RU40559U1 - SPIDER TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK MONITORING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of communication, namely to devices for monitoring the state of telecommunication systems, and more specifically to methods for monitoring common channel signaling systems (ACS). The basic configuration of the system consists of a central Spider / CU module that is installed in the monitoring and control center, and several remote Spider / RU modules installed on the PBX or transit nodes of the network, and the modules are connected by channels of a dedicated technological data network. The central Spider / CU module is a hardware-software complex based on a TBM-compatible computer running the Linux operating system with the graphical interface of the X Window System. Remote Spider / RU modules are industrial stationary with installed hardware-software interface modules, each of which provides an interface with two PCM paths. The system allows the network operator to constantly monitor and quickly determine the state of the alarm network elements (availability, loading, correct operation, etc.); trace the passage of signaling information on given signaling routes; decrypt signal packets in detail; Receive timely notification of emergency situations at remote sites; generate reports in tabular and graphical forms according to user-defined parameters; save signal packets passing through the network for subsequent analysis; collect statistical information on the operation of individual signaling nodes and the system as a whole; Generate statistical reports on loading of conversation channels.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of communication, namely to devices for monitoring the state of telecommunication systems, and more specifically to methods for monitoring common channel signaling systems (ACS).

Today's pace of development of Russian communication networks allows us to predict that in the very near future the ACS network will be used to control half of the country's telephone schedule, so the shutdown of this network could have disastrous consequences. As signaling traffic and the complexity of signaling networks are constantly increasing, to maintain the proper level of quality of the provision of modern services, network operators must constantly have full control over the operation of their networks. In this regard, the signaling system through the common channel of the ACS is becoming an increasingly important object for the technical operation of communication networks, requiring constant monitoring and adequate analysis and display tools.

To solve the problems of monitoring the ACS networks, it was supposed to equip the ACS signaling points with the OMAR application subsystem (B.S. Goldstein et al. Vestnik Svyazi, No. 4, 2001) However, the permissible multivariance of the implementation and the complexity of the interaction between network elements and operational management systems led to that manufacturers comm

The stationary equipment is used to control network elements, as well as for remote control of their own simpler, but not compatible, protocols, in particular, to exclude the possibility of unauthorized access to control their equipment. This led to the inability to provide operational management of alarm points of different manufacturers in a single center. In addition, switching equipment, in overload mode, may inadequately reflect the state of the network elements it controls. In this regard, systems of distributed monitoring of network elements based on the passive connection of signaling monitors to the links of the ACS have gained practical popularity. The principle of operation of such systems uses the fact that information about the state of network elements, signal load fluctuations, and most other parameters that must be transferred from network elements to a monitoring center for further analysis can be obtained by decoding messages that the system “takes” from alarm link.

The main difference between passive surveillance systems and embedded systems is their unidirectionality: there is the ability to monitor network elements, but there is no way to control them. However, at the same time, a number of advantages of such systems appear: the ability to simultaneously monitor several alarm systems and interfaces, detailed decoding of messages, assessing the quality of functioning of user subsystems and application subsystems; trace connections within multiple networks (PSTN / ISDN, GSM, IN), etc.

Systems of this type include, in particular, WWG 8620 SS7 Signaling Surveillance System, GeoProbe, Net-7 and some others

In particular, the GeoProbe system is known (Comparative analysis of monitoring systems for network monitoring OKS-7, LONIIS, St. Petersburg, 2001, p.6), designed for monitoring and analysis of fixed networks OKS. It consists of remote testing modules, control stations and a server for archiving and

storing data and issuing reports connected by a single transport network. The GeoProbe system allows you to monitor the functioning of the network, analyze ACS protocols, record and store data on your hard drive, detect unauthorized calls, collect statistical information and some other functions.

The disadvantages of the system are the limited amount of received information and high requirements for network uniformity, which makes it unreliable to operate on telecommunication networks in Russia, characterized by the simultaneous coexistence of technology of different generations.

Closest to the claimed effect achieved is the network alarm monitoring system WWG 8620 SS7 Signaling Surveillance System, manufactured by Wavetek Wandel Golderman '("Actema") (ITU-T Recommendation 0.751.2 "SEMES 0: SWITCHING AND SIGNALLING Specifications of Signalling System No.7 - Signaling System No.7 management. Network element management information model for the Signalling Connection Control Part ". ITU-T, 1997).

WWG 8620 SS7 Signaling Surveillance System consists of two functional parts: parts: sensors for collecting and storing preliminary data and a central module for processing data received from ACS sensors. It allows you to monitor the network, analyze protocols, save preliminary data and analyze them in real time, identify the subscriber and a number of other functions for managing the ACS.

The disadvantages of the system are the impossibility of using telecommunication networks in Russia, characterized by the simultaneous coexistence of technology of different generations.

The problem solved by the authors was the creation of a more universal alarm control system, adapted to systems of any level. This problem was solved by creating a monitoring system for telecommunication networks, which received the code name "Spider".

The basic configuration of the system consists of the central Spyder / CU module (Central Unit), which is installed in the monitoring and control center, and several (depending on the network size) remote modules -Spider / RU (Remote Unit), installed on the automated telephone exchanges (PBX) or transit network nodes, the modules being interconnected by channels of a dedicated technological data network.

The general scheme of the Spider system is shown in FIG. 1, where the following notation is introduced:

1 - central module Spider / CU (CU);

2 - remote module - Spider / RU (RU);

3 - network ACS;

4 - dedicated technological network (MTC);

5 - PBX or transit network nodes (PBX):

6 - monitor;

7 - communication channels (CS).

The central Spider / CU 1 module and monitor 6 are a hardware-software complex based on a TBM-compatible computer running a Linux operating system with a graphical X Window System interface.

Optimal characteristics of the computer Spider / CU. CPU Pentium-Ill 500 MHz. RAM 256 Mb. Hard Drive 30 Gb. Video card Matrox G400 16Mb. Interface with Ethernet 3Com 905V 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, connector type - R.T-45.

Monitor 6 electron beam 21 ", maximum resolution 1600x1200. PS / 2 mouse manipulator three-button. 101-key keyboard ..

Spider / CU provides centralized control of the entire system, centralized data collection and analysis, preliminary expert assessment and display of information about the functioning of the signaling network

and individual monitoring objects working under its control, on the basis of which a graphic display of the structure of the ACS network with different levels of detail is carried out. The following elements of the ACS signaling network act as test objects: the signaling network as a whole; alarm points; signaling routes; signal link bundles; alarm links. The state of each object, the user has the ability to view, analyze, print statistical information on nodes, bundles and links of the alarm in the form of time diagrams. To this end, in accordance with the real configuration of the ACS network, he creates the necessary objects of each class through the WEB-graphic interface. The interconnection of objects is displayed in the form of a logic diagram of the network made using Java technology, to which information about the current state of objects is displayed by the color indication method.

Remote Spider / RU 2 modules directly collect information from network elements 3 of the ACS and are industrial stationary computers (the standard version is a 19-inch rack-mount) with installed hardware-software interface modules, each of which provides an interface with two paths PCM (2.048 Mbps). Each remote module of the system is equipped with an interface of the local Internet network. Each Spider / RU module, as a rule, consists of two segments, each of which is equipped with its own central processor and hard disk for data storage. One segment serves 4 TSP-2/3 boards and, accordingly, eight PCM interface ports. Both segments are connected to the Internet.

The data transfer rate in channels 7 between Spider / CU and Spider / RU through VTS 4 is from 32 to 64 Kbps and depends on the number of remote modules 2.

The main functions of the Spider system are:

- Continuous monitoring and operational determination of the status of all elements of the alarm network (availability, loading, correct operation, etc.).

- Graphical display of the structure and status of the network.

- Dynamic display (color indication) of the state of the signal link bundles.

- Tracing the passage of signaling information on given signaling routes.

- Decoding and analysis of signal packets in on-line mode.

- Saving the signal packets passing through the network for subsequent analysis.

- - Tracking malicious calls.

- Immediately sending an operator a notification about an emergency at a remote site (with sound signals, visually at the system control terminal, message by e-mail, pager, mobile phone).

- Collection of statistical information on the operation of individual signaling nodes and the system as a whole for various parameters in accordance with the recommendations of ITU-T Q.751, 0.752.

- Generation of reports in tabular and graphical forms according to user-defined parameters.

- Generation of statistical reports on loading of conversational paths (based on information obtained from signaling channels).

- CDR generation.

- Forecast on accrued pay.

- Verification of billing data.

The system allows the network operator to constantly monitor and quickly determine the state of the alarm network elements (availability, loading, correct operation, etc.); trace the passage of signaling information on given signaling routes; decrypt signal packets in detail; receive timely notification of emergency situations at remote sites (sound signals, visually at the system control terminal, message by e-mail, mobile phone); generate reports in tabular and graphical forms according to user-defined parameters; save signal packets passing through the network for subsequent analysis; collect statistical information on the operation of individual signaling nodes and the system as a whole for various parameters;

generate statistical reports on loading of conversational paths (based on information obtained from signaling channels).

The system operates as follows. One Spider / RU 2 testing module provides a physical interface with sixteen bidirectional primary paths of the ACS 3. In each path, one or two time intervals used to transmit signaling information can be organized. The module collects information regarding the states of observation objects of all classes assigned to it during user configuration through the Spider / CU graphical interface.

During monitoring, data from the signaling links are stored in the memory of the testing modules in the form of structured packets that contain a bit representation of the signal units of the ACS protocol and information about the time of registration of the latter in the system. In parallel with data storage, a preliminary analysis of the signal loading is performed.

links, recording errors and reasons for terminating calls. Information collection interval - 5 minutes.

Information about the state of inaccessibility and accessibility of signal links and routes, as well as the reason that caused the transition to a particular state, is transmitted in real time through KS 7 and PTS 4 to Spider / CU and displayed by changing the color of the object on the screen M 6. V a separate user interface window (event log) displays the history of all events that caused the transition of network objects to emergency conditions and exit from them. The storage period for detailed statistical information with a five-minute reporting interval is one month. The Spider system provides the operator with distributed monitoring of all elements of the ACS network and the display of accident information, centralized data collection and analysis (regardless of the type of stations included in the signaling network), preliminary expert assessment and display of information about the functioning of the signaling network and voice channels; decoding and analysis of messages of subsystems and application protocols of the ACS. At the same time, the system modules can be used by station service personnel as a protocol tester for local monitoring of OKS-7, DSS1, V5.1, V5.2 signaling channels, etc.

Monitoring the state of network elements is the main function of the system and is used to display alarms from the alarm network or internal equipment alarms. The user interface is implemented in the form of graphic cards that display both the signaling network as a whole and separately bundles of links and bundles of routes assigned to the switching station selected by the user. The user has the opportunity to configure filtering parameters and set boundary values to monitor the quality of functioning of the signal links or the intensity of the load. Monitoring the network and monitoring emergency situations allows you to have a visual representation of the functioning of the entire ACS network and its individual elements.

Collecting statistics on a network scale allows you to obtain statistics on the status of link bundles, the number of damage and restoration of links, the total load of links and loading by individual subsystems, as well as to track the dependence of load changes on time and obtain data on the number of messages of each type. Statistical data on the spoken paths can be collected in separate directions over a given period of time. This may be, for example, the load on the bundles of channels, the number (percentage) of successful calls, the number (percentage) of calls that have been busy, the number (percentage) of unanswered calls. In addition, it is possible to obtain the distribution of unsuccessful calls for different classes of reasons for disconnection.

The functions of collecting statistics on the intensity of call flows and the duration of the service are based on the processing of information records created by the system for each call and generate data such as the average and maximum duration of call service, the total duration of the call, the forecast of the charged fee, analysis of the NNI, identifying hard-to-reach directions etc.

Decoding and analysis of signaling protocol messages is carried out at each signaling point, and then the received information is transmitted to a monitoring and control center.

Call trace provides the system user with the ability to track message sequences associated with the passage of calls within several networks (PSTN, ISDN, GSM or IN) using ACS services. This is achieved using a “trigger” that fires when a certain event occurs at a specific time (for example, when a message appears with specific digits of a telephone number).

Claims (5)

1. A monitoring system for telecommunication systems, including sensors connected to each other by communication channels for collecting and storing preliminary data installed on general-channel alarm systems, and a central module, characterized in that the system elements are connected by channels of a dedicated technological network. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the central module is made in the form of a hardware-software complex based on a TBM-compatible computer. 3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the computer is equipped with a Linux operating system with a graphical interface X Windows System. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is made in the form of a computer with installed hardware-software interface modules. 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensors are installed on automated telephone exchanges or transit network nodes.