Detecting local exchange failure and resultant control of a communications network
AssigneeBritish Telecommunications public limited company
InventorsBrian C. Tester, Donald Fisk, Charles A. Swaine
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Abstract
Failure of a local exchange in a communications network (such as the PSTN) is detected by monitoring a combination of parameters. Each parameter in the combination is monitored for meeting predetermined criteria. In particular, a local exchange failure is recognized when the average value of the All Circuits Engaged (ACE) parameters over all traffic routes into a local exchange rises in a significant manner and the average value of the Circuits in Service (CCTS IS) parameters over all traffic routes into that exchange decreases in a significant manner.
Claims12
A method of controlling a communications network, which includes at least one local exchange connected by one or more routes to one or more parent trunk exchanges, each parent trunk exchange being one of a plurality of trunk exchanges interconnected by trunk routes, said method comprising:
- detecting a local exchange failure by detecting when (i) the average value of the All Circuits Engaged (ACE) parameters over all traffic routes into a local exchange is greater than a first threshold and (ii) there has been a decrease in the average value of the Circuits in Service (CCTS IS) parameters over all traffic routes into the local exchange greater than a second threshold over the duration of a measurement period.
A communications network including:
- at least one local exchange which is connected by one or more routes to one or more parent trunk exchanges, each parent trunk exchange being one of a plurality of trunk exchanges interconnected by trunk routes, and
- control means for applying controls to the network and having a system responsive to (i) the average value of the All Circuits Engaged (ACE) parameters over all traffic routes into the local exchange being greater than a first threshold, and (ii) a decrease in the average value of the Circuits in Service (CCTS IS) parameters over all traffic routes into the local exchange being greater than a second threshold, over the duration of a measurement period, to provide a signal indicating that the local exchange has failed.
A communications network including:
- at least one local exchange which is connected by one or more routes to one or more parent trunk exchanges, each parent trunk exchange being one of a plurality of trunk exchanges interconnected by trunk routes, and
- control means for applying controls to the network and having a system responsive to (i) the average value of the All Circuits Engaged (ACE) parameters over all traffic routes into the local exchange being greater than a first threshold and (ii) a decrease in the average value of the Circuits in Service (CCTS IS) parameters over all traffic routes into the local exchange being greater than a second threshold over the duration of a measurement period to cause controls to be applied to the network by the control means to ameliorate the effects of the failure of the local exchange on the network.
A method of controlling a communications network, which network includes at least one local exchange connected by one or more routes to one or more parent trunk exchanges, each parent trunk exchange being one of a plurality of trunk exchanges interconnected by trunk routes, said method comprising:
- i) monitoring the average value of an All Circuits Engaged (ACE) parameter over all traffic routes into said at least one local exchange, over a measurement period;
- ii) monitoring the average value of a Circuits in Service (CCTS IS) parameter over all traffic routes into said at least one local exchange, over said measurement period;
- iii) comparing each of said monitored average values from steps i) and ii) with predetermined respectively corresponding threshold values;
- and
- iv) in the event that said comparison step iii) meets predetermined conditions applying traffic flow controls in the network to accommodate failure of said at least one local exchange;
- wherein said predetermined conditions are as follows:
- a) the average value of the All Circuits Engaged (ACE) parameters over all traffic routes into said at least one local exchange for said measurement period is greater than a first threshold;
- and
- b) there has been a decrease in the average value of the Circuits in Service (CCTS IS) parameters over all traffic routes into said at least one local exchange for said measurement period greater than a second threshold.
A communications network including at least one local exchange which is connected by one or more routes to one or more parent trunk exchanges, each parent trunk exchange being one of a plurality of trunk exchanges interconnected by trunk routes, and control means for applying controls to the network, said network comprising:
- i) a performance parameter monitor which monitors the average value of an All Circuits Engaged (ACE) parameter over all traffic routes into said at least one local exchange over a measurement period, and monitors changes in the average value of a Circuits in Service (CCTS IS) parameter over all traffic routes into said at least one local exchange over said measurement period;
- ii) a performance parameter comparator which compares the monitored average value of the ACE parameter with a first threshold, and compares the monitored changes in the average value of the CCTS IS parameter with a second threshold;
- and
- iii) a signal output triggered by an output of the comparator to provide a signal indicating that the local exchange has failed,
- wherein the comparator is arranged to trigger said signal output in the event that the monitored average value of the ACE parameter exceeds said first threshold, and a decrease in the average value of the CCTS IS parameter exceeds the second threshold, for said measurement period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.