Remote testing and monitoring to a cell site in a cellular communications network

• US 7,567,519 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daniel, J. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe; Aung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mered; Habte
• Application Number:
  US10/049,091
• Time in Patent Office: 3,291 Days
• Field of Search: 370241-254, 370217-228, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/67.14, 379/9, 379/10.2, 379/10.3, 379/24, 379/32.01
• US Class Current: 370/251
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13076 Distributing frame, MDF, cross-connect switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13092 Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13162 Fault indication and localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

Systems and methods provide remote performance monitoring and testing to a cell site in a cellular communications network. The systems and methods include a network management center having remote monitoring and testing capabilities utilizing an intelligent customer service unit that traps and makes available alarm information on the transport link.

Claims

1. An intelligent network device to provide remote performance monitoring of a transport link between a switch and a cell site, the intelligent network device comprising:

a first interface connecting the intelligent network device and a network management center;

the first interface connecting the intelligent network device and the cell site;

logic configured to communicate network management signals across at least one channel of the transport link wherein the at least one channel is a digital signal zero (DS0) management channel;

logic configured to generate a trap as one type of network management signal responsive to the transport link not meeting at least one quality indicator;

logic configured to recognize which of a plurality of spare DS0 channels is the DS0 management channel, the plurality of spare DS0 channels coupling the network management center and the cell site; and

logic configured to transmit test signals on the DS0 management channel to diagnose the transport link not meeting the at least one quality indicator.

2. The intelligent network device of claim 1, wherein the at least one quality indicator comprises an indication of:

severe errored seconds, errored seconds, alarm indication signal, yellow alarms, extended super frame errors, out of frame errors, loss of frame errors, loss of signal errors, slip errors, cyclic redundancy check errors, and bipolar violation errors.

3. The intelligent network device of claim 1, wherein the trap is carried in a packet of an internet protocol.

4. The intelligent network device of claim 1 further comprising logic configured to respond to a poll.

5. The intelligent network device of claim 1 further comprising logic configured to support remote terminal connection using a telnet protocol.

6. The intelligent network device of claim 1, wherein the transport link carries voice traffic.

7. The intelligent network device of claim 1, wherein the transport link carries data traffic.

8. The intelligent network device of claim 7, wherein the data traffic is transported using frame relay.

9. The intelligent network device of claim 7, wherein the data traffic is transported using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).

10. The intelligent network device of claim 7, wherein the at least one quality indicator comprises at least one of:

a number of packets discarded and a number of packets delayed.

11. The intelligent network device of claim 1, further comprising a second interface adapted to connect to a wireless modem.

12. A method for using intelligent network device to provide remote performance monitoring of a transport link between a switch and a cell site, the method comprising:

providing a first interface to connect the intelligent network device and a network management center;

providing the first interface to connect the intelligent network device and the cell site;

communicating network management signals across at least one channel of the transport link, wherein the at least one channel is a digital signal zero (DS0) management channel;

generating a trap as one type of network management signal responsive to the transport link not meeting at least one quality indicator;

recognizing which of a plurality of spare DS0 channels is the DS0 management channel, the plurality of spare DS0 channels coupling the network management center and the cell site; and

transmitting test signals on the DS0 management channel to diagnose the transport link not meeting the at least one quality indicator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one quality indicator comprises an indication of:

severe errored seconds, errored seconds, alarm indication signal, yellow alarms, extended super frame errors, out of frame errors, loss of frame errors, loss of signal errors, slip errors, cyclic redundancy check errors, and bipolar violation errors.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the trap is carried in a packet of an internet protocol.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

responding to a poll.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

operating with a remote terminal connection using a telnet protocol.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the transport link carries voice traffic.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the transport link carries data traffic.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data traffic is transported using frame relay.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the data traffic is transported using asynchronous transfer mode (ATM).

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one quality indicator comprises at least one of:

a number of packets discarded and a number of packets delayed.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing a third second interface adapted to connect to a wireless modem.