Central office technician notification and information system

• US 6,931,102 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meyer, Paul J., Onweller, Arthur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US10/222,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20020191624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 370/245, 370/241, 370/242, 370/244, 370/250, 455/423, 455/424, 455/426, 455/67.1, 379/1.01, 379/9.01, 379/14.01, 379/10.01, 379/15.01, 379/21, 379/22.03, 379/22.04, 379/24, 379/25, 379/26.01, 379/27.01, 379/29.01, 379/29.08, 379/29.09, 379/29.1, 379/29.11, 379/32.01, 379/9.02, 379/9.03, 379/9.04
• US Class Current: 379/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/08 Indicating faults in circuits or apparatus

Abstract

A method and system for use in a central office (CO) having network elements for communicating information between a central office technician (COT) stationed within the CO and network element monitoring personnel or monitoring center stationed remote from the CO. A local area network (LAN) having a hub stationed remote from the CO and a fiber communication line connected to the hub is provided. The fiber communication line has one end extending to the hub and the other end extending within the central office. The hub is operable for communicating with network element monitoring personnel stationed remote from the CO. A node transceiver is coupled to the other end of the fiber communication line within the central office. A wireless transceiver is operable with the node transceiver for providing a communication link between a COT stationed within the CO and the network element monitoring personnel stationed remote from the CO via the local area network. An Internet protocol communication link connects the hub of the local area network with the network element monitoring personnel. An alarm circuit connects the network element monitoring personnel with the network elements. The network element monitoring personnel monitor the status of the network elements using the alarm circuit.

Claims

1. For use with a ventral office (CO) having network elements, a system for communicating information with a central office technician (COT), comprising:

a network element monitoring entity in communication with the network elements via a communication network and configured to monitor the status of the network elements;

a node transceiver inside the CO and in communication with the network element monitoring entity via the communication network; and

a wireless transceiver operable with the node transceiver for providing a communication link between the COT and the network element monitoring entity via the communication network.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the network element monitoring entity is stationed remote from the CO.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the network element monitoring entity transmits network element alarm information to the COT via the communication network, the node transceiver, and the wireless transceiver.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the COT transmits network element status information to the network element monitoring entity via the wireless transceiver, the node transceiver, and the communication network.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication link between the COT and the network element monitoring entity is a data communication link.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication link between the COT and the network element monitoring entity is a voice communication link.

7. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the communication network comprises a hub stationed remote from the CO, the hub operable for communicating with the network element monitoring entity.

8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the system further comprising a fiber communication line having a first end connected to the huh and a second end connected to the node transceiver.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wireless transceivers and node transceivers operable to provide communications links between the network element monitoring entity and a plurality of COTs.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the communication network further comprises:

a second fiber communication line having a first end connected to the hub;

a second node transceiver located in the CO and connected to a second end of the second fiber communication line; and

a second wireless transceiver operable with the second node transceiver for providing a communication link between a second COT and the network element monitoring entity via the communication network.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the commutation link between the COT and the network element monitoring entity is a TCP/IP communication link.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver includes an assigned address, wherein the communication network uses the assigned address to establish the communication link between the COT and the network element monitoring entity.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver includes dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) functionality for automatic address assignment.

14. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an alarm circuit connecting the network elements with the network element monitoring entity, and wherein the network element monitoring entity monitors the status of the network elements using the alarm circuit.

15. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the wireless transceiver is a handheld device.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is a computer.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises a server in communication with the hub and operable for receiving information from the network element monitoring entity and for receiving network element status information from the COT.

18. For use with a central office (CO) having network elements, a method for communicating information with a central office technician (COT) located in the CO, comprising:

a network element monitoring entity located remote from the CO receiving network element status information from the network elements located in the CO;

the network element monitoring entity transmitting the network element status information to a node transceiver in the CO; and

the node transceiver transmitting the network element status information to a wireless transceiver in possession of the COT via a wireless connection.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the network element status information comprises network element alarm information.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of the network element monitoring entity transmitting the network element status information to a node transceiver in the CO comprises the network element monitoring entity transmitting the network element status information to a hub via a communication network, and the hub transmitting the network status information to the node transceiver via the communication network.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the step of the hub transmitting the network status information to the node transceiver via the communication network comprises the hub transmitting the network status information over a fiber communication line to the node transceiver.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of a network element monitoring entity located remote from the CO receiving network element status information from the network elements located in the CO comprises;

connecting an alarm circuit between the network elements and the network element monitoring entity; and

using the alarm circuit to monitor the status of the network elements.

23. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

a server receiving the network element status information from the network element monitoring entity via a communication network.

24. For use with a central office (CO) having network elements, a method for communicating information with a central office technician (COT) located in the CO, composing:

using a wireless transceiver, a COT located in the CO transmitting network element status information to a node transceiver via a wireless connection; and

the node transceiver transmitting the network element status information to a network element monitoring entity located remote from the CO via a communication network.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the step of the node transceiver transmitting the network element status information to a network element monitoring entity comprises the node transceiver transmitting the network element status information to a hub via a communication network, and the hub transmitting the network status information to the network element monitoring entity via the communication network.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the step of the hub transmitting the network status information to the network element monitoring entity via the communication network comprises the hub transmitting the network status information over a fiber communication line to the network element monitoring entity.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

a server receiving the network element status information from the node transceiver via a communication network.