Patent US5768255A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5768255A
Expired / Lapsed
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System and method for monitoring point identification
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-28
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Granted: 1998-06-16
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Expires: 2016-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for performance monitoring of a telecommunications network that uses a layered performance monitoring structure. First, the monitoring points within the network are identified according to a customer request. The customer request is used to generate a service provisioning request, which indicates the path endpoints and the desired level of service. If the service is a digital data service and is supported for monitoring purposes, the network elements closest to the path endpoints are identified as primary monitoring points and activated, and based upon the desired level of service, a number of intermediate secondary points along the path are also identified but not activated. If the service is not a digital data service but the customer desires monitoring, then monitoring points are similarly identified and activated. Second, an end-to-end threshold is set for each service requiring thresholding per the service provisioning request. Third, previously identified secondary monitoring points are activated in the event that a degradation or failure is detected at the path endpoints. Upon an indication of trouble, the higher performance monitoring layers command the lower layers to perform trouble isolation processing, during which the lower layers determine which secondary monitoring points must be activated to determine the origin of the problem. The higher layers command the lower layers to commence activation.
Inventors
- 👤 Curtis Brownmiller
- 👤 Michael Bencheck
- 👤 Minh T. Tran
- 👤 Robert Branton
- 👤 Mark DeMoss
- 👤 Steve Landon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; H04L43/16; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/14; H04L41/00; H04L41/50; H04L41/5003; H04L41/5009; H04L41/5041; H04L41/5054; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0062; H04Q3/0087; H04J2203/00; H04J2203/0001; H04J2203/0057; H04J2203/0058; H04L43/08; H04L43/0805; H04L43/0817; H04L43/0823; H04L43/0847; H04L43/0876; H04L43/0894; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13514; H04Q2213/13545; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/901; Y10S370/902; Y10S370/903; Y10S370/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of identifying monitoring points in a telecommunications network, comprising: (1) receiving a service provisioning request, said service provisioning request identifying termination points; (2) identifying a path topology for a provisioned channel between said termination points, said provisioned channel having a service type identified by said service provisioning request; (3) determining whether said service type requires network monitoring; and (4) if said service type requires network monitoring, identifying a set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points along said path topology and assigning primary and secondary monitoring points belonging to said set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points based upon said service type.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of identifying monitoring points in a telecommunications network, comprising: (1) receiving a service provisioning request, said service provisioning request identifying termination points; (2) identifying a path topology for a provisioned channel between said termination points, said provisioned channel having a service type identified by said service provisioning request; (3) determining whether said service type requires network monitoring; and (4) if said service type requires network monitoring, identifying a set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points along said path topology and assigning primary and secondary monitoring points belonging to said set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points based upon said service type.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) further comprises the step of: submitting a request to a network management application to retrieve the possible paths between said termination points specified in said service provisioning request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (3) further comprises the step of: determining whether said service type is a digital data service.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (4) further comprises the steps of: (a) retrieving monitoring point requirements from said service provisioning request; and (b) identifying the location of said primary and said secondary monitoring points along said path topology.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: locating said primary monitoring points at or near said termination points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: locating said primary monitoring points at network elements situated at or near points of demarcation that distinguish the facilities of an interexchange carrier from the facilities of a local exchange carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: selecting said primary monitoring points by an order of preference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of selecting comprises the step of selecting said primary monitoring points by an order of preference, said order of preference being determined by the respective distances of said primary monitoring points from said termination points.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: locating said secondary monitoring points at intermediate positions along said path topology.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: locating said secondary monitoring points at network elements located at said intermediate positions, wherein the number of secondary monitoring points is based upon the level of service provided in the service provisioning request.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step (4) further comprises identifying said set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points being capable of collecting performance monitoring data at the levels of the sections and lines comprising said path topology, wherein said primary and secondary monitoring points retrieve data at the level of the path between said termination points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said primary and secondary monitoring points retrieve data at the levels of the physical entities comprising said path topology, said physical entities including electrical and photonic media.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said primary and secondary monitoring points retrieve data at the level of the facilities over which communication is established through said path topology.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said facilities include DS-n, VT-n, STSn, and OC-n circuits, wherein n defines a parameter related to the digital bit rates thereacross.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
A system of identifying monitoring points in a telecommunications network, comprising: (1) means for receiving a service provisioning request, said service provisioning request identifying termination points; (2) means for identifying a path topology for a provisioned channel between said termination points, said provisioned channel having a service type identified by said service provisioning request; (3) means for determining whether said service type requires network monitoring; and (4) means for identifying a set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points along said path topology and assigning primary and secondary monitoring points belonging to said set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points based upon said service type, if said service type requires network monitoring.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
113 words
A system of identifying monitoring points in a telecommunications network, comprising: (1) means for receiving a service provisioning request, said service provisioning request identifying termination points; (2) means for identifying a path topology for a provisioned channel between said termination points, said provisioned channel having a service type identified by said service provisioning request; (3) means for determining whether said service type requires network monitoring; and (4) means for identifying a set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points along said path topology and assigning primary and secondary monitoring points belonging to said set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points based upon said service type, if said service type requires network monitoring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said means for identifying a path topology further comprises: means for submitting a request to a network management application to retrieve the possible paths between said termination points specified in said service provisioning request.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said means for determining whether said service type requires network monitoring further comprises: means for determining whether said service type is a digital data service.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said means for identifying a set of possible primary and secondary monitoring points and assigning primary and secondary monitoring points further comprises: means for retrieving monitoring point requirements from said service provisioning request; means for identifying the location of said primary and said secondary monitoring points along said path topology.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said means for identifying the location of said primary and said secondary monitoring points along said path topology further comprises: means for locating said primary monitoring points at or near said termination points.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said means for identifying the location of said primary and said secondary monitoring points along said path topology further comprises: means for locating said primary monitoring points at network elements situated at or near points of demarcation that distinguish the facilities of an interexchange carrier from the facilities of a local exchange carrier.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said means for identifying the location of said primary and said secondary monitoring points along said path topology further comprises: means for selecting said primary monitoring points by an order of preference.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 21, wherein said selected primary monitoring points comprise more than one pair of monitoring points belonging to said set of possible primary monitoring points, and wherein said order of preference is determined by the respective distances of said pairs of primary monitoring points from said termination points.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 18, wherein said means for identifying the location of said primary and said secondary monitoring points along said path topology further comprises: means for locating said secondary monitoring points at intermediate positions along said path topology.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 23, wherein said means for locating said secondary monitoring points at intermediate positions along said path topology further comprises: means for locating said secondary monitoring points at network elements located at said intermediate positions, wherein the number of secondary monitoring points is based upon the level of service provided in the service provisioning request.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said primary and secondary monitoring points retrieve data at the levels of the sections and lines comprising said path topology, wherein said primary and secondary monitoring points retrieve data at the level of the path between said termination points.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said primary and secondary monitoring points retrieve data at the levels of the physical entities comprising said path topology, said physical entities including electrical and photonic media.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said primary and secondary monitoring points retrieve data at the level of the facilities over which communication is established through said path topology.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 27, wherein said facilities include DS-n, VT-n, STS-n, and OC-n circuits, wherein n defines a parameter related to the digital bit rates thereacross.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |