Interactive data fault localization system and method

An interactive system for helping an operator locate the source of a data fault in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network having a plurality of subsystems and an ATM network server coupled to an ATM backbone, said system comprising:

• a database for storing information related to a plurality of data types used by the ATM network wherein, for each of said subsystems, said information includes a list of (i) ones of said data types used thereby, (ii) ones of said subsystems acting as a data server for said data types, and (iii) ones of said subsystems that produce said ones of said data types;
• a central processing unit coupled to said database and adapted to be coupled to the ATM backbone, said central processing unit using said information in said database to formulate a series of queries related to a selected one of said subsystems using one of said data types experiencing said data fault, said series of queries having a hierarchal order that sequentially inquires about operational status of (i) said selected one of said subsystems, (ii) others of said subsystems using said one of said data types experiencing said data fault, (iii) said ones of said subsystems acting as said data server for said one of said data types experiencing said data fault, and (iv) said ones of said subsystems that produce said one of said data types experiencing said data fault;
• and
• a graphical user interface (GUI) to include a display coupled to said central processing unit, said GUI presenting on said display each query from said series of queries in accordance with said hierarchal order thereof, said GUI simultaneously presenting on said display identification of (i) said selected one of said subsystems, (ii) said one of said data types experiencing said data fault, (iii) others of said subsystems using said one of said data types experiencing said data fault, (iv) said ones of said subsystems acting as said data server for said one of said data types experiencing said data fault, and (v) said ones of said subsystems that produce said one of said data types experiencing said data fault.