Dynamic restoration process for a telecommunications network

Claim 2

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network; identifying trunks impacted by the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each impacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault.

Claim 3

The process set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: detecting when the actions have not been successfully completed; updating the network topology database to indicate which path of the restoral route is inoperative; and selecting an alternate restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis excluding the inoperative path.

Claim 4

The process set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of correlating the received alarms occurs by referencing the database to determine which trunks are supported by the alarming DNEs.

Claim 5

The process set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route is performed separately and independently of the step of generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed, thereby avoiding interference between sent commands and generated responses.

Claim 6

The process set forth in claim 1 wherein, prior to selecting a restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis, the database is updated to reflect an instantaneous state of the network.

Claim 7

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network; identifying trunks impacted by the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each impacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault; wherein the step of identifying trunks impacted by the fault further includes the steps of identifying all alarming DNE ports that support a common trunk; and incrementally stepping inward from the ports farthest apart to a single network segment wherein the ports face the fault.

Claim 8

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network; identifying trunks impacted by the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each impacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault; wherein the step of identifying trunks impacted by the fault further includes the steps of identifying all alarming DNE ports that support a common trunk; and incrementally stepping inward from the ports farthest apart to a single network segment wherein the ports face the fault.

Claim 9

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network; identifying trunks impacted by the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each impacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault; wherein determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs further includes the steps of introducing a signal from a first secondary DNE, at one end of a trunk at the restoral route, to a second DNE at a second end of the restoral route; and confirming, that the signal was received by the second DNE.

Claim 10

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network; identifying trunks impacted by the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each impacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault; wherein determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs further includes the steps of introducing a signal from a first secondary DNE, at one end of a trunk at the restoral route, to a second DNE at a second end of the restoral route; and confirming, that the signal was received by the second DNE.

Claim 11

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network; identifying trunks impacted by the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each impacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault; wherein restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault includes a patch-and-roll procedure further includes the of steps simultaneously transmitting signals from ports of a cross-connect of a first DNE located at a first branch that connects a first end of a restoral path with a first end of an original path; simultaneously transmitting signals from ports of a cross-connect of a second DNE located at a second branch that connects a second end of a restoral path with a second end of an original path; receiving signals at those ports of the cross-connects located at the first and second branches that were included in the original path; and disengaging the ports of the cross-connects located at the first and second branches included in the restoral path.

Claim 12

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network; identifying trunks impacted by the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each impacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault; wherein restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault includes a patch-and-roll procedure further includes the of steps simultaneously transmitting signals from ports of a cross-connect of a first DNE located at a first branch that connects a first end of a restoral path with a first end of an original path; simultaneously transmitting signals from ports of a cross-connect of a second DNE located at a second branch that connects a second end of a restoral path with a second end of an original path; receiving signals at those ports of the cross-connects located at the first and second branches that were included in the original path; and disengaging the ports of the cross-connects located at the first and second branches included in the restoral path.

Claim 13

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network, the correlating referencing the database to determine which trunks are supported by the alarming DNEs; identifying trunks impacted by the fault by identifying all alarming DNE ports that support a common trunk; incrementally stepping inward from the ports farthest apart to a single network segment wherein the ports face the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each empacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; wherein the step of sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral routes is performed separately and independently of the step of generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed, thereby avoiding interference between sent commands and generated responses; detecting when the actions have not been successfully completed; updating the network topology database to indicate which path of the restoral route is inoperative; selecting an alternate restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis excluding the inoperative path; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault.

Claim 14

A dynamic restoration process for a telecommunication network having a plurality of diverse network equipment (DNE) elements interconnected over network trunks thus forming a network topology, the process comprising the steps: connecting inputs of a centralized processing system (CPS) to outputs from a plurality of DNEs; maintaining a database of network topology; sending fault alarms from DNEs to the CPS; collecting data relating to the alarms in the CPS; correlating the received alarms by trunk thereby isolating the location of the fault in the network, the correlating referencing the database to determine which trunks are supported by the alarming DNEs; identifying trunks impacted by the fault by identifying all alarming DNE ports that support a common trunk; incrementally stepping inward from the ports farthest apart to a single network segment wherein the ports face the fault; prioritizing the impacted trunks by the type of traffic carried thereby ensuring earliest restoration on important trunks; generating optimum restoral routes for each empacted trunk; selecting a final restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis dependent on the relative importance of the impacted trunks; generating reconfiguration commands at the CPS in accordance with the selected restoral route; sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral route; generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed; wherein the step of sending the commands to selected DNEs to execute corresponding actions required for implementing the selected restoral routes is performed separately and independently of the step of generating a response at a selected DNE indicating success or failure of the action to be executed, thereby avoiding interference between sent commands and generated responses; detecting when the actions have not been successfully completed; updating the network topology database to indicate which path of the restoral route is inoperative; selecting an alternate restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis excluding the inoperative path; determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs; verifying that a restoral route has resulted in restored traffic; and reversing the reconfiguration commands by the CPS to the selected DNEs for restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault.

Claim 15

The process set forth in claim 9 wherein determining that the actions have been successfully completed by the DNEs comprises the steps: of introducing a signal from a first secondary DNE, at one end of a trunk at the restoral route, to a second DNE at a second end of the restoral route; and confirming, that the signal was received by the second DNE.

Claim 16

The process set forth in claim 9 wherein, prior to selecting a restoral route of impacted trunks on a prioritized basis, the database is updated to reflect an instantaneous state of the network; and further wherein restoring an original traffic route following repair of the fault includes a patch-and-roll procedure comprising the steps: simultaneously transmitting signals from ports of a cross-connect of a first DNE located at a first branch that connects a first end of a restoral path with a first end of an original path; simultaneously transmitting signals from ports of a cross-connect of a second DNE located at a second branch that connects a second end of a restoral path with a second end of an original path; receiving signals at those ports of the cross-connects located at the first and second branches that were included in the original path; and disengaging the ports of the cross-connects located at the first and second branches included in the restoral path.