Method and apparatus for providing signature based predictive maintenance in communication networks

• US 8,274,904 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• 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: Bekampis, Carolyn, Vasilescu, Mihail, Rogaski, Mark, Li, Wen-Jui, Shariff, Mohammed, Lu, David, Dickey, Thomas, Eslambolchi, Hossein, Soares, John, Bajpay, Paritosh, McCanuel, John, Bienfait, Roberta
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aga, Sori
• Application Number:
  US11/067,936
• Time in Patent Office: 2,766 Days
• Field of Search: 370216-228, 370/241, 370/242, 370/247, 370/251, 370/252
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability

Abstract

A method and apparatus for collecting and processing line performance data transmitted over cables, e.g., Y-cables, is disclosed. The present invention applies a method based on specific performance measurements, specific measurement time intervals, and compare results from different measurement time intervals to produce a “signature” that indicates deteriorating performance of a particular Y-cable. Once a “signature” is detected, the method will proactively and automatically generate a trouble ticket to trigger the dispatch maintenance staffs to service the cable, e.g., to perform the replacement of the Y-cable in question, thus completing the predictive maintenance process. A trouble ticket is a record used to report and manage the resolution of network related problems.

Claims

1. A method for enabling signature based predictive maintenance in a communication network, comprising:

detecting a signature of a cable, where the cable is for coupling network elements within the communication network, wherein the detecting comprises determining if a latest total error count is greater than a current total error count by an amount larger than a threshold, where the signature indicates that a failure of the cable is imminent before the cable actually fails, and wherein the signature is based on a transmission line performance parameter; and

generating a trouble ticket automatically for servicing the cable in accordance with the signature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network comprises a packet network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable is a Y-cable.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the Y-cable comprises three connectors for coupling with ports of a plurality of line cards.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission line performance parameter comprises a line code violation parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

monitoring the transmission line performance parameter within a first predefined period of time; and

sending a corresponding error trap flag if a corresponding threshold that is set for the transmission line performance parameter is exceeded, where the error trap flag is sent to an element management system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the signature is premised on measurements collected on the transmission line performance parameter over the first predefined period of time and a second predefined period of time, where the second predefined period of time is a longer period of time than the first predefined period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network elements comprise at least one of:

a cross-connect, a switch, and a router.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission line performance parameter comprises a line errored second parameter.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission line performance parameter comprises an unavailable second parameter.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage 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 a method for enabling signature based predictive maintenance in a communication network, comprising:

detecting a signature of a cable, where the cable is for coupling network elements within the communication network, wherein the detecting comprises determining if a latest total error count is greater than a current total error count by an amount larger than a threshold, where the signature indicates that a failure of the cable is imminent before the cable actually fails, and wherein the signature is based on a transmission line performance parameter; and

generating a trouble ticket automatically for servicing the cable in accordance with the signature.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the communication network comprises a packet network.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the cable is a Y-cable.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the Y-cable comprises three connectors for coupling with ports of a plurality of line cards.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the transmission line performance parameter comprises:

a line code violation parameter.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the detecting comprises:

monitoring the transmission line performance parameter within a first predefined period of time; and

sending a corresponding error trap flag if a corresponding threshold that is set for the transmission line performance parameter is exceeded, where the error trap flag is sent to an element management system.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the signature is premised on measurements collected on the transmission line performance parameter over the first predefined period of time and a second predefined period of time, where the second predefined period of time is a longer period of time than the first predefined period of time.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the network elements comprise at least one of:

a cross-connect, a switch, and a router.

17. An apparatus for enabling signature based predictive maintenance in a communication network, comprising:

means for detecting a signature of a cable, where the cable is for coupling network elements within the communication network, wherein the detecting comprises determining if a latest total error count is greater than a current total error count by an amount larger than a threshold, where the signature indicates that a failure of the cable is imminent before the cable actually fails, and wherein the signature is based on a transmission line performance parameter; and

means for generating a trouble ticket automatically for servicing the cable in accordance with the signature.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cable is a Y-cable.