Patents by Inventor Steve Landon

Steve Landon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6072777
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a root cause of error activity in a network is described herein. Root cause analysis includes the correlation between reported error activity for path, line and section entities along a provisioned channel in the network. Root causes can also be identified based upon the correlation of simultaneous error activity on various signal transport levels. Finally, root cause analysis can correlate error activity along various path entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bencheck, Robert Branton, Curtis Brownmiller, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon, Minh T. Tran
  • Patent number: 5913036
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing network performance by correlating network performance monitoring data reported by monitoring points in the network is described herein. The system analyzes the performance monitoring parameters by: determining whether the performance monitoring parameters contain non-zero values; determining whether the performance monitoring parameters exceed a predetermined threshold value; determining whether prior performance monitoring parameters exceed a predetermined threshold value. The system initiates a problem handling process if the step of analyzing indicates a possible network problem. The system maintains the problem handling process if the performance monitoring parameters continue to indicate a possible network problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Michael Bencheck, Minh T. Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5872912
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting intermittent network performance problems are described herein. The detection process begins upon the receipt of a problem alert signal (PAS). The system then initiates a problem handling process if a predetermined of number of PASs have been received in a predetermined time period prior to receiving the PAS. The system then maintains the problem handling process if additional PASs are received. This system clears the problem and handling processes if no additional PASs are received in a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: MCIWORLDCOM, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Michael Bencheck, Minh T. Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5870558
    Abstract: A system and method for effectively retrieving and managing network data from thousands of network elements by providing a graphical user interface to a network management system that permits shared access by service provider personnel using diverse computer equipment distributed over a wide geographical region. User requests to the network management system are input via any one of a plurality of workstations that are coupled with a company-wide Intranet system. Additionally, users can view predefined performance reports via a web browser program running on any one of the plurality of workstations coupled with the company-wide Intranet. Users can submit batch or on-line requests. Batch requests are scheduled to be processed at a later time and on-line requests are processed immediately. Results from on-line requests are available to the user as soon as the request has been processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: MCIWorldcom, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Branton, Jr., John Mark DeMoss, Sam Stepler, Eric V. Kouch, Arthur Lee Parks, Jr., Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5864662
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a root cause of error activity in a network is described herein. Root cause analysis includes the correlation between reported error activity for path, line and section entities along a provisioned channel in the network. Root causes can also be identified based upon the correlation of simultaneous error activity on various signal transport levels. Finally, root cause analysis can correlate error activity along various path entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: MCI Communication Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Michael Bencheck, Minh T. Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5864608
    Abstract: A system and method for processing performance data in a telecommunication system. The system includes a site controller which is part of an element management layer of a network management hierarchy. Briefly stated, the site controller receives performance data from a network element. The performance data is associated with a plurality of ports of the network element. The network element is part of a network element layer of the network management hierarchy. The site controller selects a first port of the network element to process. The site controller determines whether the first port is cross-connected to a second port of the network element. If the first port is cross-connected to the second port, then the site controller combines performance data associated with the first port and performance data associated with the second port into a performance report. The site controller forwards the performance report to a monitoring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Mike Bencheck, Minh Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5796723
    Abstract: A system and method for performance monitoring of a telecommunications network that uses a layered performance monitoring structure. First, the monitoring points within the network are identified according to a customer request. The customer request is used to generate a service provisioning request, which indicates the path endpoints and the desired level of service. If the service is a digital data service and is supported for monitoring purposes, the network elements closest to the path endpoints are identified as primary monitoring points and activated, and based upon the desired level of service, a number of intermediate secondary points along the path are also identified but not activated. If the service is not a digital data service but the customer desires monitoring, then monitoring points are similarly identified and activated. Second, an end-to-end threshold is set for each service requiring thresholding per the service provisioning request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bencheck, Robert Branton, Curtis Brownmiller, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon, Minh T. Tran
  • Patent number: 5787074
    Abstract: A system and method for performance monitoring of a telecommunications network that uses a layered performance monitoring structure. First, the monitoring points within the network are identified according to a customer request. The customer request is used to generate a service provisioning request, which indicates the path endpoints and the desired level of service. If the service is a digital data service and is supported for monitoring purposes, the network elements closest to the path endpoints are identified as primary monitoring points and activated, and based upon the desired level of service, a number of intermediate secondary points along the path are also identified but not activated. If the service is not a digital data service but the customer desires monitoring, then monitoring points are similarly identified and activated. Second, an end-to-end threshold is set for each service requiring thresholding per the service provisioning request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Michael Bencheck, Minh T. Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5784359
    Abstract: A system and method for isolating a problem in a network. Upon a report of error activity in a first signal transport level, a first layer in the network management system uses performance data to identify the highest signal transport level that exhibits simultaneous error activity. The first layer attempts to isolate the problem if it determines that it has access to enough information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bencheck, Robert Branton, Curtis Brownmiller, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon, Minh T. Tran
  • Patent number: 5778184
    Abstract: The system and method of analyzing the performance of the network is described herein. The system operates by receiving a first problem alert signal (PAS) from a monitoring point associated with a network facility. The PAS indicates a potential problem with a network facility in a path entity. The system then determines whether the path entity includes distinct line entities. If the path entity includes distinct line entities, then the system determines whether a second problem alert signal has been reported by a monitoring point associated with a network facility in a line entity. The system then initiates a problem handling process for a line entity and suppresses the first PAS if a second PAS has been reported for the line entity. If no problem alert signals have been reported for the line entity, the system initiates a problem handling process for the path entity and reports the first PAS to a higher layer in the network management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Michael Bencheck, Minh T. Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5768255
    Abstract: A system and method for performance monitoring of a telecommunications network that uses a layered performance monitoring structure. First, the monitoring points within the network are identified according to a customer request. The customer request is used to generate a service provisioning request, which indicates the path endpoints and the desired level of service. If the service is a digital data service and is supported for monitoring purposes, the network elements closest to the path endpoints are identified as primary monitoring points and activated, and based upon the desired level of service, a number of intermediate secondary points along the path are also identified but not activated. If the service is not a digital data service but the customer desires monitoring, then monitoring points are similarly identified and activated. Second, an end-to-end threshold is set for each service requiring thresholding per the service provisioning request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Michael Bencheck, Minh T. Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5768261
    Abstract: Described herein are a system and method of determining a far-end format of a customer service unit (CSU) operating using an Extended SuperFrame (ESF) framing format. The CSU is in communication with a network element over a DS 1 circuit. The system operates by determining whether any performance data was received from the CSU during a preceding time interval. If no performance data was received from the CSU during the preceding time interval, then the system determines whether the network element is currently configured to operate according to ANSI standard T1.403 or AT&T Recommendation 54016. If the network element is currently configured to operate according to AT&T Recommendation 54016, then the system commands the network element to operate according to ANSI standard T1.403. The system then waits a predetermined time period for receipt of valid performance data conforming to ANSI standard T1.403 from the CSU. If valid performance data conforming to ANSI standard T1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Mike Bencheck, Minh Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon
  • Patent number: 5704036
    Abstract: A system and method for isolating a problem in a network. Upon a report of error activity in a first signal transport level, a first layer in the network management system uses performance data to identify the highest signal transport level that exhibits simultaneous error activity. The first layer attempts to isolate the problem if it determines that it has access to enough information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis Brownmiller, Mike Bencheck, Minh Tran, Robert Branton, Mark DeMoss, Steve Landon