Intelligent presentation network management system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of managing network elements in a communications network comprising:
- establishing a hierarchy of geographical areas in the communication network, where an area at a higher level of the hierarchy includes a plurality of areas at a lower level of the hierarchy;
storing geographical locations of network elements in a database;
representing each network element in a geographical area at a first level in the geographical hierarchy on a graphical user interface; and
summarizing the representation of network elements at a second level in the geographical hierarchy, higher than the first level of the geographical hierarchy;
wherein the communications network comprises a fixed wireless service (FWS) including base stations and remote units, and in which representing each network element in a geographical area at a first level in the geographical hierarchy includes representing geographical positions of network base stations and remote units.
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Abstract
A system and method has been provided for the intuitive management of communication networks including a large number of network elements diffused across large geographical areas. The network management system permits the system operator to identify system problems while monitoring the top-level map of the communications network. The organization of network displays permits an operator to “zoom” from the higher levels of network abstraction, depicting a large number of elements across a large geographic area, to local geographical areas where specific problems associated with individual elements can be identified.
58 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of managing network elements in a communications network comprising:
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establishing a hierarchy of geographical areas in the communication network, where an area at a higher level of the hierarchy includes a plurality of areas at a lower level of the hierarchy; storing geographical locations of network elements in a database; representing each network element in a geographical area at a first level in the geographical hierarchy on a graphical user interface; and summarizing the representation of network elements at a second level in the geographical hierarchy, higher than the first level of the geographical hierarchy; wherein the communications network comprises a fixed wireless service (FWS) including base stations and remote units, and in which representing each network element in a geographical area at a first level in the geographical hierarchy includes representing geographical positions of network base stations and remote units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of determining the failure of a network element in a communications network comprising:
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representing the communications network as a hierarchy of geographical areas on a graphical user interface, where an area at a higher level of the hierarchy of geographical areas includes a plurality of areas at a lower level of the hierarchy of geographical areas; storing geographical locations of network elements in a database; detecting a failure of one or more network elements; sending an alarm to the higher level in the geographical hierarchy summarizing the failure of the one or more network elements; and in response to the alarm, identifying and locating failed network elements at a lower level of the geographical hierarchy; wherein the communications network comprises a fixed wireless service (FWS) including base stations and remote units, and in which representing each network element in a geographical area at a lower level in the geographical hierarchy includes representing geographical positions of network base stations and remote units. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method for determining the failure of a network element in a communications network comprising:
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storing geographical locations of network elements in a database; monitoring a geographical map on a graphical user interface which summarizes the status of a plurality of network elements in the communications network; on a map display, receiving an alarm representing the failure of network elements; and in response to the alarm, narrowing the scale of the map to geographically locate failed network elements; wherein the communications network comprises a fixed wireless service (FWS) including base stations and remote units, and in which representing each network element in a geographical area includes representing geographical positions of network base stations and remote units.
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18. A system for presenting a communications network comprising:
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a database including geographical locations of network elements; an application coupled to said database to represent the communications network using a hierarchical arrangement of geographic areas, where each network element is located at a lower level in the hierarchy of geographical areas, said application summarizing the representation of the plurality of network elements at a higher level in the hierarchy of geographical areas; a display having an input connected to said application to present a modifiable display of network elements as represented in multiple levels in the hierarchy of geographical areas; and a supervisor interface connected to said application, said supervisor interface providing commands to said application to modify said display; wherein the communications network is a fixed wireless system (FWS); and
in which the network elements are base stations and remote units. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification