EP0810807A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for analysing network data
Assignee: NORTEL NETWORKS Corp
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Filing: 1997-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A network monitoring and diagnosis apparatus comprises a processor (500), data storage device (501, 504), graphical user interface (401), data mining means (505), data visualization means (506), data correlation means (507), and problem solving means. Performance data signals generated periodically by a communications network are collected by a network controller (400). The collected performance data is continuously mined, examining the data for performance parameters which are outside preset limits. Performance data outside preset limits is displayed on a graphical user interface, in a format determined by the visualization means. Performance parameters which are out of limits are correlated with other related parameters, information on which is available from the performance data signals, and patterns of parameter changes are identified by the correlation means. For performance parameters which are outside limits, a problem solving means (508) examines the out of limit performance data and generates suggested solutions to underlying problems resulting in out of limit performance parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Kathryn Elizabeth Burn-Thornton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0062; H04Q3/0087; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5625; H04L2012/5626; H04L2012/5678; H04L2012/5684; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13514; H04Q2213/13525; H04Q2213/13545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of monitoring performance parameter data of a communications network comprising a plurality of network elements generating performance signals describing performance parameter data of said network, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining said performance parameter data (700) of the network by collecting said performance signals from said plurality of network elements; examining said performance parameter data (701, 702, 703) by comparing said performance parameter data with predetermined performance data limits according to a set of predetermined rules; and at least one step selected from the following: identifying patterns (704) in said performance parameter data; generating reconfiguration data (704) describing reconfiguration of said network for modifying operation of said network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of visualizing said performance parameter data by selecting a display mode for displaying said performance parameter data on a visual display device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said step of identifying patterns in said performance parameter data comprises for each parameter, comparing a said performance parameter data corresponding to one said network element with at least one performance parameter data corresponding to another said network element.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of identifying patterns in said performance parameter data comprises: comparing a performance parameter data corresponding to a connection of the network with a performance parameter data corresponding to at least one other said connection of the network.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of obtaining performance parameter data comprises: collecting performance signals describing one said performance parameter from each of a plurality of said network elements.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of obtaining performance parameter data comprises: collecting from each said network element a plurality of performance signals describing a plurality of performance parameters.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of visualizing said performance parameter data comprises: comparing values of said performance parameter data with a set of predetermined performance parameter data limits; and depending upon a result of said comparison, selecting a said display mode from a predetermined set of said display modes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said set of predetermined display modes comprises: a two dimensional graph display mode; a two dimensional Star plot display mode; a three dimensional graph display mode:
Claim 9
Independent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of generating reconfiguration data comprises generating at least one help message identifying actions for modifying performance of said network.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
84 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said step of generating reconfiguration data comprises the steps of: storing a set of help messages, each referenced to a set of predetermined performance parameter values; comparing said obtained performance parameter data with said set of predetermined performance parameter values; matching said obtained performance parameter data to a said set of predetermined performance parameter values; and selecting a said help statement corresponding to a said matched set of predetermined performance parameter values.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising generating a visual display for displaying at least one of the following: a result of said step of visualizing said performance parameter data; at least one identified pattern in said performance parameter data; a said reconfiguration data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A monitoring apparatus for monitoring and diagnosing performance of a network comprising a plurality of network elements, said network elements generating performance signals describing performance parameters data of said network elements; said apparatus characterized by comprising: examination means (505) for monitoring said performance parameter data; visualization means (506) operating to format said performance parameter data into a form suitable for display; pattern identification means (507) for identifying data patterns in said performance parameter data; and reconfiguration data generating means (508) for generating data describing reconfiguration of said network for modifying operation of said network.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of monitoring a communications network comprising a plurality of network elements, each said network element capable of generating performance signals describing operation of said network, characterized in that: a first set of said network elements generate a first set of performance signals describing a first domain of operation of said network; a second set of network elements generate a second set of performance signals describing a second domain of operation of said network; and said method comprises the step of monitoring said first set of performance signals and said second set of performance signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of comparing said first set of performance signals with said second set of performance signals.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of monitoring a communications network comprising a plurality of network elements, each said network element capable of generating performance signals describing performance parameters of said network, characterized in that said network operates on a plurality of different layers of operation, said method comprising the steps of: examining said performance signals to determine operation of services supported by said network; examining said performance signals to determine operation of individual connections across said network; examining said performance signals to determine operation of individual node devices of said network; and; examining said performance signals to determine operation of individual components of said node devices.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 15, comprising the step of: if any said performance signals are found outside predetermined limits, performing correlations of said performance signals for identifying patterns in said corresponding performance parameters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, comprising the step of: if any said performance signals are found outside predetermined limits, identifying a problem condition from said signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said performance parameters comprise quality of service parameters.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of measuring the performance of a communication network on the basis of data representing a plurality of network performance parameters, the method characterized by comprising the steps of: data mining by selecting a subset of the parameter data, the selecting being made on the basis of first predetermined criteria; comparing the selected subset with a template; adapting the first criteria on the basis of the comparison result, and on the basis of stored knowledge of the characteristics of the network being measured.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of determining how to change the network on the basis of the result of the comparison.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the change is determined on the basis of stored knowledge of the network characteristics.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
36 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 21, further comprising the step of visualizing the selected subset of the parameter data for an operator, wherein the visualization method is dependent on the comparison result.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the template is determined on the basis of stored knowledge of the network characteristics.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the network is layered and the network performance parameters comprise parameters measured at more than one layer.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the subset comprises data representing a plurality of parameters, and the comparison step comprises the step of comparing data of one parameter with that of at least one other parameter and comparing the result with the template.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
24 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 25, wherein the comparison between parameters is between parameters at different layers in the network.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
16 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 26, wherein the comparison involves pattern recognition.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 27, wherein the selection step is carried out on live data.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
34 words
The method of any one of claims 19 to 28, wherein the network is a cell based communications network, and the parameters comprise parameters related to quality of service to users of the network.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of reconfiguring a network on the basis of data representing a plurality of network performance parameters, the method characterized by comprising the steps of data mining by selecting a subset of the parameter data, the selection being made on the basis of first predetermined criteria; comparing the selected subset with a template; adapting the first criteria on the basis of the comparison result; and reconfiguring the network on the basis of the comparison result.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
10 words
A system for carrying out the method of claim 19.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system for carrying out the method of claim 19, using a functional programming language.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for analyzing parameters in data from a network having at least one layer, characterized by using a data mining tool implemented in a functional programming language, the tool comprising: means for selecting a subset of the data; and means for comparing parameters in the subset; wherein the system is scaleable in terms of how many parameters can be compared and from which layers, or in terms of adding other functions to be applied to the parameters.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
50 words
A system for analyzing parameters in data from a network, characterized by using a data mining tool implemented in a functional programming language, the tool comprising: means for selecting a subset of the data; and means for comparing parameters in the subset; wherein the comparison function is a polymorphic function.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
58 words
A system for analyzing parameters in data from a network, characterized by using a data mining tool implemented in a functional programming language, the tool comprising: means for selecting a subset of the data; and means for comparing parameters in a subset; wherein the system is arranged to analyze live data as it is output by the network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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