Systems and methods for managing faults in a network

• US 7,139,819 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilson, Bruce, Luo, Weiya, Confrey, Anthony Wogrin, Turok, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang, Paul H.
• Application Number:
  US09/702,303
• Time in Patent Office: 2,212 Days
• Field of Search: 709/209, 709/223, 709/226, 709/224, 709/225, 709/201, 709/202
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication

Abstract

A system (130) improves network management. The system (130) associates an event in the network with a network device and provides a geographical map (710). The geographical map (710) displays locations of network devices and indicates which network devices are associated with at least one event.

Claims

1. A method for managing a network, comprising:

providing a first list of events occurring in the network to a graphical user interface;

simultaneously providing a second list of events occurring in the network to the graphical user interface, the second list comprising a predetermined number of most recent events; and

managing the network using the first and second lists.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a number of events to be provided in the second list.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting an event in the second list, and

automatically selecting, in response to selecting an event in the second list, an equivalent event in the first list.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

acknowledging the equivalent event in the first list.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second lists include events relating to at least one network element in the network.

6. A system for managing a network, comprising:

means for displaying a first list of events in the network;

means for simultaneously displaying a second list of events in the network, the second list comprising a predetermined number of most recent events; and

means for managing the network using the first and second lists.

7. A system for managing a network, comprising:

a user device configured to transmit a request for current network information, provide a first list of events occurring in the network via a graphical user interface, and simultaneously provide a second list of events occurring in the network via the graphical user interface, the second list comprising a number of most recent events; and

a server configured to receive the request for current network information and provide the current network information to the user device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the request includes at least one network identifier.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein, when providing the current network information, the server is configured to;

provide current network information relating to the at least one network identifier.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the number of most recent events provided in the second list is set by a user.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the user device is further configured to:

select an event in the second list, and

automatically select, in response to selecting an event in the second list, an equivalent event in the first list.

12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one processor to perform a method for managing a network, the method comprising:

causing a first list of events in the network to be displayed;

simultaneously causing a second list of events in the network to be displayed, the second list comprising at least one most recent event; and

managing the network using the first and second lists.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

setting a number of events to be provided in the second list.

14. A device including a graphical user interface for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, the device comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a processor configured to execute the instructions to provide to the graphical user interface;

a list of identifiers associated with the plurality of network elements, each network element identifier being associated with a state indication; and

both a first list of events occurring in the network and a second list of events occurring in the network, both lists of events being provided simultaneously to the graphical user interface, the second list comprising a predetermined number of most recent events.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide, for each network element identifier, a total number of alarms associated with each of the plurality of network elements.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide, for each network element identifier, a value indicating a quantity of major alarms associated with a respective network element, and

provide, for each network element identifier, a second value indicating a quantity of minor alarms associated with a respective network element.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide, for each network element identifier, a value representing a number of users monitoring a respective network element.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide, in response to selecting the value representing the number of users monitoring a network element, contact information for each user.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide, for each network element identifier, a value representing a number of escalated alarms associated with a respective network element.

20. A method utilizing a graphical user interface for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, comprising:

receiving a request for network information;

providing to the graphical user interface a list of network element identifiers associated with the plurality of network elements, the list indicating a state of each of the plurality of network elements;

using the list to obtain both a first list of events occurring in the network and a second list of events occurring in the network, both lists of events being provided simultaneously to the graphical user interface, the second list comprising a predetermined number of most recent events; and

managing the network using the first list of events, and the second list of events.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the list further indicates a number of escalated alarms associated with each of the plurality of network elements.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the list farther includes a number of users currently monitoring each of the plurality of network elements.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the list further includes at least one of a total number of alarms associated with each of the plurality of network elements, a total number of trouble tickets associated with each of the plurality of network elements, a total number of held alarms associated with each of the plurality of network elements, and a network element type indication for each of the plurality of network elements.

24. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one processor to perform a method utilizing a graphical user interface for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, the method comprising:

receiving a request for network information;

providing to the graphical user interface a list of network element identifiers associated with the plurality of network elements, the list indicating a state of each of the plurality of network elements;

using the list to obtain both a first list of events occurring in the network and a second list of events occurring in the network, both lists of events being provided simultaneously to the graphical user interface, the second list comprising a predetermined number of most recent events; and

managing the network using the first list of events and the second list of events.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the list further includes at least one of a value representing a number of escalated alarms associated with each of the plurality of network elements, a value representing a number of users currently monitoring each of the plurality of network elements, a total number of alarms associated with each of the plurality of network elements, a total number of trouble tickets associated with each of the plurality of network elements, a total number of held alarms associated with each of the plurality of network elements, and a network element type indication for each of the plurality of network elements.

26. A method utilizing a graphical user interface for managing a network having a plurality of network devices, comprising:

associating events in the network with respective ones of the plurality of network devices;

providing a geographical map having a particular size to the graphical user interface, the geographical map displaying locations of each of the plurality of network devices and indicating which of the plurality of network devices are associated with at least one event; and

managing the network using the geographical map, the managing including detecting selection of a network device in the plurality of network devices and providing to the graphical user interface a more detailed view of a geographical area around the selected network device in response to the detecting while simultaneously maintaining at least a portion of the geographical map visible on the graphical user interface without changing the size of the portion of the geographical map.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the network devices include points of presence and network elements.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

selecting a network device having at least one associated event; and

providing information regarding the at least one associated event.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the geographical map further displays a state of each network device.

30. A device including a graphical user interface for managing a network having a plurality of network devices, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to

associate an events in the network with respective ones of the plurality of network devices,

provide a geographical map having a particular size to the graphical user interface, the geographical map displaying locations of the plurality of network devices and indicating which of the network devices are associated with at least one event,

detect selection of a network device in the plurality of network devices, and

provide to the graphical user interface a more detailed view of a geographical location around the selected network device in response to the detecting while simultaneously maintaining at least a portion of the geographical man visible on the graphical user interface without changing the size of the portion of the geographical map.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the network devices include points of presence and network elements.

32. The device of claim 30 wherein the processor is further configured to:

provide event information response to selection of a network device having at least one event associated therewith.

33. The device of claim 30 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a state of each network device on the geographical map.

34. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one at processor to perform a method utilizing a graphical user interface for managing a network having a plurality of network devices, the method comprising:

associating events in the network with respective ones of the plurality of network devices;

providing a geographical map having a particular size to the graphical user interface, the geographical map displaying locations of each of the plurality of network devices and indicating which of the plurality of network devices are associated with at least one event; and

managing the network using the geographical map, the managing including detecting selection of a network device the plurality of network devices and providing to the graphical user interface a more detailed view of a geographical area around the selected network device in response the detecting while simultaneously maintaining at least a portion of the geographic map visible on the graphical user interface without changing the size of the portion of the geographical map.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the network devices include points of presence and network elements.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the method further comprises:

selecting a network device having at least one associated event; and

providing information regarding the at least one associated event.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the geographical map further displays a state of each network device.

38. A device for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to associate each network element with one of a plurality of logical planes and provide a network map, the network map displaying relationships between the plurality of logical planes and those network elements associated with the plurality of logical planes.

39. The device of claim 38 wherein the plurality of logical planes includes one or more of a transmission plane, a switching plane, a customer access plane, and a signaling plane.

40. The device of claim 38 wherein the processor is further configured to:

allow a user to navigate through the network map.

41. The device of claim 38 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a state of each network element in the network map.

42. The device of claim 38 wherein the network map is a three-dimensional network map.

43. A method for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, comprising:

associating each of the plurality network elements with one of a plurality of logical planes;

providing a network map, the network map displaying relationships between the plurality of logical planes and those network elements associated with the plurality of logical planes; and

managing the network using the network map.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the plurality of logical planes includes one or more of a transmission plane, a switching plane, a customer access plane, and a signaling plane.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the managing includes:

allowing a user to navigate through the network map.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the providing includes:

displaying a state of each network element in the network map.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein the network map is a three-dimensional network map.

48. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one processor to perform a method for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, the method comprising:

associating each of the plurality of network elements with one of a plurality of logical planes;

providing a network A network map displaying relationships between the plurality of logical planes and those network elements associated with the plurality of logical planes; and

managing the network using the network map.

49. A system for managing a network having a plurality of network elements, comprising:

a user device configured to provide a user with a list of network management options, the options including a network element diagnostic option, a network summary option, a geographical network management option, a three-dimensional network management option, transmit, in response to a selection of an option by the user, a request for current network information, provide the user with current network information according to the selected option; and

a server configured to receive the request for current network information and transmit current network information to the user device.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the user device is configured to:

provide, in response to a selection of the network element diagnostic option, a first list of events occurring in network, and

simultaneously providing a second list of events occurring in the network, the second list comprising a predetermined of most recent events.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the user device is configured to:

provide, in response to a selection of the network summary option, a list of network element identifiers associated with the plurality of network elements, each network element identifier being associated with a state indication.

52. The system of claim 49 wherein the user device is configured to:

associate, in response to a selection of the geographical network management option, events in the network with one of the plurality of network devices, and

provide a geographical map, the geographical map displaying locations of each of the plurality of network devices and indicating which of the plurality of network devices are associated with at least one event.

53. The system of claim 49 wherein the user device is configured to:

associate, in response to a selection of the three-dimensional network management option, each of the plurality of network elements with one of a plurality of logical planes, and

provide a network map, those network map displaying relationships between the plurality of logical planes and those network elements associated with the plurality of logical planes.