Automated Switched Voice Alarm Processing System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, service failures or degradations in switched voice services often result in high costs due to manual maintenance dispatches, leading to delayed repairs and customer dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
An automated processing method for switched voice service alarms on switched and/or IP networks, which retrieves Local Routing Number (LRN) or Primary Inter-exchange Carrier (PIC) information to determine service degradations and notify responsible work centers, facilitating automated ticket generation and remedial actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual maintenance personnel are dispatched for each detected alarm, then service failure can be addressed, but maintenance costs increase significantly and response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating work orders and notifying maintenance personnel before manual intervention is required. The automated alarm processing system proactively creates tickets and assigns them to appropriate work centers, eliminating the delay of waiting for manual dispatch after alarm detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by implementing automated alarm processing where the network management system automatically generates work orders, routes them to appropriate work centers, and tracks resolution status without requiring manual intervention for each alarm. This self-automating process reduces both response time and operational costs.
2Reliability
If manual maintenance dispatch is used for each alarm, then service issues can be addressed, but operational costs become very high
Solution Approach 1:
The automated alarm processing system performs self-service by automatically generating work orders, determining priority levels, routing to appropriate work centers, and tracking resolution. This eliminates the need for expensive manual dispatch operations for every alarm while maintaining reliable service restoration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical manual dispatch process with an automated electronic system that processes alarms, generates work orders, and manages maintenance routing automatically. This substitution of manual mechanical operations with automated electronic processing significantly reduces operational costs while maintaining service reliability.
3Productivity
If automated alarm processing is implemented, then maintenance costs are reduced and response time is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated alarm processing system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various alarm types, generate different priority levels of work orders, route to multiple work centers, and track diverse resolution statuses through a single integrated platform. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into one system, managing complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the alarm processing workflow into distinct automated stages: alarm reception, work order generation, priority assignment, work center routing, and resolution tracking. By segmenting the process into modular automated steps, the system manages complexity through structured decomposition while maintaining high processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing automated processing of a switched voice alarm on a switched and/or Internet Protocol (IP) network are disclosed. For example, the method receives an alarm associated with a switched voice service, and retrieves a Local Routing Number (LRN) or Primary Inter-exchange Carrier (PIC) information from a switch serving a call associated with a caller's telephone number. The method determines if the alarm is due to one or more service degradations, and notifies a work center responsible for one or more of the service degradations if the alarm is due to the one or more service degradations.