Basic Concepts for Managing Telecommunications Networks

by Bernstein, Lawrence; Yuhas, C. M.

• ISBN13: 9780306462375
• ISBN10: 0306462370
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Plenum Pub Corp

Summary

It is important to understand what came before and how to meld new products with legacy systems. Network managers need to understand the context and origins of the systems they are using. Programmers need an understanding of the reasons behind the interfaces they must satisfy and the relationship of the software they build to the whole network. And finally, sales representatives need to see the context into which their products must fit.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	xi
List of Tables	xiii
Facing the Inevitable	1	(14)
Upgrading the Access Network	1	(2)
The Evolving Job of Network Manager	3	(5)
Five Pillars of Successful Automation	8	(2)
Strategies for Change	10	(5)
References	12	(3)
Any Combination, Anywhere, Any Time	15	(18)
The Dominant Narrow-Band Network	16	(1)
Midband Services Are Viable Transitions	17	(2)
Broadband Management	19	(1)
Beyond Flow-Through	20	(1)
Obstacles to Fiber Readiness	21	(2)
The Internet Model	23	(1)
Self-Configuring and Self-Maintaining Networks	24	(1)
Security Management	25	(1)
Congestion Control	25	(2)
Configuration Management	27	(1)
Plug and Play with TMN	28	(2)
Recapping the Situation	30	(3)
References	32	(1)
Network Architectures for the Future	33	(16)
The Purpose of Network Architecture	33	(3)
Dynamic Services	36	(2)
New Directions in Transmission	38	(1)
Beyond Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) and Switched Digital Video (SDV)	39	(1)
ISDN Deployment	40	(2)
Trials	42	(1)
Benefits of the New Architectures	42	(2)
Wireless Issues	44	(2)
Technology Implications	46	(1)
A View from the Cable Industry	46	(1)
Discontinuous Innovation	46	(3)
References	47	(2)
Methods, Practices, and Diagnosis	49	(24)
What Happens When You Make a Phone Call?	49	(4)
How Does All that Stuff Get into Place?	53	(9)
Now What's Gone Wrong?	62	(11)
References	70	(3)
Pillar---Network Condition	73	(20)
Innovations that Shaped Networks	73	(2)
Broadband Management Concepts	75	(3)
Broadband Ready	78	(3)
Evolution to Broadband	81	(2)
Convergence	83	(1)
Internet Telephony	84	(1)
Federated Services	85	(1)
Access Methods	86	(3)
Sleeping Giant	89	(4)
References	90	(3)
Pillar---System Environment	93	(18)
Market Pressures Cause Rethinking of OSSs	94	(3)
Reconciling the Three Approaches	97	(1)
Administrative Data in the Network	97	(4)
TMN Architecture	101	(2)
Application of TMN	103	(1)
A Suggested Client/Server Architecture for Linking OSSs	103	(2)
Evolution, Not Revolution	105	(2)
Field Trials in Germany	107	(4)
References	109	(2)
Pillar---Software Functions and Features	111	(18)
Liberation from Limitations of the Past	111	(7)
Object-Oriented Opportunities	118	(5)
Moving to Object Technology	123	(2)
Configuration Management	125	(1)
Buggy Software	126	(1)
Morals of the Stories	127	(2)
References	127	(2)
Pillar---Database Considerations	129	(16)
Major Data Questions	129	(4)
Where Did All Those Errors Come From?	133	(1)
Design Issues	134	(3)
World Wide Web	137	(1)
Setting Up Databases	138	(1)
Data Warehousing	139	(2)
Tracking Changes to the Database	141	(2)
Potential Data Warehouse Use	143	(1)
Conclusions: Changing Database Heuristics	143	(2)
References	144	(1)
Pillar---Human Factors	145	(12)
Managing Data and Each Other	145	(2)
Facilitating Comprehension	147	(2)
Reach Out and Touch Something	149	(3)
System Effectiveness in Human Factors Terms	152	(2)
How Much Should the System Do?	154	(3)
References	155	(2)
Economic Impact and Cost Studies	157	(18)
What Constitutes Economic Benefit?	157	(1)
Analyzing Operations Savings	158	(2)
Strategies for Operations Savings	160	(5)
What's Easy, What's Hard	165	(2)
Why Broadband?	167	(2)
How to Get There from Here	169	(3)
Conclusions	172	(3)
References	173	(2)
Appendix A: Abbreviations	175	(2)
Appendix B: Bibliography of Useful Patents, Books, and Articles	177	(4)
Index	181