Timeout Event Detection in Packet Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In VoIP networks, customers experience call timeouts due to network faults, which are not detected by service providers, leading to decreased customer satisfaction, as current methods require customers to redial without informing the provider of network issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for detecting and reporting timeout events in packet networks by setting thresholds for reporting timeouts, where network elements generate reports to a fault management system when these thresholds are exceeded, allowing for identification and correlation of faults within the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If customers redial when timeout occurs, then customer can retry the call, but the service provider remains unaware of network faults and customer satisfaction decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where network elements automatically report timeout events to the service provider's fault management system. This allows the provider to receive real-time information about network faults and customer experiences without requiring manual reporting, thereby resolving the information loss problem while maintaining service reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network elements perform self-monitoring and self-reporting of timeout events. The first network element automatically detects timeouts, determines if thresholds are exceeded, and generates reports without external intervention. This self-service capability enables the system to identify and report faults autonomously, improving both reliability and information awareness.
2Reliability
If timeout reporting is implemented, then network faults can be detected and reported, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures network elements with timeout detection capabilities and reporting thresholds before faults occur. The elements are prepared in advance to automatically monitor for timeouts, evaluate thresholds, and generate reports when conditions are met. This preliminary setup enables reliable fault detection without adding complex real-time decision-making logic during fault events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fault management system as an intermediary between network elements and the service provider. This intermediary component handles the complexity of collecting, processing, and distributing timeout reports. By centralizing this function in a dedicated fault management system, the overall system architecture remains manageable while achieving comprehensive fault detection and reporting capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for processing timeout events in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method detects a timeout event by a first network element, wherein the timeout event is generated due to a lack of response from a second network element. The method then determines whether a threshold for reporting of timeouts is exceeded for the second network element. The method then generates a report by the first network element to a fault management system if the threshold is exceeded, where the report indicates that the second network element has exceeded the threshold for reporting of timeouts.