System and method for managing distribution frames in a telephone network

• US 7,813,494 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schmitt, Robert J., Williams, James A., Lichtenauer, James R., Wang, Zhongjun, Holman, Richard, Zhao, Wayne, Bansal, Ashok
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quynh H
• Application Number:
  US11/417,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20070258381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 379/327, 379/328, 379/325
• US Class Current: 379/327
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers

Abstract

This disclosure provides a system and method for managing inventory of and space assignment in main distributing frames associated with a telephone network. The system includes a database that stores frame information and a server that uses the database and executes instructions contained in a computer program to maintain current inventory of the frames, including the equipment terminated on the frames and their allocated space. The server assigns the space for terminating new equipment on the frames and allocates the space to balance the load condition on the frames.

Claims

1. A system for managing distributing frames in a telephone network, comprising:

a database that stores inventory information about a plurality of distributing frames, including vertical layout and horizontal layout for each frame in the plurality of distributing frames;

a server having access to a computer program, the server utilizing the computer program and the database to execute instructions contained in the computer program to;

select a frame from a plurality of frames in response to an input for terminating connections for a plurality of telephone lines on the selected frame;

assign space for a terminating equipment on the selected frame for terminating the plurality of telephone lines on the terminating equipment; and

generate at least one report, suitable for use with a Graphical User Interface (GUI), wherein the at least one report displays the terminating equipment and equipment already in use on the selected frame and further wherein the at least one report includes;

a report that shows a vertical view of the selected frame showing outside plant equipment; and

a report that shows a horizontal view of the selected frame showing line equipment associated with a switch that routes telephone calls relating to the plurality of telephone lines.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further executes instructions to:

group a plurality section of a selected frame into zones; and

assign space within the selected frame for the termination equipment to balance distribution of equipment on the selected frame.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one report further includes a report that shows specifications of the termination equipment at the selected frame.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the reports is a web-based report in form of a screenshot.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further executes instructions to maintain in real time inventory of the plurality of frames by location and inventory of equipment type installed on each frame in the plurality of the frames.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further executes instructions contained in the computer program to maintain inventory of available space on each of the frames in the plurality of frames.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further executes instructions to color code different categories of equipment terminated on each of the frames in the plurality of frames.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the frames in the plurality of frames are conventional frames.

9. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium embodied with instructions comprising:

instructions to access a database that stores inventory information about a plurality of distributing frames, including vertical layout for each frame in the plurality of distributing frames;

instructions to receive input from a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for terminating a plurality of telephone lines on any one of a frame in the plurality of distributing frames

instructions to select a frame from the plurality of distributing frames for terminating the plurality of telephone lines;

instructions to assign one or more blocks on the selected frame for terminating the plurality of telephone lines on the frame;

instructions to provide at least one report to the GUI depicting equipment on the selected frame, including the one or more blocks; and

instructions to generate a report that shows a vertical view of the selected frame showing outside plant equipment.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions to group a plurality sections of a selected frame into zones; and

instructions to assigns equipment on the selected frame to balance distribution of the equipment on the selected frame.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions to generate at least one report that includes a visual representation of equipment on the selected frame; and

instructions to color code different type of equipment placed on the selected frame.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions to generate at least one report that shows specifications for the one or more blocks.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions to generate a report that shows a horizontal view of the selected frame showing line equipment associated with a switch that routes telephone calls relating to the plurality of telephone lines.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein each of the reports is a web-based report.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions to maintain in real time inventory of the plurality of frames by location and inventory of equipment type installed on each frame in the plurality of the frames.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions to maintain inventory of available space on each of the frames in the plurality of frames.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises:

instructions to color code different categories of equipment terminated on each of the frames in the plurality of frames.

18. A method for managing inventory of main distributing frames in a telephone network, comprising:

a database that stores inventory information about a plurality of distributing frames, including horizontal layout for each frame in the plurality of distributing frames;

receiving input from a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for terminating a plurality of telephone lines on any one of a frame in the plurality of distributing frames;

selecting a frame from the plurality of distributing frames for terminating the plurality of telephone lines;

assigning one or more blocks on the selected frame for terminating the plurality of telephone lines on the selected frame;

providing at least one report to the GUI depicting equipment on the selected frame, including the one or more blocks; and

generating a report that shows a horizontal view of the selected frame showing line equipment associated with a switch that routes telephone calls relating to the plurality of telephone lines.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

grouping sections of a selected frame into zones; and

assigning the equipment on the selected frame so as to balance distribution of the equipment on the selected frame.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

generating a report that shows a vertical view of the selected frame showing outside plant equipment.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the reports is a web-based report.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

maintaining in real time inventory of the plurality of frames by location and inventory of equipment type installed on each frame in the plurality of the frames.