Network fault analysis

Claim 2

Apparatus for analysing faults on a message network, said apparatus comprising network interface means (18, 19) for coupling the apparatus to the network (11), expert system means operative to monitor and interact with the network, through the network interface means, for the purpose of analysing faults on the network, and user interface means (9) for outputting to the user fault-analysis information provided by the expert system means, the expert system means comprising a plurality of individual expert systems (13-17), and communication means by means of which information can be passed between the expert systems, characterised in that each said expert system (13-17) is operative to carry out a respective one of the several operations normally involved in the analysis of any given network fault, with a first group of one or more of said expert systems (14, 15) being involved in the instigation of tests on said network through said network interface means (18), and a second group of one or more of said expert systems (16, 17) being involved in monitoring the network through said network interface means (19) and in analysing the network's behaviour including behaviour exhibited in response to said tests, said communication means (21) providing information from said second group (14,15) back to said first group (16, 17) to enable the latter to instigate, as appropriate, tests taking account of the network's behaviour, and said user interface means (9) providing user access to at least one said expert system (14, 15, 16, 17)in each group.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said network interface means includes test and measurement means (18, 19) for carrying out said tests, the test and measurement means being controllable directly by said first group and/or by the user, to carry out tests proposed by said first group.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first group is operative to output test requests over the network requesting remote resources to carry out said tests.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first group comprises the following expert systems: - a Usage Advisor (14) operative to produce proposals for said tests, including observing particular conditions in the network; and - an Operations Assistant (15) which generates information regarding the appropriate manner in which to carry out said tests.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the user can access the Usage Advisor (14) and the Operations Assistant (15) through said user interface means (9) such as to be able to both: - propose tests independently of said Usage Advisor (14) and have said Operations Assistant (15) generate information regarding how to carry out the user-proposed tests; - have the Usage Advisor (14) propose tests and then carry out the tests independently of the Operations Assistant (15).

Claim 7

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second group comprises the following expert systems: - a Fault Recognizer (13) responsive to the network's behaviour independent of test stimuli, to identify network problems therefrom; - an Expert Commentator (16) responsive to the network's behaviour resulting from a said test, to identify higher level fault behaviour information; and - a Diagnostician (17) which is fed with said network problems and/or higher level behaviour information, and generates fault hypotheses therefrom.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user interface means (9) enable the user to monitor the activity of each said expert system (13 to 17).

Claim 9

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user can control the information passing between at least some of said expert systems (13 - 17) and their interactions.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said communications means is a blackboard (21) accessible to all said expert systems (13 to 17) and operative to provide general inter-communication between the said expert systems.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said blackboard is further accessible to said user interface means (24, 25) the user interface means being operative to allow the user to modify, and/or delete and/or add items to said blackboard (21) for use by said expert systems.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the expert systems are blackboard based and utilize knowledge bases (32) which are shared at least partially by the expert systems.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus takes the form of a portable instrument.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the apparatus is physically arranged in at least two parts providing a portable part (30) couplable to the network and including said user interface means (24, 25), and a centralised part containing at least some of the expert systems, located at one or more fixed locations in the network (11) and communicating with the portable part through the network (11 ).

Claim 15

Apparatus for analysing faults on a message network, said apparatus comprising network interface means (18, 19) for coupling the apparatus to the network (11), expert system means operative to monitor and interact with the network, through the network interface means, for the purpose of analysing faults on the network, and user interface means (9) for outputting to the user fault-analysis information provided by the expert system means, the expert system means comprising a plurality of individual expert systems (13-17) and communication means by means of which information can be passed between the expert system, characterised in that said communication means comprises a blackboard (21) to which the expert system outputs are posted for access both by one another and, via said user interface means (9), by said user, and in that said expert systems comprise: - a Fault Recognizer (13) responsive to the network's behaviour independent of test stimuli, to identify network problems therefrom; - a Usage Advisor (14) operative to produce proposals for tests on said network through said network interface means (18); - an Expert Commentator (16) responsive to the network's behaviour resulting from a said test, to identify higher level fault behaviour information, and - a Diagnostician (17) responsive to said network problems and/or said higher level behaviour information to generate fault hypotheses therefrom; the Usage Advisor producing its test proposals on the basis of said network problems and/or said higher level fault behaviour information and/or said fault hypotheses.

Claim 16

Apparatus for analysing faults on a message network, said apparatus comprising network interface means (18, 19) for coupling the apparatus to the network (11), expert system means operative to monitor and interact with the network, through the network interface means, for the purpose of analysing faults on the network, and user interface means (9) for outputting to the user fault-analysis information provided by the expert system means, the expert system means comprising a plurality of individual expert systems (13-17) and communication means by means of which information can be passed between the expert system, characterised in that said communication means comprises a blackboard (21) to which the expert system outputs are posted for access both by one another and, via said user interface means (9), by said user, and in that said expert systems comprise: - a Fault Recognizer (13) responsive to the network's behaviour independent of test stimuli, to identify network problems therefrom; - a Usage Advisor (14) operative to produce proposals for tests on said network through said network interface means (18); - an Expert Commentator (16) responsive to the network's behaviour resulting from a said test, to identify higher level fault behaviour information, and - a Diagnostician (17) responsive to said network problems and/or said higher level behaviour information to generate fault hypotheses therefrom; the Usage Advisor producing its test proposals on the basis of said network problems and/or said higher level fault behaviour information and/or said fault hypotheses.