Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing – Computer network monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-13
2001-06-12
Meky, Moustafa M. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
Computer network monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247053
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a technique for extending the capability of a telecommunications network to monitor traffic beyond the network.
BACKGROUND ART
Many Inter-exchange Carriers (IXCs) provide their large customers with direct access through high-speed trunks, typically T1 or T3 trunks. Some IXCs, such as AT&T monitor the status of such direct access high-speed trunks within their own networks to detect and isolate troubles in an effort to avoid service outages. For example, within AT&T's network, certain types of equipment, such as the DDM 1000 multiplexer, available from Lucent Technologies, have the capability of detecting parity errors in the transmit direction on a T3 trunk and in response, generating a signal indicative of such errors in a C-bit data stream carried over the reverse path (the receive channel) of the monitored T3 trunk. By monitoring the transmitted traffic, AT&T can readily detect potential difficulties, and take appropriate action, thereby greatly reducing the incidence of path failures.
Presently, the ability of an IXC carrier to monitor the transmitted traffic beyond its own network, and particularly, to monitor such traffic at a customer premises, depends on the presence at the customer premises of equipment capable of returning a C-bit signal on a reverse path. In practice, not all customers that enjoy direct access through a high-speed trunk possess equipment capable of generating a C-bit monitoring signal, making monitoring of traffic at the customer premises impossible.
Thus, there is a need for a technique for extending the monitoring capability of an IXC to facilitate monitoring of traffic at a customer premises.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention provides a technique for extending the capability of a network to monitor traffic on a communications channel that extends beyond the network to a customer premises. In accordance with the invention, the network transmits a traffic performance-indicative first monitoring signal of a first format (e.g., C-Bit T3 ) that is ultimately destined for the customer premises equipment. The customer premises equipment also generates a traffic performance-indicative monitoring signal of a format (e.g., M13) compatible with the customer premises equipment that is ultimately destined for the network. To overcome the incompatibility between the network and customer premises equipment monitoring signals, a translator device intercepts and strips from the communication channel the first monitoring signal. In its place, the translator device substitutes a first alternate monitoring signal derived from the first monitoring signal but of a format compatible with the customer premises equipment. The translator device also intercepts the second monitoring signal and substitutes a second alternate monitoring signal derived from the second monitoring signal but of a format compatible with the network. Thus, the network and customer premises equipment receive monitoring signals of a compatible format. In this way, the network can monitor traffic at customer premises equipment lying beyond the network.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5289468 (1994-02-01), Yoshida
patent: 5568402 (1996-10-01), Gray et al.
patent: 5784558 (1998-07-01), Emerson et al.
patent: 5845081 (1998-12-01), Rangarajan et al.
patent: 5991806 (1999-11-01), McHann, Jr.
patent: 6011803 (2000-01-01), Bicknell et al.
Blenis James
Cornell Peter S.
AT&T Corp.
Levy Robert B.
Meky Moustafa M.
Trim Nkosi N
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