U.S. patent application number 09/867900 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-11 for system for managing telecommunication sites.
Invention is credited to O'Kane, Hugh JR., Stanton, Frank L..
Application Number | 20010029504 09/867900 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26823925 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010029504 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Kane, Hugh JR. ; et
al. |
October 11, 2001 |
System for managing telecommunication sites
Abstract
A system for maintaining, updating repairing and monitoring
remotely located communication equipment sites is described with
which the sites can be managed and maintained. Data relative to
each site is stored and alterations proposed for the site are
automatically monitored and verified prior to implementation.
Clients who own and use the sites can confirm the status of the
communication equipment through a web site where the client can
have access to the data while preserving the proprietary nature of
the data as it relates to the client. The status of various
equipment is maintained to promptly inform an owner of the site,
through access of the web site, of the feasibility of a proposed
change in interconnections, or power use or availability of a
particular device.
Inventors: |
O'Kane, Hugh JR.; (Locust
Valley, NY) ; Stanton, Frank L.; (Hicksville,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ST. ONGE STEWARD JOHNSTON & REENS, LLC
986 BEDFORD STREET
STAMFORD
CT
06905-5619
US
|
Family ID: |
26823925 |
Appl. No.: |
09/867900 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09867900 |
May 30, 2001 |
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09414765 |
Oct 7, 1999 |
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60125761 |
Mar 23, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.101 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/99932 20130101;
G06Q 10/10 20130101; G06Q 10/06 20130101; Y10S 707/99942
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for managing equipment at a site, said system
comprising: a computer; a rules database accessible by said
computer, said rules database having a plurality of rules stored
thereon; a site information database accessible by said computer,
said site information database having site information data stored
thereon; an equipment specification database accessible by said
computer, said equipment specification database having technical
specification data for a plurality of equipment stored thereon;
software executing on said computer for receiving a site identifier
and a component selection submitted by a client; and software
executing on said computer for retrieving technical specification
data for the selected component from said equipment specification
database, for retrieving site information data for the identified
site from said site information database, and for analyzing the
retrieved technical specification data and the retrieved site
information data with respect to the rules stored on said rules
database.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the site information data includes
site capacity data and an installed equipment listing.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising software executing on
said computer for retrieving a component listing from the component
database, and forwarding the component listing to a client.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising software executing on
said computer for generating and transmitting to the client a rule
violation notice if the analysis of the retrieved technical
specification data and the retrieved site information data with
respect to the rules stored on said rules database indicates that a
rule has been violated.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the analysis of the retrieved
technical specification data and the retrieved site information
data with respect to the rules stored on said rules database
compares rack configuration and space with specifications for the
selected component.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the analysis of the retrieved
technical specification data and the retrieved site information
data with respect to the rules stored on said rules database
compares cooling capacity with heat generated by the selected
component.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the analysis of the retrieved
technical specification data and the retrieved site information
data with respect to the rules stored on said rules database
compares power capacity with power consumption for the selected
component.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the component selection is made by
the client on a graphical representation of the site.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the site information database
includes a graphical representation of the site and wherein the
component selection is made by modifying the graphical
representation of the site.
10. A method for managing a telecommunications site comprising the
steps of: providing a computer; storing engineering rules on a
database accessible by the computer; storing site information
including site capacity data and an installed equipment listing on
a database accessible by the computer; storing components technical
specification data on a database accessible by the computer;
retrieving a component listing from the component database, and
forwarding the component listing to a client; receiving a site
identifier and a component selection submitted by the client; and
retrieving technical specification data about the selected
component, and analyzing the component selection and installed
equipment with reference to the site capacity and with rules
retrieved from the engineering database.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of
forwarding a rule violation notice to the client.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the engineering rules analysis
step compares rack configuration and space with specifications for
the component selection.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the engineering rules analysis
step compares cooling capacity with heat generated by the component
selection.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the engineering rules analysis
step compares power capacity with power consumption for the
component selection.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the component selection is made
by the client on a drawing of the site.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the site information database
includes a drawing of the site and wherein the component selection
is made by modifying the drawing of the site.
17. A method for managing equipment at a site comprising the steps
of: providing a computer; storing a plurality of rules on a rules
database accessible by the computer; storing site information data
on a site information database accessible by the computer; storing
technical specification data for a plurality of equipment on an
equipment specification database accessible by the computer;
receiving a site identifier and a component selection submitted by
a client; and retrieving technical specification data for the
selected component from the equipment specification database,
retrieving site information data for the identified site from the
site information database, and analyzing the retrieved technical
specification data and the retrieved site information data with
respect to the rules stored on the rules database.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the site information data
includes site capacity data and an installed equipment listing.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of
retrieving a component listing from the component database, and
forwarding the component listing to a client.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of
generating and transmitting to the client a rule violation notice
if the analysis of the retrieved technical specification data and
the retrieved site information data with respect to the rules
stored on the rules database indicates that a rule has been
violated.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein the analysis of the retrieved
technical specification data and the retrieved site information
data with respect to the rules stored on the rules database
compares rack configuration and space with specifications for the
selected component.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein the analysis of the retrieved
technical specification data and the retrieved site information
data with respect to the rules stored on the rules database
compares cooling capacity with heat generated by the selected
component.
23. The method of claim 17 wherein the analysis of the retrieved
technical specification data and the retrieved site information
data with respect to the rules stored on the rules database
compares power capacity with power consumption for the selected
component.
24. The method of claim 17 wherein the component selection is made
by the client on a graphical representation of the site.
25. The method of claim 17 wherein the site information database
includes a graphical representation of the site and wherein the
component selection is made by modifying the graphical
representation of the site.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/414,765, filed Oct. 7, 1999, which claims
the benefit of, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e), U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/125,761 filed Mar. 3, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to management and maintenance of
telecommunication sites and in particular to automated systems for
managing remotely located sites.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Telecommunication companies often have a large number of
remotely located equipment sites. These sites typically include
racks of telecommunication equipment, main and backup power
supplies, equipment cooling systems, and spare part inventory. In
larger sites the racks may be arranged in rows forming aisles
between them.
[0004] The telecommunication equipment sites are frequently
numerous, remote from the main office and/or unmanned and undergo
frequent changes. Accordingly, telecommunication companies often
lose track and control over what equipment and connections are
installed, in use, or available for use at any particular site.
Even if they are knowledgeable about the installed equipment, they
may not have ready access to the information needed to maintain,
repair and/or reconfigure the equipment as needs change. In
addition, they are often unaware of the rack, power and cooling
capacities of the sites and so are not readily able to add
additional equipment without jeopardizing operation of the entire
site.
[0005] These problems are exacerbated by explosive growth in the
telecommunication business and by an insufficiency of qualified
technicians.
[0006] What is desired, therefore, is a system for managing
telecommunication sites which enable remote maintenance and
reconfiguration of existing equipment by skilled technicians, and
remotely engineered installation of new equipment according to
expert rules. Also desired is a system which tracks and updates the
content, arrangement, configuration and capacity of equipment at
remote sites after installation, reconfiguration and/or
maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a
remote telecommunication site management system which generates a
maintenance program for the site from information collected about
the site configuration and equipment.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a
telecommunication site management system which automatically
matches a site work request with a technician having appropriate
skills.
[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a
telecommunication site management system of the above character,
which forwards a work request completion report to the client.
[0010] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
telecommunication site management system of the above character,
which updates equipment data and configuration according to the
completion of the work request.
[0011] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
telecommunication site management system of the above character in
which a work request drawing is redlined for review and approval to
reflect how the work was actually completed.
[0012] Still a further object of the invention is to provide a
telecommunication site management system for an outsource vendor
and in which a client may generate a work request together with a
drawing of the site for use by a technician.
[0013] Yet still another object of the invention is to provide a
telecommunication site management system of the above character in
which a technician redlines a drawing of a remote site to show
equipment "as built" for approval by the client.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages are achieved by one
telecommunication site management system in accordance with the
invention wherein a computer center is connected either directly or
through an appropriate network such as the internet or a private
network to various data bases. With the data stored in these data
bases the installation, maintenance, updating of the remote
telecommunication sites, and emergency servicing of the remote
sites with competent personnel can be conveniently and accurately
implemented.
[0015] These data bases include records of various types such as
survey information related to the various telecommunication
equipment installed at the remote sites, the particulars of the
port connections of the equipment, the available power at the
remote sites and environmental factors such as the available
cooling capacity at the sites and the heat loads imposed on this by
the installed equipment. In addition digital images of the
installed racks and cages and other areas of the remote sites are
stored. A data base of components representing various telecom
equipment from different manufacturers is created in which form
factors and performance characteristics are stored for use in
creating designs of racks and cages in telecommunication rooms.
Another data base includes the maintenance tasks and scheduling of
these tasks for the various equipment at the different
telecommunication sites. Another data base has records identifying
the technicians and their particular expertise, qualifications and
certifications for servicing particular telecom equipment.
[0016] Access to these data bases is controlled depending as to
what work needs to be done. Implementation of service and
installation originates through work orders that are communicated
to the technicians as these are determined to be needed by the
control center or by a client to whom the particular
telecommunication site belongs. A client can access the various
data bases through the network to determine or verify the actual
installations by accessing digital images of a site and make remote
designs and changes as appears necessary. Through these various
activities on the equipment and system, the data bases, when
needed, are updated and maintained current.
[0017] When a telecom equipment is installed an automatic
verification of the necessary electrical power is made to confirm
that there is sufficient electrical power available both at the
site and at the particular rack where the equipment is to be
installed. A similar verification as to the available cooling
capacity can be made. After installation by a technician, an as
built report is entered into the system and appropriate data bases
updated to reflect the changes together with digital images of the
equipment at the site that was serviced.
[0018] Hence, with a system and technique in accordance with the
invention a client can maintain up to date knowledge of the
equipment at its remote sites, while being able to rely upon the
expertise and capabilities of another control center to maintain
the telecommunication network in operation.
[0019] These and other objects and advantages of the invention can
be appreciated from the following description of a preferred
embodiment in accordance with the invention as described in the
specification with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting the client/site data
collection process of a remote telecommunication site management
system of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting work request processing
in a remote telecommunication site management system of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting the work request
creation and verification process in a remote telecommunication
site management system of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a block diagram view of one telecommunication
system in accordance with the invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic and block diagram view of one
telecommunication site managed by the system of this invention.
[0025] FIGS. 6A and 6B are block diagram views of the architecture
used in the telecommunication management system of this
invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a block diagram view of data entry used in the
system of FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram view of a trouble ticketing process
used in the telecommunication system of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram view of a site survey process used
in the telecommunication system of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram for configuring a rack in
accordance with the telecommunication management system of the
invention.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a more detailed flow diagram for a rack
configuration process used in the telecommunication system of the
invention.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a flow diagram for a rack validation process in
accordance with the telecommunication system of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a plan view of a screen produced to configure a
rack at a remote telecom site in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] With reference to FIG. 1 a telecommunication management
system 20 is shown using a conventional server-computer 22
connected to a network 24 such as the internet or another private
network system. The modems or other communication devices inside
the computer 22 are conventional and may be suitable for high speed
communication as required by the system. The computer has a CPU
which communicates with suitable data storage devices such as
magnetic storage disks and appropriate portions thereof, all in
manner as is well known in the art.
[0034] The telecommunication management system 20 in accordance
with the invention contemplates organizing data in different data
bases, which can be located at different sites and accessed through
the network 24 or be a part of the computer 22. Thus there is, a
site data base 26 in which information relevant to communication
equipment at a particular site is stored, a technician data base
28, which relates to technicians and their respective specialties
or training or certification with respect to particular equipment,
a maintenance data base 30 in which data for maintenance tasks are
stored and a telecommunication component data base 32. This latter
data base 32 stores data such as telecom equipment power
requirements, heating loads or power consumed, telecom ports,
performance capabilities, form factors needed to mount the telecom
equipment in racks and data relevant to the racks such as their
sizes, shapes and space availability.
[0035] The computer 22 is coupled to a control console 34, such as
a keyboard coupled to the computer 22, and through which
communications can be initiated as well as data entered into or
steered into or extracted from the various data bases. The computer
22 can also be coupled to a server located at a client and with
which bi-directional communication can be had via network 24 and
similar functions provided as with the console 34. Hence, the
drawings show the client/console as a common element 34.
[0036] The use of decimals after a numeral depicts the same type of
item but indicates that a number of them are used. In this instance
a number of different clients can have access to system 20 with
each client being able to only access data related to their own
sites. One way to obtain such client differentiation is by
providing each with a different pass code, though a more secure
approach can be a placement of different clients' data on different
computers 22 and with the client having access only to their
respective server.
[0037] Entry of data into the various data bases can be done
through a variety of techniques such as through the network 24,
from a client or from a technician located in the field or through
the console 34 or through such other known data transferring
techniques.
[0038] In the telecommunication management system 20 in accordance
with the invention, data as to sites is organized at 36 by client,
maintenance tasks and calendar schedule. Data related to
technicians is organized at 38 by training, i.e. the technician's
specialized skills on particular equipment if applicable, and their
respective working schedules or availability as the case may be.
Various organizing techniques can be employed.
[0039] System 20 commences operation with the generation of a
survey request 40. This request can originate from the client or
from a console. In this embodiment the survey request is passed
through the computer 22 and relayed to a technician 42. The survey
request imposes an acquisition of data by the technician as to a
particular site 44 for insertion into the respective data bases.
Either during or after the technician has visited the site 44 an
electronic survey report 46 is prepared and forwarded via the
network 24 to computer 36 where the data is distributed into the
appropriate data bases 26, 28, 30 and if necessary 32. The
electronic survey report from the technician can be transmitted
directly from a portable computer located at the technician via
network 24 to computer 22.
[0040] Another main feature of the invention involves maintenance
tasks at the telecom sites. These tasks are pre-determined and
stored in data base 30 where they are accessed by the computer 22
through a schedule 48 for the tasks.
[0041] Certain equipment requires special skills for maintenance
and repair and system 20 keeps track of those technicians having
these skills through technician data base 28. Technician data 50
for the data base 28 is obtained from technicians or from a system
administrator through a network link 24.
[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates a process and system to handle work
requests required for a technician. Computer 22 may receive, either
from a client or from the control console 34 or from an automatic
schedule for maintenance tasks at 30, a work request 60 for a
review of or change or update related to a remote telecom site.
Authorization for generation of such work request is controlled
through a priority authorization level organized inside computer 22
with suitable passwords. Once a work request is generated, the
computer 22 responds with a retrieval of appropriate pertinent data
relevant to the work request such as data relevant to the site from
data base 26, particular skills required from the technician for
complex telecom equipment located at the site, parts availability
and their locations in case of a repair requirement.
[0043] Computer 22 compiles the data relevant to the work request
at 61 into a work order 62 and assigns, if necessary, a particular
technician having the required skills, for responding to the work
request. Contact is made with the technician, either through an
automatic dial up of the technician or through conventional
communication paths. The technician's response to the work order 62
involves an electronic report 63 that is returned through the
network 24 to computer 22 and the control console and/or client 34.
This report typically includes a digital image of the telecom
equipment at the remote and serviced site to enable the originator
and others in control of the communication network to which the
site relates to generate an approval report 64 representative of
the evaluation and approval of the changes or installation made by
the technician.
[0044] The computer 22 can then, upon receiving the approval 64
update at 66 the site data base 26 and any related data base such
as a component data base 68 in which the spare parts data and
performance data for particular telecom equipment may be
stored.
[0045] Another aspect of the invention involves an ability to
design, modify and develop a remote telecommunication site and from
this work evolve a work request 60 that can be implemented by a
technician. FIG. 3 illustrates one approach for such site
development or change. A client or engineer at 34 working at a
particular site as identified at 70 retrieves at 72 drawing data 74
relevant to the telecommunication site together with telecom
component information from the appropriate data bases such as 26
and 68. The component data includes drawings of racks and a listing
of the particular telecom components such as switches, optical
fiber connectors, power supplies and distribution panels and the
like.
[0046] Design of the telecom site involves clicking on a telecom
component in the list and then dragging the component onto a
particular area of the rack. This then results in the generation of
a rack design that is forwarded at 76 to computer 22. Computer 22
then analyzes the design according to specific rules stored at 78.
For example, one such rule requires that the total power demanded
by all of the telecom components in anyone particular rack does not
exceed a certain portion, such as 80%, of the power supply in the
rack. Other rules relate to the incremental effect on the site's
cooling requirements imposed by the new telecom equipment design,
the data carrying capacity leading to the rack and the like.
[0047] In the event that computer 22 determines at 80 that the
design introduces a violation of one of the predetermined rules, a
warning to that effect is generated at 82 and sent to the console
and client at 34. If the design passes the rules test, a work
request 84 such as 60 in FIG. 1 is generated and a technician
implements the requested design. In the event a rule violation has
occurred, a decision from either a client or from the console
generates at 83 an override signal to computer 22 and this in turn
generates an appropriate override notice 85.
[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates an overall view of a telecommunication
management system 20 in accordance with the invention. The system
20 in this case contemplates the management of a large number of
different client telecom sites 44.1-44.n that are within the
system's responsibility. A central control 34' communicates with
each of the sites, and servers 90.1-90.n at different clients and
with the respective technicians through network links 24. These
network links can be a combination of private and/or general
telephone company (telco) lines. The lines also enable the clients
to communicate with individual work sites 44.
[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates a typical telecommunication site 44
having a plurality of racks 94.1-94.4. Each rack 94 is subdivided
into vertical units, commonly referred to as U's or with standard
dimensions, and into which telecom equipment 100 can be installed
such as a power supply 100.1, a power distribution panel 100.2 and
individual telecom equipment 100.3 and 100.4.
[0050] The site 44 further has HVAC equipment with which certain
environmental conditions such as heating, humidity and air cooling
can be achieved. Typically the HVAC equipment for maintaining these
environmental conditions is of limited scope and its ability to
regulate the site 44 to desired temperature and humidity levels is
affected by the amount of telecom equipment 100 that is installed
in the various racks 94.
[0051] Accordingly, part of a technician's survey for the site 44
would include data relevant to the HVAC capabilities such as
cooling capacity 102, characterized with the CFM capability of the
HVAC equipment, since cooling can normally be expected to be
required. The environmental data including site temperature 104 and
site humidity 106 can be transmitted on a continual automatic basis
to the central computer 22 or by the technician via network 24
through the site survey request and technique as described with
reference to FIG. 1.
[0052] A key feature of the survey involves the rack battery
capacity and an automatic determination at the central computer 22
to determine whether any one configuration of telecom equipment 100
in the racks 94 exceeds the maximum allowable power load on the
power supplies and back up batteries 106. Accordingly DC power
loads are carefully monitored and conditions, battery data 108, of
the back-up batteries 106 are continually surveyed and reported to
the central computer 22 by the technicians or automatically as
suggested at 110 through the use of a microprocessor 112 coupled to
the network 24. The illustrated site 44 in FIG. 5 is illustrative
and many variations can be accommodated and are likely to occur
under actual conditions.
[0053] In FIGS. 6A and 6B an architecture for system 20 is
illustrated. The system includes a contact information data base
120, the survey data base 26, a rack configurator 122, a spares
controller 124, a trouble ticket processor 126 and preventive
maintenance processor 128.
[0054] The contact information data base 120 accumulates
information such as the authorized security level 130.1 for any one
contact, the ability to edit and read details on the contact, the
locations 130.2 of a particular and applicable site 44, the client
130.3 to whom the site belongs, emergency data 130.4 such as late
hour access information for buildings that are normally closed
after daylight working hours and an ability to generate appropriate
reports 130.5 from the contact data base 120. The software for
generating contact data is generally well known and need not be
further described. Other functions of the contact data base are as
shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0055] The survey data base accumulates data as to the inventory of
telecom equipment 100 and racks 94 at anyone particular site 44.
This data typically includes site identification, the particular
room where the telecom equipment is located, the number of cages in
which the telecom racks are located and the particular telecom
equipment installed in the racks 94. Digital images of the telecom
equipment and racks are stored in a library and available spares
and field feedback data stored on a per site basis.
[0056] The rack configurator 122 includes an appropriate security
validator 122.1 needed to limit authorization to particular persons
to modify or create a design for a rack 94 with its telecom
equipment 100, a process 122.2 for maintaining and updating a rack
94, a process 122.3 for making changes and including the addition
or creation of site drawings such as CAD drawings of the racks 94
and equipment 100. A process 122.4 for validating a design in
accordance with the applicable rules in data base 78, see FIG. 3,
is provided to then produce at 122.5 a work request 84 as described
with reference to FIG. 3. Field data from surveys are processed as
feedback data at 122.6 and appropriate client inventory data
produced for access by the client to which the applicable site 44
belongs. Reports can be generated from the various data in the rack
configurator 122.
[0057] Spares inventory control 124 involves special access
security at 124.1 and can then be used to order additional spare
equipment 100 at 124.2. Once spares are used or added to, the list
of spares and their respective locations are updated and stored at
124.3 for subsequent access by a technician responding to a work
request. This facilitates the technician's response and his ability
to determine where a suitable spare is located before personally
proceeding to a site 44 needed to be serviced. New equipment and
its form factor, i.e. size, shape, rack storage space requirements,
power demanded and consumed and performance are entered into the
data base 32 at 124.4. Various steps to maintain and update spare
data from field surveys are achieved at 124.5 from data transmitted
by the technicians from their portable communicators.
[0058] From time to time changes are needed or problems develop at
a site 44 and system 20 provides a convenient technique for
handling the technical work needed to get the work completed and
provide an accounting statement to the client. The trouble ticket
or work request process 126 involves a security validation step at
126.1 for the individual who is to issue the trouble ticket at
126.2 and at 126.3 applies a priority response level to the ticket
processing. Hence, in case of an emergency the response to the
trouble ticket is assured a prompt correction. The trouble ticket
is transferred to the appropriate technician at 126.4 and after
implementation of the work the system 20 issues an accounting
report and/or invoice at 126.5.
[0059] Similarly preventive maintenance process 128 involves a
security level screen at 128.1 a schedule generator 128.2 for the
particular sites 44 and when so required a work order to perform
preventive maintenance at 128.3. Appropriate field feedback with
updating of spares inventory and client notification are done at
steps 128.4 and 128.5. An accounting report with automatic bill
generation occurs at 128.6.
[0060] FIG. 7 illustrates in greater detail the preliminary step 26
for system 20 in which data for various sites is assembled in the
data bases of FIG. 1. Initially an engineering site survey is made
and this includes an identification and determination what racks
are present at the sites at 26.1. A determination as to what the
environmental factors applicable to the site is made at 26.2, such
as the available cooling power, which can be in CFM (cubic feet per
minute of air cooled to a particular temperature), the humidity
level that is maintained and the temperature.
[0061] The site power and power distribution is entered at 26.3 in
the data base so that as additional racks are created the amount of
power available for the equipment to be installed can be determined
and monitored. Site contacts are determined at 26.4. This is
important to enable the operator of system 20 to quickly determine
and advise technicians how to enter the building at off hours, who
to contact in case of emergencies and which technicians are
particularly desired for handling work orders for the site. The
contact list, therefore, includes information such as names,
passwords, authorization sequences to enter a site, telephone and
page numbers, in short all the information needed to properly
access the site to be serviced.
[0062] Equipment data is assembled at 26.5. This includes an
identification of equipment installed at the sites 26 as well as in
which racks 94 (see FIG. 5) these are installed. All spares
available at a site 26 are entered at 26.6 and a preventive
maintenance schedule is stored at 26.7 in association with the site
26. A library of installed components, including images, and
available spares can then be made at 26.8. One feature of the
invention involves an ability to create and store for future
comparison digital images of the racks 94 at the various sites.
These images as shown in FIG. 6 are stored at 26.9 (see FIG. 6) in
a data base in association with a particular site and date and can
be accessed by a client through the network 24. Typically the
images record equipment installed in a rack and enable the client
as well as the operator of system 20, who may be wish to make
changes to a rack to determine the feasibility of the change, both
as to power and available communication ports.
[0063] FIG. 8 illustrates in some greater detail one process of the
invention to handle a work order also referred to as a trouble
ticket process. The work order request 60 (see also FIG. 2)
requires at least one of several authorized sources 140.1 and 140.2
such as operators of system 20 or a client. The trouble tickets are
processed at the control center 34' (see FIG. 4), which proceeds to
execute them at 142 in the manner as described with reference to
FIG. 2 by sending a qualified technician to the site. Part of this
process may involve a preliminary determination at 144 whether a
particular telecom equipment needs to be replaced or added. If so,
the availability of a spare is determined at 146 so that the
technician can pick up the spare if it is not at the site for which
the trouble ticket was issued. If a spare is available and it is
installed by the technician at 148 an electronic field report 150
is issued to the control center 34' and the spare list generated at
step 26.6, see FIG. 7 is updated at 152.
[0064] Maintaining the site surveys up to date as explained with
reference to 66 in FIG. 2 involves, as shown in FIG. 9, responding
to client introduced changes at 150 with an update at 152 of the
site survey 26. Similarly, maintenance changes at 154 and repair
changes at 156 cause updating at 152.1 and 152.2 of the site survey
26 as well as client advisory indications at 158 and a library data
base of installed equipment update at 160. The history of the
particular site is then updated at 162 so that system 20 has up to
date information as to any particular site for future work
requirements.
[0065] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 10 and 11 the configuration
122 of a rack 94 with equipment installed in accordance with the
invention is shown. The process relies upon the availability of
appropriate drawing information, such as CAD drawings at 122.7, see
FIG. 3, and images generated at of the racks in data bases. The
combination of CAD drawings and images enables system 20 to
maintain inventory 122.8, FIG. 3, updating of the rack library as
at 122.7 and an updating of rack installations information by
granting network access to the data bases containing this
information to the client. Work orders necessary from the rack
configuration process can be implemented in the manner as described
with reference to FIG. 2.
[0066] FIG. 11 shows a rack configuration process 122 in greater
detail. This process may involve a selection at 170 for a new rack
94 or a change to a previously installed and configured rack. The
site, room, aisle and particular rack number are assigned at 172
and a cad drawing of the rack is displayed at 174. One display 175
may appear as shown in FIG. 13 where a listing 176 of different
equipment 178.1-4 is illustrated. The list 176 is for equipment
already installed on a rack 94.1, but list 176 could be for example
a collection of different equipment to be chosen from for
installation on a new rack 94. Rack 94.1 is partially shown, but
can be fully displayed by using the scroll bar 180. Note that each
rack has its installation positions identified by so-called U
numbers 182, with each U dimension being of a particular amount as
is well known in the field; preferably, however, the installation
positions are identified with standard dimensions referenced to a
particular location on the rack.
[0067] For either a new rack 94 or modification of an existing rack
the telecom selection process involves the selection steps at 186
in FIG. 11 of telecom equipment 188. The process involves selecting
a desired equipment in the list 176, dragging the selection to a
location on the rack or clicking the rack location on the displayed
rack 94.1 to insert the equipment. A similar process can be used to
either remove equipment at 190 or at 192 move it to a new location
on the rack.
[0068] Once a rack has been provided with telecom equipment, or
during the rack insertion process, a validation process takes place
at 194. The validation involves making sure that inserted telecom
equipment does not exceed the power limitations, that the allocated
space on the rack is suitable for the particular equipment, and
that the impact of the telecom equipment on the cooling
capabilities of the site is within acceptable limits. Other rules
and requirements may apply such as making sure that the form factor
applicable to a particular telecom equipment is not violated by the
available space or designated installation area on the rack. In
case of a valid rack design, the system 20 produces a CAD drawing
of the rack as suggested at 94.1 in FIG. 13.
[0069] Rack validation can be done using a process 200 as shown in
FIG. 12 for several parameters. It is to be understood that the
process 200 can be for a single parameter, or for a plurality with
the validation being carried out during the design of a rack to
determine when and if a particular design exceeds acceptable
parameter values such as for power, cooling, dimensions and
positional requirements. Thus as illustrated in FIG. 12 for power
and cooling, at 202 the power P.sub.T demanded from the rack power
supply by the telecom equipment 188 is compared with the available
power P.sub.A from the battery capacity at the rack. The power for
the telecom equipment for all racks at one particular site
originates from batteries as illustrated in FIG. 5 and it is
essential that the maximum power load does not exceed the battery
capacity. Typically the load on battery power is limited to some
maximum portion of battery power such as 80%, though other limits
can be used.
[0070] If the test at 202 is positive then a warning, either visual
or oral or both is generated at 204. Another test is made at 206 as
to whether the site's cooling capacity is exceeded by the telecom
equipment on the rack 94.1. If so a warning is generated at 204.
Note that the sequence of validations are for illustration only and
can be done on a continual basis.
[0071] Although the invention has been described with reference to
a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are
not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and
indeed many other modifications and variations will be
ascertainable to those of skill in the art.
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