Systems and methods for Multiplexing Network alarm signals

• US 20040123189A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meurer, Vance Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability

Abstract

A method of monitoring a plurality of network elements relating to a network includes receiving a X bit signal indicative of an alarm condition relating to one of the plurality of network elements and generating a Y bit signal representative of the alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements. The method further includes transmitting the Y bit signal over the network to a network monitoring location in an overhead portion of a data frame. According to the method, Y is greater than X.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a plurality of network elements relating to a network, the method comprising:

receiving a X bit signal indicative of an alarm condition relating to one of the plurality of network elements;

generating a first Y bit signal representative of the alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements, wherein Y>

X; and

transmitting the Y bit signal over the network to a network monitoring location in an overhead portion of a data frame.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the X bit signal comprises a single bit binary signal.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the Y bit signal comprises an eight bit binary signal.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the Y bit signal comprises a sixteen bit binary signal.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the Y bit signal at the network monitoring location; and

converting the Y bit signal into a visual representation of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of an absence of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements;

generating a second Y bit signal representative of the absence of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network monitoring elements; and

transmitting the second Y bit signal over the network to the network monitoring location.

7. The method as in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving the second Y bit signal at the network monitoring location; and

converting the second Y bit signal into a visual representation of an absence of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements.

8. The method as in claim 6, wherein transmitting the second Y bit signal comprises transmitting the second Y bit signal in an overhead portion of a data frame.

9. A network alarm multiplexer, comprising:

a plurality of inputs that are each configured to receive an alarm signal from one of a plurality of alarmed items;

a multiplexing circuit that, upon the receipt of a network alarm signal on one of the plurality of inputs, produces a multi-bit, binary coded decimal representation of the one of the plurality of inputs to which the network alarm signal is received; and

a plurality of output channels that receive the multi-bit binary coded decimal representation and place the multi-bit binary coded decimal representation onto an optical portion of a network.

10. The network alarm multiplexer of claim 9, wherein the multiplexing circuit is configured to produce a multi-bit, binary coded decimal signal representative of an alarm clear signal received at one of the plurality of inputs.

11. A network monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of network elements relating to a network, comprising:

means for receiving an indication of an alarm condition relating to one of the plurality of network elements;

means for generating a first binary coded signal representative of the alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements; and

means for transmitting the first binary coded signal over the network in an overhead portion of a data frame to a network monitoring location.

12. The network monitoring system of claim 11, further comprising means for generating a second binary coded decimal signal representative of an alarm clear condition relating to one of the plurality of network elements.

13. A system for monitoring a plurality of network elements relating to a network, the system comprising:

a first receiving arrangement that receives a X bit signal indicative of an alarm condition relating to one of the plurality of network elements;

a generating arrangement that generates a first Y bit signal representative of the alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements, wherein Y>

X; and

a transmitting arrangement that transmits the Y bit signal over the network to a network monitoring location in an overhead portion of a data frame.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the X bit signal comprises a single bit binary signal.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the Y bit signal comprises an eight bit binary signal.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the Y bit signal comprises a sixteen bit binary signal.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a second receiving arrangement that receives the Y bit signal at the network monitoring location; and

a converting arrangement that converts the Y bit signal into a visual representation of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first receiving arrangement is configured to receive an indication of an absence of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements, wherein the generating arrangement is configured to generate a second Y bit signal representative of the absence of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network monitoring elements, and wherein the transmitting arrangement is configured to transmit the second Y bit signal over the network to the network monitoring location.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second receiving arrangement is configured to receive the second Y bit signal at the network monitoring location and wherein the converting arrangement is configured to convert the second Y bit signal into a visual representation of an absence of an alarm condition relating to the one of the plurality of network elements.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitting arrangement is further configured to transmit the second Y bit signal in an overhead portion of a data frame.