Method and apparatus for providing automated diagnostics of networks using multiple virtual circuits

• US 7,817,570 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bajpay, Paritosh, Liu, Jackson, Dardashti, Mojgan, Qian, Zhiqiang, Hunt, Mark, Anderson, Thomas, Bienfait, Roberta, Zinnikas, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mattis; Jason E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chery; Dady
• Application Number:
  US11/618,906
• Time in Patent Office: 1,388 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/253, 370/241, 370/242, 370/244, 370/245, 370/248, 370/353, 370/396, 370/397, 370/485, 714/4, 714/25, 714/37, 714/39, 714/42, 714/43, 714/47, 714/100, 709/223, 709/224, 725/105, 725/106, 725/107, 725/108, 725/109, 725/111, 725/118
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4675 Dynamic sharing of VLAN information amongst network nodes configuration of the network or of network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5074 Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets

Abstract

A method and system for providing automated diagnostics of networks using multiple virtual circuits are disclosed. For example, the method receives a ticket indicating a problem. The method then determines if the problem is associated with a configuration mismatch and determines if the problem is associated with at least one physical channel supporting a plurality of virtual circuits. The method then verifies status of each of the plurality of virtual circuits if the problem is not associated with the configuration mismatch or the at least one physical channel. The method then reports a result of verifying the status of each of the plurality of virtual circuits.

Claims

1. A method for automatically diagnosing a problem in a network having a plurality of virtual circuits, comprising:

receiving a ticket indicating a problem;

determining by a processor if said problem is associated with a configuration mismatch, wherein said determining if said problem is associated with said configuration mismatch comprises;

collecting configuration information from at least one router in said network;

retrieving configuration information associated with said at least one router from a database; and

determining if said configuration information collected from said at least one router matches said configuration information retrieved from said database;

determining if said problem is associated with at least one physical channel supporting said plurality of virtual circuits;

verifying status of each of said plurality of virtual circuits if said problem is not associated with said configuration mismatch or said at least one physical channel; and

reporting a result of verifying said status of each of said plurality of virtual circuits.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

searching for an element ticket; and

linking said received ticket to any element ticket that is found.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining if any of said found element ticket is related to an Ethernet card of said network; and

linking said received ticket to any of said found element ticket that is related to said Ethernet card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining if said problem is associated with at least one physical channel comprises at least one of:

executing an extended ping test script, or executing a facility level test script.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said reporting comprises at least one of:

logging said result, moving said ticket to a reporting system that requires immediate action for said ticket, notifying a third party or a customer impacted by said problem or generating a work order.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of virtual circuits comprises a plurality of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or a plurality of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said network comprises an Ethernet network.

8. A non transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of method for automatically diagnosing a problem in a network having a plurality of virtual circuits, comprising:

receiving a ticket indicating a problem;

determining if said problem is associated with a configuration mismatch, wherein said determining if said problem is associated with said configuration mismatch comprises;

collecting configuration information from at least one router in said network;

retrieving configuration information associated with said at least one router from a database; and

determining if said configuration information collected from said at least one router matches said configuration information retrieved from said database;

determining if said problem is associated with at least one physical channel supporting said plurality of virtual circuits;

verifying status of each of said plurality of virtual circuits if said problem is not associated with said configuration mismatch or said at least one physical channel; and

reporting a result of verifying said status of each of said plurality of virtual circuits.

9. The non transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

searching for an element ticket; and

linking said received ticket to any element ticket that is found.

10. The non transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

determining if any of said found element ticket is related to an Ethernet card of said network; and

linking said received ticket to any of said found element ticket that is related to said Ethernet card.

11. The non transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said determining if said problem is associated with at least one physical channel comprises at least one of:

executing an extended ping test script, or executing a facility level test script.

12. The non transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said reporting comprises at least one of:

logging said result, moving said ticket to a reporting system that requires immediate action for said ticket, notifying a third party or a customer impacted by said problem or generating a work order.

13. The non transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said plurality of virtual circuits comprises a plurality of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or a plurality of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs).

14. The non transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein said network comprises an Ethernet network.

15. An apparatus for automatically diagnosing a problem in a network having a plurality of virtual circuits, comprising:

means for receiving a ticket indicating a problem;

means for determining if said problem is associated with a configuration mismatch, wherein said means for determining if said problem is associated with a configuration mismatch collects configuration information from at least one router in said network, retrieves configuration information associated with said at least one router from a database, and determines if said configuration information collected from said at least one router matches said configuration information retrieved from said database;

means for determining if said problem is associated with at least one physical channel supporting said plurality of virtual circuits;

means for verifying status of each of said plurality of virtual circuits if said problem is not associated with said configuration mismatch or said at least one physical channel; and

means for reporting a result of verifying said status of each of said plurality of virtual circuits.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for searching for an element ticket; and

means for linking said received ticket to any element ticket that is found.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said plurality of virtual circuits comprises a plurality of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or a plurality of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs).