Service assurance automation access diagnostics

US7818283B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AT&T CORP. · US

Inventors

• Paritosh Bajpay · Edison, US
• Roberta Bienfait · Norcross, US
• Mojgan Dardashti · Holmdel, US
• Hossein Eslambolchi · Los Altos Hills, US
• Jackson Liu · Middletown, US
• John McCanuel · Bailey, US
• Zhiqiang Qian · Holmdel, US
• Michael Zinnikas · New Brunswick, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 22, 2005
• Grant date: Oct 19, 2010
• Expiry date: Aug 18, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L43/50
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A business process automation system architecture is used to isolate problems in a virtual private network access network. Codified rules and a rules based program are used to determine all equipment from a customer premises equipment to a VPN core access point equipment on a VPN access path and that is associated with a failure. The codified rules also govern the gathering of information on the equipment including determining whether the equipment supports automated diagnostics and the communication protocols used. Extended PING testing is done on the equipment and a status of the extended PING test, link status, line protocol status, and existing loop status is determined. Further testing is automatically run based on the codified rules and the status. The failure is then isolated to the CPE, a local exchange carrier, or a network provider.