Virtual Circuit Fault Source Identification System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corporations face challenges in identifying the source of virtual circuit faults in networks connected to service provider networks, as they cannot manage or monitor issues within the service provider's network.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines the source of a virtual circuit fault by receiving events, analyzing them to distinguish between faults in the local network, service provider network, or communications link, and indicating the source of the fault using a management computer with a processor configured to perform this analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a corporation contracts a service provider to connect remote offices via virtual circuit, then the corporation can focus on managing its local networks, but the corporation loses the ability to monitor and manage faults in the service provider network and communications link
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between the corporation's network management system and the service provider's network. This intermediary captures, correlates, and analyzes fault information from multiple sources (local network events, service provider events, communications link status) and presents unified fault source identification to the corporation. The intermediary enables the corporation to maintain focus on local network management while still obtaining visibility into service provider network faults through automated correlation of events from different domains.
2Measurement precision
If the corporation attempts to monitor all network components including service provider network, then complete fault visibility is achieved, but the system complexity and monitoring burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function into distinct modular components: an event capture module that collects raw events from multiple sources, a correlation module that processes and analyzes events, and a presentation module that displays fault information. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive fault monitoring without overwhelming complexity, as each module performs a specific function independently. The segmentation also enables the system to focus computational resources on correlation logic rather than distributed monitoring infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system that handles multiple types of events (local network faults, service provider network faults, communications link failures) through a single correlated interface. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate monitoring systems for each network domain, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive fault visibility across all components.
3Measurement precision
If fault events are correlated from multiple sources in real-time, then accurate fault source identification is achieved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring correlation rules and event templates that define expected fault patterns and their sources. When events are received, the system matches them against pre-defined patterns rather than performing complex real-time analysis from scratch. This preliminary structuring of correlation logic enables rapid fault source identification while maintaining high accuracy, as the computational burden is shifted to the offline configuration phase rather than real-time processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method includes receiving an event, for example, from a frame relay network or from a system log. Whether the event designates a virtual circuit fault in at least one of the local network, the service provider network, or the communications link is determined. When the event designates a virtual circuit fault it is distinguished which of the local network, the service provider network, or the communications link is the source of the fault.