IP Library Granted Patent US 8,788,230
Granted Patent B2
US 8,788,230 · App. 13/863,059 · Granted Jul 22, 2014

Methods, system, and computer-readable media for facility integrity testing

Inventors: Anthony Scott Dobbins (Rainbow City, AL); Murray E. Nuckols (Birmingham, AL); Linda A. Stephens (Riverside, AL)
Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,788,230
App. No.
13/863,059
Granted
Jul 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for facility integrity testing. According to embodiments, a method for populating a watch list with circuits of a communications network to be monitored for repeat failures is provided. According to the method, a trouble ticket associated with one of the circuits and a trouble code and analysis code (TC/AC) combination associated with the trouble ticket is retrieved. Whether the trouble ticket meets a watch list criterion is determined. In response to determining that the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion, the trouble ticket and the TC/AC combination are added to the watch list.

Claims (40)

1. A method for populating a watch list with circuits of a communications network to be monitored for repeat failures, the method comprising:

opening, by a system comprising a processor, a trouble ticket in response to detection of a failure of one of the circuits;

retrieving, by the system, the trouble ticket associated with the one of the circuits and a trouble code and analysis code combination associated with the trouble ticket;

determining, by the system, whether the trouble ticket meets a watch list criterion adapted to track repeat circuit failures;

in response to determining that the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion, adding, by the system, the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination to the watch list; and

determining, by the system, a performance quality value of the one of the circuits associated with the trouble ticket in the watch list; and

determining, by the system, failure at a copper plant based on the performance quality value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion comprises determining whether the trouble code and analysis code combination meets the watch list criterion.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trouble code and analysis code combination indicates a greater likelihood of the failure at the copper plant due to repeat failures of the one of the circuits.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing the one of the circuits associated with the trouble ticket in the watch list at a given interval to monitor at least one of problems and a failure at the one of the circuits.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination are retrieved from a work and force administration system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the watch list is a database included within an integrated network controller.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination are maintained on the watch list for a given amount of time.

8. A system for populating a watch list with circuits of a communications network to be monitored for repeat failures, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

opening a trouble ticket in response to detection of a failure of one of the circuits,

retrieving the trouble ticket associated with the one of the circuits and a trouble code and analysis code combination associated with the trouble ticket,

determining whether the trouble ticket meets a watch list criterion adapted to track repeat circuit failures,

in response to determining that the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion, adding the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination to the watch list,

determining a performance quality value of the one of the circuits associated with the trouble ticket in the watch list, and

determining a failure at a copper plant based on the performance quality value.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining whether the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion comprises determining whether the trouble code and analysis code combination meets the watch list criterion.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the trouble code and analysis code combination indicates a greater likelihood of the failure at the copper plant due to repeat failures of the one of the circuits.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise accessing the one of the circuits associated with the trouble ticket in the watch list at a given interval to monitor at least one of problems and a failure at the one of the circuits.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination are retrieved from a work and force administration system.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the watch list is a database included within an integrated network controller.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions for populating a watch list with circuits of a communications network to be monitored for repeat failures stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

opening a trouble ticket in response to detection of a failure of one of the circuits;

retrieving the trouble ticket associated with the one of the circuits and a trouble code and analysis code combination associated with the trouble ticket;

determining whether the trouble ticket meets a watch list criterion adapted to track repeat circuit failures;

in response to determining that the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion, adding the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination to the watch list; and

determining a performance quality value of the one of the circuits associated with the trouble ticket in the watch list; and

determining a failure at a copper plant based on the performance quality value.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein determining whether the trouble ticket meets the watch list criterion comprises determining whether trouble code and analysis code combination meets the watch list criterion.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the trouble code and analysis code combination indicates a greater likelihood of the failure at the copper plant due to repeat failures of the one of the circuits.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , the method further comprising accessing the one of the circuits associated with the trouble ticket in the watch list at a given interval to monitor at least one of problems and a failure at the one of the circuits.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination are retrieved from a work and force administration system.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the watch list is a database included within an integrated network controller.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the trouble ticket and the trouble code and analysis code combination are maintained on the watch list for a given amount of time.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2013
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 030938/0130 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 4, 2013
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030954/0947 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2013
From: DOBBINS, ANTHONY SCOTT; NUCKOLS, MURRAY E.; STEPHENS, LINDA A.
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 030219/0717 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13526016 · Jun 18, 2012
Continuation 12605820 · Oct 26, 2009
Continuation 11835532 · Aug 8, 2007
Related Publication 20130226523A1 · Aug 29, 2013