System and method for proactive management of a communication network through monitoring a user network interface

• US 7,899,893 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• 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: Taylor, William S
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Todd; Gregory G
• Application Number:
  US10/136,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,226 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/223, 709/224, 370/244, 370/242, 379/221, 379/14.01, 714/1, 714/2, 714/15, 714/25, 714 47- 49, 714/57
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 Transmission error

Abstract

A system for monitoring performance parameters relating to a user network interface (“UNI”) in a communication network is provided. The system comprises a message source parser module, a translator module, and a message recording module. The message source parser module is operative to examine an exception message sent by a network element in the communication network. The message source parser module is also operative to determine which network component the message relates to. The translator module is operative to determine if the message is related to one or more UNIs in the network. The message recording module is operative to post information from the message to one or more data records that correspond to the one or more UNIs identified by the translator module.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for proactive monitoring of performance parameters in a communication network, the system comprising:

a computer implementing a message source parser module for examining an exception message sent by a first network switching element in the communication network, the exception message related to a quality of service provided by the first network switching element to corresponding first customer premises equipment via a first user network interface (“

UNI”

) comprising a plurality of UNI network components, and for determining a first UNI network component to which the exception message relates, the first UNI network component included in the plurality of UNI network components implementing the first UNI providing communication service between the first network switching element and the corresponding first customer premises equipment, the exception message not indicating that the first UNI is implemented in part by the first UNI network component;

a translator module implemented by the computer and communicatively coupled to the message source parser module, the translator module being operative to identify that the first UNI comprises the first UNI network component determined by the message source parser module to be related to the exception message even though the exception message did not indicate that the first UNI is implemented in part by the first UNI network component; and

a message recording module implemented by the computer and communicatively coupled to the translator module, the message recording module being operative to post information from the exception message to a data record corresponding to the first UNI identified by the translator module, the data record accessible to accumulate the posted information from the exception message with other posted information from another exception message determined to be related to another UNI network component also implementing the first UNI to prioritize whether to perform maintenance for the first UNI proactively before any problem associated with the first UNI is detectable by a user associated with the first UNI, and

at least one of hardware and hardware processor,

wherein the message source parser module, translator module, and message recording module are implemented by the at least one of hardware and hardware processor.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a message content parser wherein the message content parser is operative to examine the exception message and is operative to pass the message content to the message recording module.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a report generator module wherein the report generator module is operative to retrieve information from a data record that corresponds to a UNI and to generate a report that provides information relating to the performance of the UNI.

4. A computer-implemented system for monitoring performance parameters in a communication network, the system comprising:

a message source parser module for examining an exception message sent by a first network switching element in the communication network, the exception message related to a quality of service provided by the first network switching element to corresponding first customer premises equipment via a first user network interface (“

UNI”

) comprising a first plurality of UNI network components, and for determining a first UNI network component to which the exception message relates, the first UNI network component included in the first plurality of UNI network components implementing the first UNI providing communication service between the first network switching element and the corresponding first customer premises equipment, the first UNI network component also included in a second plurality of UNI network components implementing a second UNI, the first UNI network component corresponding to at least one of a first physical port to couple the first customer premises equipment to a communication line, a second physical port to couple the first network switching element to the communication line, the communication line, a logical port associated with the second physical port, and at least one of a virtual path or a virtual circuit providing communication service between the first network switching element and the first customer premises equipment over the first physical port and the logical port, the exception message not indicating that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component;

a component record finder module communicatively coupled to the message source parser module, the component record finder module being operative to search component records in a component record database to identify a component record that corresponds to the first UNI network component related to the received exception message; and

a message recording module communicatively coupled to the component record finder module, the message recording module being operative to search the component record identified by the component record finder module to retrieve from the component record the identity of the first and second UNIs comprising the first UNI network component even though the exception message did not indicate that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component, the message recording module also being operative to post information from the exception message to one or more data records that correspond to the first and second UNIs identified from the component record, the one or more data records to be accumulate the posted information from the exception message with other posted information from other exception messages determined to be related to other UNI network components also implementing at least the first UNI and the second UNI to prioritize whether to perform maintenance for the first UNI before the second UNI proactively before any problem associated with the first UNI is detectable by a user associated with the first UNI, and

at least one of hardware and hardware processor,

wherein the message source parser module, component record finder module, and message recording module are implemented by the at least one of hardware and hardware processor.

5. The system according to claim 4 further comprising a message content parser wherein the message content parser is operative to examine the exception message and is operative to pass the message content to the message recording module.

6. The system according to claim 4 further comprising a report generator module wherein the report generator module is operative to retrieve information from a data record that corresponds to a UNI and to generate a report that provides information relating to the performance of the UNI.

7. A computer-implemented system for monitoring performance parameters relating to a user network interface (“

UNI”

) in a communication network, the system comprising;

a computer implementing a message source parser module for examining an exception message sent by a network switching element in the communication network, the exception message related to a quality of service provided by the network switching element to corresponding customer premises equipment via a first UNI comprising a first plurality of UNI network components, and for determining a first UNI network component to which the exception message relates, the first UNI network component included in the first plurality of UNI network components implementing the first UNI providing communication service between the network switching element and the corresponding customer premises equipment, the first UNI network component also included in a second plurality of UNI network components implementing a second UNI, the exception message not indicating that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component, the exception message not reporting a failure of the first UNI network component;

a query execution module implemented by the computer and communicatively coupled to the message source parser module, the query execution module being operative to conduct a search in a database containing UNI data records to identify one or more UNI data records corresponding to the first and second UNIs and comprising the first UNI network component identified by the message source parser module, the one or more UNI data records corresponding to the first and second UNIs being identified even though the exception message did not indicate that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component; and

a UNI record appending module implemented by the computer and communicatively coupled to the query execution module, the UNI record appending module being operative to post information from the exception message to the one or more UNI data records identified by the query execution module as corresponding to the first and second UNIs, the one or more UNI data records to accumulate the posted information from the exception message with other posted information from other exception messages determined to be related to other UNI network components also implementing at least the first UNI and the second UNI to prioritize whether to perform maintenance for the first UNI before the second UNI proactively before any problem associated with the first UNI is detectable by a user associated with the first UNI, and

at least one of hardware and hardware processor,

wherein the message source parser module, query execution module, and UNI record appending module are implemented by the at least one of hardware and hardware processor.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising a message content parser wherein the message content parser is operative to examine the exception message and is operative to pass the message content to the message recording module.

9. The system according to claim 7 further comprising a report generator module wherein the report generator module is operative to retrieve information from a data record that corresponds to a UNI and to generate a report that provides information relating to the performance of the UNI.

10. A network monitoring system for a communication network, the system comprising:

a database containing user network interface (“

UNI”

) data records corresponding to one or more UNIs, each UNI included in the system further comprising a plurality of UNI network components to provide communication service between a corresponding network switching element and corresponding customer premises equipment;

a message source parser module for examining an exception message sent by a first network switching element providing communication service to corresponding first customer premises equipment in the communication network via a first UNI comprising a first plurality of UNI network components, and for determining a first UNI network component to which the exception message relates, the first UNI network component included in the first plurality of UNI network components implementing the first UNI and also included in a second plurality of UNI network components implementing a second UNI, the first UNI network component being distinct from the first network switching element, the exception message not indicating that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component and not reporting a failure of the first UNI network component;

a query execution module communicatively coupled to the message source parser module, the query execution module being operative to conduct a search in the database to identify the UNI data records corresponding to the first and second UNIs that indicate that exception messages relating to the first UNI network component identified by the message source parser module should be posted to that UNI record even though the exception message did not indicate that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component; and

a UNI record appending module communicatively coupled to the query execution module, the UNI record appending module being operative to post information from the exception message to the one or more UNI data records identified by the query execution module as corresponding to the first and second UNIs, the one or more UNI data records to accumulate the posted information from the exception message with other posted information from other exception messages determined to be related to other UNI network components also implementing at least the first UNI and the second UNI to indicate to prioritize whether to perform maintenance for the first UNI before the second UNI proactively before any problem associated with the first UNI is detectable by a user associated with the first UNI, and

at least one of hardware and hardware processor,

wherein the message source parser module, query execution module, and UNI record appending module are implemented by the at least one of hardware and hardware processor.

11. A network monitoring system for a communication network, the system comprising:

a component record database;

a message source parser module for examining an exception message sent by a first network switching element providing communication service to corresponding first customer premises equipment in the communication network via a first user network interface (“

UNI”

) comprising a first plurality of UNI network components, and for determining a first UNI network component to which the exception message relates, the first UNI network component being included in the first plurality of UNI network components implementing the first UNI and also included in a second plurality of UNI network components implementing a second UNI, the first UNI network component corresponding to at least one of a first physical port to couple the first customer premises equipment to a communication line, a second physical port to couple the first network switching element to the communication line, the communication line, a logical port associated with the second physical port, and at least one of a virtual path or a virtual circuit providing communication service between the first network switching element and the first customer premises equipment over the first physical port and the logical port, the first UNI network component being distinct from the first network switching element, the exception message not indicating that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component;

a component record finder module communicatively coupled to the message source parser module, the component record finder module being operative to search through component records in the component record database to identify a component record that corresponds to the first UNI network component related to the received exception message; and

a message recording module communicatively coupled to the component record finder module, the message recording module being operative to search the component record identified by the component record finder module to retrieve from the component record the identity of the first and second UNIs comprising the first UNI network component even though the exception message did not indicate that the first or second UNIs are implemented in part by the first UNI network component, the message recording module also being operative to post information from the exception message to one or more data records that correspond to the first and second UNIs identified from the component record, the one or more data records to be accumulate the posted information from the exception message with other posted information from other exception messages determined to be related to other UNI network components also implementing at least the first UNI and the second UNI to prioritize whether to perform maintenance for the first UNI before the second UNI proactively before any problem associated with the first UNI is detectable by a user associated with the first UNI, and

at least one of hardware and hardware processor,

wherein the message source parser module, component record finder module, and message recording module are implemented by the at least one of hardware and hardware processor.

12. A method for accumulating performance information relating to a communication network, the method comprising:

maintaining information about one or more user network interfaces (“

UNIs”

), each UNI further comprising a plurality of UNI network components including a first physical port to couple associated customer premises equipment to a communication line, a second physical port to couple an associated network switching element to the communication line, the communication line, a logical port associated with the second physical port, and at least one of a virtual path or a virtual circuit providing communication service between the network switching element and the customer premises equipment over the first physical port and the logical port;

receiving an exception message transmitted by a first network switching element providing communication service to corresponding first customer premises equipment via a first UNI comprising a first plurality of UNI network components, the exception message related to a plurality of UNI network components of one or more UNIs, the exception message not identifying any UNI implemented by the plurality of UNI network components related to the exception message;

identifying which one or more UNIs comprise the plurality of UNI network components related to the exception message even though the exception message did not identify any UNI; and

associating information from the exception message with data records that correspond to the one or more identified UNIs, the data records to associate the posted information from the exception message with other posted information from other exception messages determined to be related to other UNI network components also implementing the one or more identified UNIs to indicate whether to perform proactive maintenance for any of the one or more identified UNIs before any problem associated with the one or more identified UNIs is detectable by a user associated with the one or more identified UNIs.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

determining a facility or a piece of equipment that corresponds to at least one network component related to the exception message;

determining which communication channels the facility or the equipment affects; and

determining the UNIs which the affected communication channels traverse.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising applying a look-up table to identify the one or more UNIs comprising the at least one network component corresponding to the determined facility or a piece of equipment.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein determining the UNIs which the affected communication channels traverse comprises reviewing one or more UNI records.

16. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

determining a facility or a piece of equipment that corresponds to at least one network component related to the exception message; and

applying a look-up table to determine the UNI affected by the facility or equipment.

17. The method according to claim 12 further comprising:

determining a facility or a piece of equipment that corresponds to at least one network component related to the exception message; and

reviewing one or more UNI records to determine the UNI affected by the facility or equipment.

18. A method to monitor quality of service provided to customers in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving an exception message from a network switching element providing a plurality of entry points for a plurality of customer premises equipment to communicate with the communication network, the network switching element communicatively coupled to the plurality of customer premises equipment via a plurality of user network interfaces, each user network interface (“

UNI”

) comprising a plurality of UNI network components distinct from the network switching element, at least one of the UNI network components being associated with more than one UNI, the exception message related to at least a first UNI network component in the plurality of UNI network components, the exception message not identifying any UNI comprising the first UNI network component, the exception message not reporting a failure of the first UNI network component;

identifying a first UNI comprising the first UNI network component to which the exception message relates even though the exception message does not identify any UNI comprising the first UNI network component; and

processing a parameter included in the exception message and a second parameter included in a second exception message related to at least a second UNI network component included in the plurality of UNI network components implementing the first UNI to prioritize whether to perform proactive maintenance for the first UNI identified as comprising the first UNI network component to which the exception message relates before any problem associated with the first UNI is detectable by a user associated with the first UNI, the parameter corresponding to a first quality of service provided to first customer premises equipment via the first UNI identified as comprising the first UNI network component to which the exception message relates.

19. A method as defined in claim 18 further comprising

identifying a second UNI comprising the first UNI network component to which the exception message relates;

and

processing the parameter included in the exception message to prioritize whether to perform proactive maintenance for the first UNI identified as comprising the first UNI network component to which the exception message relates before the second UNI identified as comprising the first UNI network component to which the exception message relates.

20. A method as defined in claim 18 wherein:

(1) the parameter represents at least one of errored seconds, a code violation, severely errored seconds, frame errors or unavailable seconds when the first UNI network component corresponds to a physical port, (2) the parameter represents at least one of packet errors, packet discards, status frames errors, a number of frames transmitted, data terminal equipment (DTE) error frames, data communications equipment (DCE) error frames, local management interface (LMI) status frames or port utilization when the first UNI network component corresponds to a logical port, and (3) the parameter represents at least one of a number of frames transmitted or received, a service level of frames transmitted and received, a number of far end congestion notifications or a number of back end congestion notifications when the first UNI network component corresponds to a virtual channel.