Managing a wireless network has always been a balancing act: operating at maximum efficiency while maintaining competitive quality of service (QoS); deploying capacity where and when needed as traffic increases and making the most of the frequency spectrum whilst avoiding interference. NORTH-I is the solution of selection for communications providers across the world, enabling them to maximize QoS through optimum network performance.

NORTH-I, Version 6.0 runs on Oracle Database 11g R2/ Oracle Linux 5.5.

NORTH-I v6.0 runs on the Oracle Exadata Database Machine.

NORTH-I Performance Manager

TTG’s NORTH-I solutions have set the standard for dependable multi-vendor, multi technology performance management. NORTH-I manages GSM, CDMA, GPRS, UMTS, POTS, SDH/SONET, SS7 and Sigtran, IN, ATM, Frame Relay, IP and other technologies today.

Lowest cost of ownership

NORTH-I takes performance management to the next level, increasing the performance of your network, your people and your business. Built on the leading-edge NORTH-I Performance Manager has the flexibility to collect and interpret terabytes of data from an approximately unlimited range of sources in near real-time. With its extremely customizable architecture, robust, easy-to-use Web-based administration and reporting tools, dashboard, report portal, industry-standard database and open interfaces including SQL, ODBC, XML and CORBA, SNMP NORTH-I Performance Manager release the power of your data.

Comprehensive solutions

NORTH-I Performance Manager comes with a wide range of technology sets, making it simple to manage different technology types. Each Set comes with domain-specific data models, vendor-specific statistics and consistent vendor-neutral Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) along with value-added reports and
graphs, delivering intelligence from day one.

Flexible and future-proof

NORTH-I Performance Manager can be easily customized and extended to meet your explicit requirements. From supporting new technologies to innovative new ways of looking at your network data, NORTH-I Performance Manager delivers a comprehensive solution, today and tomorrow.

NORTH-I Futures

• GSM Technology Set
• UMTS Technology Set
• GPRS Technology Set
• Transmission Technology Set
• Performance Alarm Viewer Module
• Performance Profiling Module
• Prediction Module
• NORTH-I Dashboard
• NORTH-I Ad hoc report development and analysis Module

GSM Technology Set ( Top )

GSM is by far the largest 2G system with over 1.25 billion subscribers world-wide and rising. The NORTH-I GSM Technology Set is designed to meet the exacting challenges of managing GSM networks, with:
Fast, efficient storage, analysis and reporting for the terabytes of historical performance data that a GSM network can generate.
GSM BSS and NSS KPIs and reports that leverage NORTH-I’s GSM knowledge and experience, and provide deep insight into your network’s performance.
Timely and comprehensive support of new vendor releases, through TTG’s close ongoing relationships with GSM vendors.
Detailed views of traffic distribution trends for proactive network planning.
Easy drill down reporting capabilities for fast and efficient root cause analysis of conditions such as ping-pong
handovers due to bad neighbours or bad thresholds.

Supported vendors
Support is provided for all leading GSM vendors, including Huawei, Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, NSN, Nortel Networks and ZTE. The GSM Technology Adaptors can be easily extended to support other vendors as required.

Supported network element types
Multi-vendor support is provided for a range of standard GSM network elements, including:

• Base Stations (BS)
• Base Station Controllers (BSC)
• Mobile Switching Centers (MSC)
• Home Location Registers (HLR)
• Visitor Location Registers (VLR)

Other types of network elements can be supported but are not included in the core GSM Technology Set and associated Gateways.

Pre-defined KPIs

A wide variety of KPIs (200+) are provided, covering busy hours, handover analysis, traffic analysis, call set up, availability, uplink/downlink quality and processor load. These families of KPIs include support for:

• Cells
• Neighbouring
• LAPD Links
• LACs (Location Areas)
• MSCs
• HLRs
• Route Interfaces
• Signalling

New KPIs can be defined and added easily using simple, metadata driven tools provided by NORTH-I Performance Manager.

Pre-defined reports and graphs

Pre-defined reports provide valuable decision making information targeted at specific roles
within your organization, ranging from engineering reports detailing performance of network equipment, to management reports showing network overviews and hot spot information.
Near real-time, daily, weekly and monthly reports can be run as needed or be scheduled.
Typical reports include:

• Detailed dropped call failure cause
• Service level counter reports
• Basic cell report including % blocking, % dropped calls, % availability and critical traffic
• Top-N and bottom-N cell reports
• Intra-cell, intra-BSC and inter-BSC handover reports with cause analysis (e.g. quality, level, distance, interference, directed retry)
• Signalling efficiency for PCH, RACH, SDCCH Interference band reporting
• In addition to pre-defined reports, new reports can be easily created.

UMTS Technology Set ( Top )

UMTS delivers high speed mobile access to a wide range of next-generation corporate and consumer services, such as broadband internet/intranet access and streaming video/audio media, as well as traditional voice services. The NORTH-I UMTS Technology Set is designed to meet the challenges of deploying new UMTS networks with:
A uniform core set of KPIs and reports across different UMTS vendors.
Vendor specific KPIs and reports which address the unique features of different UMTS vendors.
UTRAN and CN KPIs and reports that provide deep insight into your network’s performance.
Timely and comprehensive support of new UMTS vendor releases.
Detailed views of UMTS traffic distribution trends for proactive network planning.
Easy drill down reporting capabilities for fast and efficient root cause analysis of conditions such as high radio bearer reconfiguration rates.

UMTS Technology Set Specifications

Supported vendors
Support can be provided for the leading UMTS vendors, including Alcatel, Huawei, Ericsson, NSN, Nortel Networks and ZTE. The UMTS Technology Set can be easily extended to support other
vendors as required.

Supported network element types
Multi-vendor support is provided for a range of standard UMTS network elements, including:

• Node Bs
• Radio Network Controllers (RNC)
• Mobile Switching Centres (3G MSC)
• Home/Visitor Location Registers (3G HLR/VLR)
• Wireless Gateways (WG)
• Gateway GPRS Support Nodes (3G GGSN)

Other types of network elements can be supported but are not included in the core UMTS Technology Set and associated Gateways/.

Pre-defined KPIs
A wide variety of KPIs are provided, covering busy hours, inter-system and soft handovers, voice and
data traffic analysis, Packet size, session management, links usage and processor load. These families of KPIs include support for:

• Throughput
• BER (Bit Error Rate)
• Packets Size
• Attach/Context
• Paging/Routing Area Updates
• Throughput
• BLER (Block Error Rate)
• Connection Setup Success and Dropped
• Handovers (Hard and Soft)
• Channel Utilisation
• Signalling Load

Pre-defined reports and graphs

Pre-defined reports provide valuable decision making information targeted at specific roles within your organisation, ranging from engineering reports detailing performance of network equipment, to management reports showing network overviews and hot spot information. Near real-time, daily, weekly and monthly reports can be run as needed or be scheduled.
Typical reports include:

• UTRAN Traffic/Resource Usage
• Handovers (Hard/Soft)
• Access and Signalling
• CN Traffic
• Session Management
• Mobility Management

In addition to pre-defined reports, new reports can be easily created.

 

GPRS Technology Set Specifications Supported vendors ( Top )

Support is provided for all leading GPRS vendors, including Alcatel, Huawie, Cisco, Ericsson, Motorola, NSN, Nortel Networks and ZTE.
The GPRS Technology Set can be easily extended to support other vendors as required.

Supported network element types
Multi-vendor support is provided for a range of standard GPRS network elements, including:

• Packets Control Unit (PCU)
• Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)
• Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)

Other types of network elements can be supported but are not included in the core GPRS Technology Set and associated Gateways.

Pre-defined KPIs
A wide variety of KPIs are provided, covering busy hours, handover due to GPRS channel allocation, traffic analysis for GPRS timeslots and queue length.
These families of KPIs include support for:

• Cells (PDCH/PDTCH)
• Packet Size/MTU
• TBF Duration
• LAPD Links
• RACs (GPRS Location Areas)
• PDP Contexts
• GTP Bytes and Packets
• PCU Traffic

Signalling Load

 

New KPIs can be defined and added easily using simple, metadata driven tools provided by NORTH-I Performance Manager.

Pre-defined reports and graphs

Pre-defined reports provide valuable decision making information targeted at specific roles within your organisation, ranging from engineering reports detailing performance of network equipment, to management reports showing network overviews and hot spot information. Near real-time, daily, weekly and monthly reports can be run as needed or be scheduled.

• Typical reports include:
• Packet data channels and traffic channels
• Temporary block flows
• PCU logical links
• Top-N and bottom-N cell reports (packets)
• SGSN session and mobility management
• PDP contexts and GTP traffic
• In addition to pre-defined reports, new reports can be easily created.

NORTH-I Transport Network Technology Set ( Top )

The NORTH-I Transport Network Technology Set is designed to meet the challenges of managing the performance of optical transport networks by providing:

 

• Industry-standard KPIs and reports that address the common features of multivendor optical networks, providing deep
• insight into your network`s performance.
Cross-vendor reporting, providing a consolidated view of network performance across your optical access and backbone networks.
• Easy drill down reporting capabilities for fast and efficient root cause analysis of conditions affecting overall performance.

 

Transport Network Technology Set Specifications

Supported vendors
Support can be provided for the leading optical vendors, including Alcatel, Huawei, Marconi, Nortel Networks, NEC, Siemens and. The Transport Network Technology Set can be easily extended to support other vendors as required.

Supported network element types
Multi-vendor support is provided for a range of standard transport measurement points, including:

Terminals, Regenerators and Switches
Sections, Lines, STS Paths and VT Paths
Virtual Tributaries
Ports
DCCs
Processors

Key Performance Indicators
A comprehensive set of KPIs can be monitored, including:

• Physical: LOS-S
• CV-S, ES-S, ESA-S, ESB-S, SES-S, SEFS-S
• Line (near end/far end): CV-L, ES-L, ESA-L, ESB-L, SES-L, UAS-L, AISS-L
• CV-L, ES-L, ESA-L, ESB-L, SES-P, UAS-P, Pointer Justifications
• CV-P, ES-P, SES-P, UAS-V
• Processor Loading

New KPIs can be defined and added using simple, metadata-driven tools provided by NORTH-I Performance Manager.

Pre-defined reports and graphs
Pre-defined reports provide valuable decision making information targeted at specific roles within your organisation, ranging from engineering reports detailing performance of network equipment, to management reports showing network overviews and hot spot information. Near real-time, daily, weekly and monthly reports can be run as needed or be scheduled.
Typical reports include:

Worst “N” Performing Terminations
Section, Line and Path Performance

In addition to pre-defined reports, new reports can be easily created to service the user communities within the organisation.

Performance Alarms Viewer ( Top )

Near Real-time network alarms – these alarms are generated when operator-defined threshold values or other conditions are crossed and can be used in a variety of ways. For example, network alarms can alert a provider to a “sleeping cell” or “cell without GPRS” within the network, which, if left undetected, could degrade network performance.

Historical alarms – NORTH-I/PAV analyses the historical data stored in the NORTH-I database to monitor any long-term trends that could identify performance degradation. For example, by comparing current traffic levels with average time of day (or week) values, traffic patterns often expose QoS problems.

System alarms – system alarms are generated to indicate problems in the NORTH-I server. They alert system administrators to conditions in the operations system that involve some involvement, and assist in maintaining the hardware and software. Predefined alarms include file system usage process monitoring and log file errors. For example, NORTH-I/PAV
can send an alarm to the system administrator with a warning about disk resources for data storage, thus preventing system outages or shutdowns.

Proactive network management
As the communications market continues to progress, service providers must try hard to achieve their revenue targets, maintain competitiveness, and grow their customer numbers. Even though an ever-changing environment, providers must still promise to deliver quality of service (QoS). By monitoring both incoming performance data and the historical data stored by NORTH-I against thresholds, NORTH-I/PAV alerts providers to potential abnormalities. This provides timely visibility of network problems that could affect QoS. NORTH-I/PAV is flexible and configurable to match the infrastructure and requirements of individual providers. It make possible to centralized management of multi-vendor networks and provides a single system for service providers to monitor near-real-time conditions and long-term trends and carry out system surveillance. NORTH-I/PAV generates three different types of alarms:

Fully integrated solution
NORTH-I/PAV is compatible and flexible and can be integrated with a range of network management systems. For example, NORTH-I/PAV can issue an alarm that highlights poor handover performance in specific GSM cells. To identify the reason of this and provide a solution, further investigation may be required, by accessing information held in the fault management system. NORTH-I/PAV can send alarms directly to this system, offering providers a complete assessment of the network’s performance, In addition, NORTH-I/PAV also generates alarms based on network-wide performance data and delivers the alarms to targets such as alarm management systems or log files.

NORTH-I/PAV integrates with NORTH-I/ABID (Profiling Tool) to give a more comprehensive, pro-active view of network performance. NORTH-I/ABID uses well proven statistical process control techniques to automatically build up a typical profile of performance and then detect anomalies, e.x. deviations from the norm. By integrating NORTH-I/PAV with NORTH-I/ABID, service providers can issue alarms based on anomalies detected by NORTH-I/ABID, providing an additional warning to network performance problems.

NORTH-I service assurance solutions
NORTH-I/PAV is part of the NORTH-I family of network performance solutions, which are used by many of the world’s leading IP, wireless and wireline service providers. NORTH-I/PAV network performance solutions:

• Handle complex, multi-technology, multi-vendor networks
• Offer a single, comprehensive view of performance
• Help deployment of network capacity where and when required
• Fully scalable to meet today’s and tomorrow’s network capacity demands

The NORTH-I/PAV system features five main components:

Alarm detector
The alarm detector scans incoming data to determine if any alarm conditions present based on definitions stored within the database. The alarm detector supports:

• Definition of the period for which a circumstance must remain for an alarm to be triggered
• Definition of range for which an alarm is active e.g. a single BSS or the time of day
• Optional automatic generation of clearance alarms
• Reporting of trends in alarm conditions

Alarm dispatcher
The alarm dispatcher is responsible for the following:

• Receiving all alarms and dispatching these to an right target via a specified mechanism, including;
• A simple ASCII file
• A process on a remote system using a TCP-based connection
• A list of addresses via email
• Sending a single alarm to one or more targets

Alarm display
The alarm display shows alarms in a scrollable, color coded display and provides the following features:

• Control over which characteristics of the alarm are displayed
• Filtering of alarms by severity, object class, age etc.
• Control of sort order of alarms
• Manual or automatic alarm clearance
• Throughout integration with NORTH-I, alarms can be viewed via a standard Web browser

Alarm scheduler
This module is used to schedule the execution of both historical alarm detection scripts and system alarm detection scripts.

Alarm Viewer
The Alarm Manager is an easy-to-use for configuring alarms and target definitions. It allows users to control the following:

• Active scope of alarm – allows alarm definitions to be active only for a certain time period or for a limited portion of the network.
• Alarm stability period – a specific time limit can be set to an alarm condition to exist before an alarm message is generated
• Trend notification – users may set up definitions that report on deterioration of improvements between reporting periods
• Aspect reporting – as part of the alarm sent to the dispatcher, the server will include any related attribute or expression

Automated performance profiling ( Top )

As networks grow, analyzing the relationship between a network or cell event becomes increasingly complex. Reliance on thresholding and alarms gives service Providers views of obvious performance faults as they occur, but often overlooks faults that display less obvious “symptoms” or rely on correlation of multiple factors to be detected.

NORTH-I/ABID uses well-proven statistical method control techniques to automatically build up a typical profile of performance and then detect anomalies, e.x. deviations from the norm. This improves operator efficiency and shortens the detection and diagnosis cycle, which eventually results in reduced network

Key Points

• NORTH-I/ABID, Anomaly Based Intrusion Detection Tool
• Creates a profile per element of normal behavior
• No trend analysis
• The application continually compares raw data with existing profiles in DB
• Calculates level of deviation from the corresponding profiles using various measurements
• Ranks deviations from normal behavior over a time
• Continually modify profiles over time, per element and time slot
• Possible to combine two or more counters into an anomaly type

 

Prediction reports ( Top )

The forecasting module helps providers to better deploy existing capacity and plan network build-out effectively.
The system calculates trends in traffic utilisation and growth and extrapolates those trends into the future, so providers can:

• Manage network capacity planning proactively. Route and traffic channel exhaustion forecasts pinpoint where and when expensive new equipment should be deployed. As new data services roll out this will become increasingly important.
• Optimise use of current capital assets. Low utilization forecasts facilitate moving equipment to areas that need additional capacity.

NORTH-I Dashboard ( Top )

NORTH-I online Dashboard helps managers to quickly observer over all network situations. NORTH-I dashboard is fully customable in order to meet customers’ needs.

NORTH-I Ad hoc report development and analysis ( Top )

Every service provider has unique/occasional requirements best met by ad hoc report development and analysis. Easy-to-use graphical query tools allow users to explore gigabytes of data through a point-and-click interface, so they can really understand what’s happening or not happing in the network. Users with no special database or programming expertise can also integrate ad hoc graphs and reports into standard reporting modules for use by others.