Methods and apparatus to trigger maintenance and upgrades of access networks

• US 8,437,452 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beattie, James Gordon Jr., Griesmer, Stephen J., Asefa, Debebe Assefa
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US13/589,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20120314845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.01, 379/1.04, 379/9, 379/9.03, 379/9.04, 379/9.06, 379/10.01, 379/15.01, 379/15.03, 379/22, 379/26.01, 379/1.03, 370/248, 370/251, 370/252, 370/241, 370/241.1, 370/242, 370/389
• US Class Current: 379/9.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5074 Handling of user complaints or trouble tickets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/10 Providing fault- or trouble-signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/304 and using xDSL modems xDSL line qualification H04M3/306

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to trigger maintenance and upgrades of access networks are disclosed. An example method comprises obtaining a first value representing a number of unassigned ports associated with a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), obtaining a second value representing a projected number of ports associated with the first DSLAM needed to satisfy at least one of anticipated, projected or pending service requests, and determining whether to automatically submit a preventative maintenance trouble ticket for the first DSLAM based on the first and second values.

Claims

1. A method to verify a port, comprising:

identifying a first value representing a number of unassigned ports associated with a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer;

identifying a number of ports of the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer associated with a status of potentially bad in response to a port swap of the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer at a first time;

adjusting the first value based on the number of potentially bad ports;

identifying a second value representing a projected number of ports associated with the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer needed to satisfy a pending service request at a second time;

verifying whether the number of ports associated with the status of potentially bad are operating correctly at the second time; and

submitting a preventative maintenance trouble ticket for the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer based on the adjusted first value and the second value.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein submitting the preventative maintenance trouble ticket further comprises comparing a ratio of the adjusted first value and the second value.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising adjusting a severity threshold of the preventative maintenance trouble ticket when the ratio of the adjusted first value and the second value is less than a threshold.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, further comprising establishing a maintenance repair order for the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a plurality of other digital subscriber line access multiplexers based on the ratio.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising changing the status of the number of ports associated with the status of potentially bad to a status of operational when operating correctly at the second time.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising changing the status of the number of ports associated with the status of potentially bad to a status of bad when not operating correctly at the second time.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first value represents the number of unassigned ports associated with the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a number of loops associated with the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer comprises a video ready access device.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storing machine readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to;

identify a first value representing a number of unassigned ports associated with a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer;

identify a number of ports of the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer associated with a status of potentially bad in response to a port swap of the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer at a first time;

adjust the first value based on the number of potentially bad ports;

identify a second value representing a projected number of ports associated with the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer needed to satisfy a pending service request at a second time;

verify whether the number of ports associated with the status of potentially bad are operating correctly at the second time; and

submit a preventative maintenance trouble ticket for the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer based on the adjusted first value and the second value.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising a capacity planning server to compare a ratio of the adjusted first value and the second value.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the trouble ticket submitter is to adjust a severity threshold of the preventative maintenance trouble ticket when the ratio of the adjusted first value and the second value is less than a threshold.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a scheduler to establish a maintenance repair order for the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a plurality of other digital subscriber line access multiplexers based on the ratio.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising an availability analyzer to change the status of the number of ports associated with the status of potentially bad to a status of operational when operating correctly at the second time.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising an availability analyzer to change the status of the number of ports associated with the status of potentially bad to a status of bad when not operating correctly at the second time.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first value represents the number of unassigned ports associated with the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a number of loops associated with the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer comprises a video ready access device.

17. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

identifying a first value representing a number of unassigned ports associated with a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer;

identifying a number of ports of the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer associated with a status of potentially bad in response to a port swap of the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer at a first time;

adjusting the first value based on the number of potentially bad ports;

identifying a second value representing a projected number of ports associated with the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer needed to satisfy a pending service request at a second time;

verifying whether the number of ports associated with the status of potentially bad are operating correctly at the second time; and

submitting a preventative maintenance trouble ticket for the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer based on the adjusted first value and the second value.

18. A tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to compare a ratio of the adjusted first value and the second value.

19. A tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to adjust a severity threshold of the preventative maintenance trouble ticket when the ratio of the adjusted first value and the second value is less than a threshold.

20. A tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 18, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to establish a maintenance repair order for the first digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a plurality of other digital subscriber line access multiplexers based on the ratio.