Telecom Device Management via Image Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing telecommunications systems is a time-intensive and cumbersome process due to the manual identification of devices and limited access to device-specific information, which complicates inventory control, provisioning, troubleshooting, and performance monitoring across diverse customer deployments and geographical locations.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize computer vision and data mining techniques to determine device-specific information from images of telecommunications devices, allowing for the execution of management functions such as firmware upgrades, diagnostics, and configuration through a mobile device interface with remote servers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If manual identification and management processes are used for telecommunications devices, then personnel can access basic information stored for each device, but the process becomes extremely time intensive and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to device informationVSAvoidtime to manage devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (personnel physically identifying devices, manually accessing information) with an automated optical system. A remote device captures images of telecommunications devices, and a processing system automatically extracts identifying information from these images using image recognition technology, eliminating the need for manual device identification and information retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the telecommunications devices to be automatically identified and managed through image capture. The processing system autonomously extracts identifying information from device images and retrieves relevant data from databases without requiring trained personnel to be physically present, making the management process self-executing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If personnel are physically present to manually identify each device, then basic information can be obtained, but the management process becomes cumbersome and limited to available information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice identification processVSAvoidmanagement process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual operations (personnel physically locating and identifying devices) with automated image-based recognition. The system captures images of devices using remote devices and automatically processes these images to extract identifying information, simplifying the operational process while reducing the need for physical presence and manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If manual management processes are used across diverse customer deployments and geographical locations, then basic device information is accessible, but productivity and efficiency are significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice-specific informationVSAvoiddevice management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal management system that can handle diverse customer deployments and geographical locations through a single automated platform. The processing system uses image recognition to identify various types of telecommunications devices regardless of location, and automatically retrieves device-specific information from databases, providing a multi-functional solution that works across different customer environments and geographical sites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables real-time visibility and management of telecommunications devices, simplifying diagnostics, reconfiguration, and analytics, reducing manual effort and improving efficiency in managing diverse customer deployments and geographical setups.

Implementation Method 1

processing the image to determine identifying information for the device, wherein the identifying information includes device type information

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComputer vision: Image Processing

Data Source

PatentUS11329891B2Methods and apparatus for managing telecommunication system devices

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 VONAGE BUSINESS INC

AI summary

The techniques described herein relate to methods, apparatus, and computer readable media configured to manage devices that are part of a telecommunications system. An image of a device that is part of a telecommunications system is obtained and transmitted to a first remote device. Data indicative of device-specific information for the device is received from the first remote device in response to transmitting the image, wherein the device-specific information comprises information associated with the telecommunications system. The device-specific information is displayed for the purpose selected from the group consisting of performing a management function associated with the device and monitoring a performance parameter associated with the device. Data indicative of a selection of the management function is received and transmitted to a second remote device.