes a memory subsystem of said first switch;

a second switch coupled to said first switch, said second switch having at least one component;

means, within said second switch, for collecting data from said at least one component of said second switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said second switch, wherein said collecting means includes at least one software module of said second switch;

means, within said second switch, for maintaining said data collected from said at least one component of said second switch, wherein said maintaining means includes a memory subsystem of said second switch; and

a central data processing unit separate from said first and second switches, coupled to said first and second switches, said central data processing unit including a first software module for capturing said data collected and maintained within each of said first and second switches and a second software module for generating first and second evaluations of said network from said captured data, the first network evaluation including a network log count evaluation produced from the raw log information and the second network evaluation produced from the configuration information and operational management information,

wherein said first and second evaluations of said network are accessible for review by an accessing processor positioned at a remote location relative to said central data processing unit, said accessing processor coupled to said central data processing unit by an internet connection,

wherein for each of said first and second switches, said at least one software module further comprises a first software module for collecting log data and a second software module for collecting call processing data, and

wherein for each of said first and second switches, said memory subsystem is coupled to said first and second software modules and includes a first memory area for maintaining log information and a second memory area for maintaining configuration data.

8. A telecommunications network, comprising:

a first switch having at least one component;

means, within said first switch, for collecting data from said at least one component of said first switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said first switch, wherein said collecting means includes at least one software module of said first switch;

means, within said first switch, for maintaining said data collected from said at least one component of said first switch, wherein said maintaining means includes a memory subsystem of said first switch;

a second switch coupled to said first switch, said second switch having at least one component;

means, within said second switch, for collecting data from said at least one component of said second switch, the data including at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said second switch, wherein said collecting means includes at least one software module of said second switch;

means, within said second switch, for maintaining said data collected from said at least one component of said second switch, wherein said maintaining means includes a memory subsystem of said second switch; and

a central data processing unit separate from said first and second switches, coupled to said first and second switches, said central data processing unit including a first software module for capturing said data collected and maintained within each of said first and second switches and a second software module for generating first and second evaluations of said network from said captured data, the first network evaluation including a network log count produced from the raw log information of said first and second switches and the second network evaluation including a call-processing based evaluation produced from the configuration information and operational management information of said first and second switches,

wherein said first and second evaluations of said network are accessible for review by an accessing processor positioned at a remote location relative to said central data processing unit, said accessing processor coupled to said central data processing unit by an internet connection,

wherein said central data processing unit further comprises a third software module for issuing notifications related to said first and second evaluations of said network to designated recipients,

wherein for each of said first and second switches, said at least one software module further comprises a first software module for collecting log data and a second software module for collecting call processing data, and

wherein for each of said first and second switches, said memory subsystem is coupled to said first and second software modules and includes a first memory area for maintaining log information and a second memory area for maintaining configuration data.

9. A telecommunications network comprising:

a first switch;

a second switch coupled to said first switch; and

a central data processing unit separate from said first and second switches, coupled to said first and second switches, said central data processing unit including a first software module for capturing data from each of said first and second switches, a second software module for generating first and second evaluations of said network, and a third software module for issuing notifications related to said first and second evaluations to designated recipients;

wherein said first and second evaluations of said network are accessible for review by an accessing processor positioned at a remote location relative to said central data processing unit, said accessing processor coupled to said central data processing unit by an internet connection;

each of said first and second switches further comprising;

a first software module for collecting log data, the log data including at least raw log information of said switch;

a second software module for collecting call processing data, the call processing data including at least configuration information and operational management information of said switch; and

a memory subsystem coupled to said first and second software modules, said memory subsystem having a first memory area for maintaining log information for said switch, a second memory area for maintaining configuration data for said switch and a third memory area for maintaining operational management information for said switch,

further wherein said first network evaluation includes a network log count evaluation produced from the raw log information, and

wherein said second network evaluation includes a call-processing based evaluation produced from the configuration information and operational management information.

10. A telecommunications network according to claim 9 wherein said central data processing unit further comprises a memory subsystem coupled to said first and second software modules, said memory subsystem having a first memory area for maintaining raw data for each one of said first and second switches, a second memory area for maintaining processed data for each one of said first and second switches and a third memory area for maintaining processed data for said telecommunications network.

11. A telecommunications network, comprising:

a first switch;

a second switch coupled to said first switch;

said first switch further comprising at least one software module containing instructions which, when executed, collects data related to at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said first switch and a memory subsystem, coupled to said at least one software module of said first switch, said memory subsystem of said first switch maintaining said data collected by execution of said instructions of said at least one software module of said first switch;

said second switch further comprising at least one software module containing instructions which, when executed, collects data related to at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said second switch and a memory subsystem, coupled to said at least one software module of said second switch, said memory subsystem of said second switch maintaining said data collected by execution of said instructions of said at least one software module of said second switch; and

a central data processing unit separate from said first and second switches, coupled to said first and second switches, said central data processing unit including a first software module containing instructions which, when executed, acquires data maintained in said memory subsystem of each of said first and second switches and a second software module containing instructions which, when executed, generates an evaluation of said network from said acquired data, the network evaluation including at least a network log count evaluation produced from the raw log information of said first and second switches and a call-processing based evaluation produced from the configuration information and the operational management information of said first and second switches,

wherein said evaluation of said network is accessible for review by an accessing processor positioned at a remote location relative to said central data processing unit, said accessing processor coupled to said central data processing unit by an internet connections

wherein for each of said first and second switches, said at least one software module further comprises a first software module for collecting log data and a second software module for collecting call processing data, and

wherein for each of said first and second switches, said memory subsystem is coupled to said first and second software modules and includes a first memory area for maintaining log information and a second memory area for maintaining configuration data.

12. A telecommunications network, comprising:

a first switch;

a second switch coupled to said first switch;

said first switch further comprising at least one software module for collecting data related to at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said first switch and a memory subsystem, coupled to said at least one software module of said first switch, said memory subsystem of said first switch maintaining said data collected by said at least one software module of said first switch;

said second switch further comprising at least one software module for collecting data related to at least raw log information, configuration information, and operational management information of said second switch and a memory subsystem, coupled to said at least one software module of said second switch, said memory subsystem of said second switch maintaining said data collected by said at least one software module of said second switch;

a central data processing unit, separate from said first and second switches, coupled to said first and second switches, said central data processing unit including a first software module for capturing data maintained in said memory subsystem of each of said first and second switches and a second software module for generating an evaluation of said network from said captured data, the evaluation including at least a network log count evaluation produced from the raw log information of said first and second switches and a call-processing based evaluation produced from the configuration information and operational management information of said first and second switches;

wherein said evaluation of said network is accessible for review by an accessing processor positioned at a remote location relative to said central data processing unit, said accessing processor coupled to said central data processing unit by an internet connection;

wherein said at least one software module for each one of said first and second switches further comprises a first software module for collecting log data and a second software module for collecting call processing data; and

wherein for each of said first and second switches, said memory subsystem is coupled to said first and second software modules and said memory subsystem includes a first memory area for maintaining log information and a second memory area for maintaining configuration data.