Virtual network operations center

• US 8,294,705 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dillenberger, Donna N., Osias, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAJNIK, DANIEL F
• Application Number:
  US11/747,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20080278478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A system, method, program product and service for implementing a virtual network operations center. A system is disclosed that includes: a system for rendering three dimensional (3D) models in an observation space, in which the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center. Also included is a system for rendering a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display provides a message board for operators viewing the observation space, a cueing system for generating cues within the 3D models; and a communications hub for providing bidirectional communications with the associated operations center.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one computing device including;

a system for implementing a virtual network operations center by performing a method comprising;

rendering an observation space representing the virtual network operations center, wherein the rendering includes rendering three dimensional (3D) models in the observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center;

enabling manipulation of the 3D models by an operator;

generating a set of messages for processing by the associated operations center in response to the manipulation, wherein the set of messages directly effectuates changes in the operations center without further user action at the associated operations center;

rendering a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display is a component of the virtual network operations center, does not have an associated component in the associated operations center and provides a changeable message board for operators viewing the observation space, and wherein the message board displays unique content for each operator, the unique content includes at least one of a message or a notification relating to at least one of operations or events of the virtual network operations center; and

automatically generating audio and visual cues to alert an operator interacting with the 3D models, wherein the cues are generated in response to hardware faults and middleware or operating system configuration issues, and wherein the visual cues are rendered within the 3D models.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising selecting the 3D models for rendering from a database of 3D models.

3. The system of claim 1, the method further comprising enabling an operator to move about within the observation space.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the enabling includes enabling the operator to select a 3D model to view layered details of the 3D model.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the rendering 3D models maintains substantially similar spatial characteristics as actual components in the associated operations center.

6. The system of claim 1, the method further comprising generating an observation platform within the observation space.

7. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable medium, which when executed, implements a virtual network operations center by performing a method comprising:

rendering an observation space representing the virtual network operations center, wherein the rendering includes rendering three dimensional (3D) models in the observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center;

enabling manipulation of the 3D models by an operator;

generating a set of messages for processing by the associated operations center in response to the manipulation, wherein the set of messages directly effectuates changes in the operations center without further user action at the associated operations center;

rendering a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display is a component of the virtual network operations center, does not have an associated component in the associated operations center and provides a changeable message board for operators viewing the observation space, and wherein the message board displays unique content for each operator, the unique content includes at least one of a message or a notification relating to at least one of operations or events of the virtual network operations center; and

automatically generating audio and visual cues to alert an operator interacting with the 3D models, wherein the cues are generated in response to hardware faults and middleware or operating system configuration issues, and wherein the visual cues are rendered within the 3D models.

8. The program product of claim 7, the method further comprising selecting the 3D models for rendering from a database of 3D models.

9. The program product of claim 7, the method further comprising enabling an operator to navigate the observation space.

10. The program product of claim 7, the method further comprising enabling an operator to select a 3D model to view layered details of the 3D model.

11. The program product of claim 7, the method further comprising generating an observation platform within the observation space.

12. A method for implementing a virtual network operations center, comprising:

rendering an observation space representing the virtual network operations center using a computer, wherein the rendering includes rendering three dimensional (3D) models in the observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center;

enabling manipulation of the 3D models by an operator;

generating a set of messages for processing by the associated operations center in response to the manipulation, wherein the set of messages directly effectuates changes in the operations center without further user action at the associated operations center;

rendering a virtual display in the observation space using the computer, wherein the virtual display is a component of the virtual network operations center, does not have an associated component in the associated operations center and provides a changeable message board for operators viewing the observation space, and wherein the message board displays unique content for each operator, the unique content includes at least one of a message or a notification relating to at least one of operations or events of the virtual network operations center; and

automatically generating audio and visual cues to alert an operator interacting with the 3D models using the computer, wherein the cues are generated in response to hardware faults and middleware or operating system configuration issues, and wherein the visual cues are rendered within the 3D models.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising retrieving the 3D models for rendering from a database of 3D models.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising enabling an operator to navigate the observation space.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising enabling an operator to select a 3D model to view layered details of the 3D model.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of messages includes a set of messages for provisioning a set of components of the associated operations center.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of messages includes a set of messages for at least one of:

installing or configuring at least one of;

an operating system or middleware in the associated operations center.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the unique content for an operator includes a message from another operator viewing the virtual network operations center.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the virtual network operations center includes at least one 3D model corresponding to a communications hub, wherein the communications hub manages communications between the virtual network operations center and the associated operations center.

16. A method for deploying a system for implementing a virtual network operations center, comprising:

configuring a computer infrastructure to;

render an observation space representing the virtual network operations center, wherein the rendering includes render three dimensional (3D) models in the observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center;

enable manipulation of the 3D models by an operator;

generate a set of messages for processing by the associated operations center in response to the manipulation, wherein the set of messages directly effectuates changes in the operations center without further user action at the associated operations center;

render a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display is a component of the virtual network operations center, does not have an associated component in the associated operations center and provides a changeable message board for operators viewing the observation space, and wherein the message board displays unique content for each operator, the unique content includes at least one of a message or a notification relating to at least one of operations or events of the virtual network operations center; and

automatically generate audio and visual cues to alert an operator interacting with the 3D models, wherein the cues are generated in response to hardware faults and middleware or operating system configuration issues, and wherein the visual cues are rendered within the 3D models.