NOC Inventory Platform Normalizing Multi-Vendor Network Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication network providers face challenges in efficiently monitoring and managing their network inventory across diverse equipment from different vendors, due to varying data formats and lack of standardized data processing, which leads to inaccuracies and inefficiencies in tracking equipment movements and configurations.

Innovation Solution

A communication network operation center (NOC) equipment inventory data platform that collects, normalizes, and processes data from various OEMs' element management systems, using checksums to identify changes, uncompress data, correct errors, and convert data into standardized formats, while analyzing physical and logical relationships between network equipment items to provide a unified view of the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If data from multiple OEMs is collected and processed in various formats, then comprehensive network equipment coverage is achieved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork equipment coverageVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary data normalization layer that sits between diverse OEM data sources and the NOC management system. This intermediary component translates and standardizes data from multiple OEM formats into a common structure, allowing comprehensive equipment coverage while maintaining manageable processing complexity through standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts data processing parameters based on the specific OEM source and equipment type. By changing processing parameters adaptively rather than using a fixed complex process for all data, the system achieves comprehensive coverage across different vendors while optimizing processing complexity for each data source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all raw data is processed and converted every time, then data accuracy is maintained, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary data validation and checksum verification during the data collection phase. By performing basic accuracy checks beforehand and organizing data into standardized structures in advance, the system reduces the processing burden during subsequent operations, maintaining data accuracy while minimizing processing time for routine updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system processes only the necessary portion of data that has actually changed or requires updates. By using checksum comparisons to identify changed data elements, the system performs partial processing rather than complete reprocessing of all data, thereby maintaining accuracy for changed elements while avoiding unnecessary processing time for unchanged data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If comprehensive data validation and error correction is performed, then data quality improves, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata qualityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data validation and error correction process into segmented, modular stages. Each stage handles specific validation tasks (format checking, checksum verification, error correction, normalization) as separate processing modules. This segmentation improves data quality through comprehensive validation while managing complexity by organizing validation tasks into manageable, reusable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9912547B1Computer platform to collect, marshal, and normalize communication network data for use by a network operation center (NOC) management system
Publication Date: 2018.03.06 T MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
  • US9912547B1 patent drawing
  • US9912547B1 patent drawing
  • US9912547B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A communication network operation center (NOC) network inventory data platform. The platform comprises a processor, a non-transitory memory, a data store, and a plurality of applications and logic modules. The logic modules collect data from element management systems associated with network equipment. The applications convert the data to data structures and transcode the data structures in a common data format. The applications store the transcoded data structures in an inventory database. A NOC management application presents a network management view based on the inventory database.