Fault Handling in Multi-Operator Mobile Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

In a scenario where different operators manage the same mobile communications system, existing fault management systems often lead to wastage of manpower and material resources due to unnecessary fault maintenance across operators, as fault alarms may be sent to multiple operators even if the actual fault lies within a specific operator's domain.

Innovation Solution

A fault handling method and system that involves a lower-layer fault management system detecting faults, querying a service dependence relationship table to identify affected higher-layer services, and sending notification messages to corresponding higher-layer fault management systems, allowing for precise determination of which higher-layer services require handling based on fault status updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fault alarm is sent to multiple operators when different operators manage the same mobile communications system, then all operators are notified of the fault, but manpower and material resources are wasted due to unnecessary fault maintenance across operators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault notification coverageVSAvoidmaintenance resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The fault management system is segmented into multiple layers (lower-layer and higher-layer fault management systems) that correspond to different operational domains of different operators. Each layer independently manages faults within its domain, sending notifications only to the appropriate higher-layer system when a fault is detected, thereby avoiding unnecessary resource consumption by other operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The higher-layer fault management system acts as an intermediary that receives fault notifications from lower-layer systems and coordinates the fault handling process. This intermediary layer ensures that fault information is properly routed and that only the operators whose services are actually affected need to perform maintenance actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a fault management system manages all components across multiple operators, then comprehensive fault coverage is achieved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault management coverageVSAvoidfault management system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fault management system is divided into multiple independent layers, each responsible for specific operational domains. The lower-layer fault management systems handle faults in their respective domains, while higher-layer systems coordinate across domains. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by distributing management responsibilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to fault management, organizing systems into multiple layers rather than a flat structure. This vertical dimensionality allows for scalable complexity management, where each layer handles appropriate levels of fault coordination without requiring all operators to be directly involved in every fault scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If fault notifications are sent to all operators regardless of actual fault location, then no fault is missed, but maintenance time is wasted due to unnecessary dispatch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection completenessVSAvoidmaintenance response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The notification process is segmented so that only the higher-layer fault management system corresponding to the affected service domain receives and processes fault notifications. This targeted approach ensures complete fault detection while eliminating unnecessary notification delays and maintenance dispatches to unrelated operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where higher-layer fault management systems monitor and respond to notifications from lower layers. This feedback loop ensures that faults are properly tracked and handled by the correct operators, reducing unnecessary maintenance time while maintaining complete fault detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3001606B1Fault processing method, device and system
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3001606B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3001606B1 patent drawingFigure 3A-1
  • EP3001606B1 patent drawingFigure 3A-2

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a fault handling method, apparatus and system, and relate to the field of communications, where the method includes: detecting, by a lower-layer fault management system, a fault alarm status in a lower-layer service; obtaining, by means of query by the lower-layer fault management system, according to the fault alarm status and a service dependence relationship table stored in a system, an affected higher-layer service; sending, by the lower-layer fault management system, a fault notification message to a higher-layer fault management system corresponding to the affected higher-layer service; and determining, by the higher-layer fault management system, according to the fault notification message whether a higher-layer service in which a fault occurs needs to be handled. The present invention achieves an effect that when a fault occurs in the lower-layer service, the higher-layer fault management system may determine for the higher-layer service in which the fault occurs, according to the fault notification message, whether the higher-layer service in which the fault occurs needs to be handled, thereby reducing unnecessary waste of maintenance resources.