Network fault analysis system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for analyzing faults on a message network, comprising:
- a network interface for coupling the apparatus to the message network;
expert system means for monitoring and interacting with the message network through the network interface for the purpose of analyzing faults on the message network, said expert system means comprising a plurality of individual expert systems and communication means by means of which fault-analysis information is passed between the individual expert systems, each said individual expert system being operative to carry out a respective operation involved in the analysis of any given network fault, with a first group of one or more of said expert systems being involved in the instigation of tests on said message network through said network interface, and a second group of one or more of said individual expert systems being involved in monitoring the message network through said network interface and in analyzing the message network'"'"'s behavior including behavior exhibited in response to said tests, said communication means providing fault-analysis information from said second group back to said first group to enable the latter to instigate tests taking account of the message network'"'"'s behavior; and
a user interface for outputting to a user of the apparatus fault-analysis information provided by the expert system means, said user interface providing user access to at least one said individual expert system in each of said groups in such a manner that each such expert system can be used both in a stand alone, advisory role by the user and for receiving user input which the expert system then utilizes in cooperation with other of said expert systems.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring and analyzing the behavior of a message network. Such an apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of expert systems (Consultants), each of which is concerned with a different one of the several operations normally involved in the analysis of any given network problem, and communication device. The communication device is preferably in the form of an electronic blackboard by means of which deductions can be passed between the Consultants under control of the user. The user may also add information to the electronic blackboard. In a preferred embodiment, the Consultants include a Fault Recognizer Consultant fed with raw data from the message network and which generates Problem suggestions therefrom; a Usage Advisor Consultant which suggests where to test and what to test for; an Operations Assistant Consultant which suggests how to make the tests; a Expert Commentator Consultant which analyzes the results of the tests to produce Symptoms; and a Diagnostician which generates possible and plausible diagnoses of the observed fault conditions, together with explanations. In practice, there is likely to be a roughly cyclic sequence of activation among the Usage Advisor, the Operations Assistant, and the Expert Commentator, with the Diagnostician performing a kind of supervisory or higher level role.
100 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for analyzing faults on a message network, comprising:
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a network interface for coupling the apparatus to the message network; expert system means for monitoring and interacting with the message network through the network interface for the purpose of analyzing faults on the message network, said expert system means comprising a plurality of individual expert systems and communication means by means of which fault-analysis information is passed between the individual expert systems, each said individual expert system being operative to carry out a respective operation involved in the analysis of any given network fault, with a first group of one or more of said expert systems being involved in the instigation of tests on said message network through said network interface, and a second group of one or more of said individual expert systems being involved in monitoring the message network through said network interface and in analyzing the message network'"'"'s behavior including behavior exhibited in response to said tests, said communication means providing fault-analysis information from said second group back to said first group to enable the latter to instigate tests taking account of the message network'"'"'s behavior; and a user interface for outputting to a user of the apparatus fault-analysis information provided by the expert system means, said user interface providing user access to at least one said individual expert system in each of said groups in such a manner that each such expert system can be used both in a stand alone, advisory role by the user and for receiving user input which the expert system then utilizes in cooperation with other of said expert systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for testing a message network, comprising:
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processing means located at a fixed location on the message network; and a portable instrument comprising; a user interface through which a user of the instrument can initiate network testing and can receive back results of such testing, a network interface for coupling the instrument to the message network and through which the instrument can exchange messages with said processing means, said network interface including monitoring means for monitoring the behavior of the message network and outputting messages containing monitoring information to said processing means, and test-signal means for generating test signals onto the message network in response to messages received from said processing means, wherein said processing means comprises analyzing means for analyzing said monitoring information and outputting results of this analysis back to the instrument to perform at least one of initiating further testing by the test-signal means and providing test results to said user through said user interface.
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Specification