Abstract: Methods, systems, and products maintain reflective maintenance records for a network. Test results are mirrored from different testing applications to a centralized testing database. The test results are associated to circuit identifiers. A work order is received that identifies trouble associated with a customer. A circuit identifier associated with the customer is retrieved and, prior to performing a test of a circuit to resolve the trouble, the centralized testing database is queried for the circuit identifier. A test result associated with the circuit identifier is retrieved and the work order is updated with the test result.

Abstract: The subject disclosure provides a system and methods for a central network monitoring authority to be automatically alerted upon loss of broadband connectivity at a residential gateway. In connection with detecting a connectivity loss in a residential gateway, traceable alert data is created, a mobile device is located within range of an associated femto cell, the traceable alert data is provided to the mobile device; and the mobile device is then employed to transmit the traceable alert data to a central network monitoring authority.

Abstract: A service provider unit automatically diagnoses problems in an Ethernet network that are associated with layers 1, 2, and/or 3 and determines whether there is a problem associated with an Ethernet gateway switch EGS. Further diagnostics can be performed to determine the layer, type, and/or location of the problem(s) based on whether there is a problem with the EGS. The diagnostic process followed depends on the types of problem(s) in the network. Once the problems have been diagnosed, an operator can be notified of the location and/or type of problem.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that analyze Layer 3 network performance between a network and its Intelligent Route Service Control Point (IRSCP) architecture to identify problems without having to disrupt customer service.

Abstract: A method includes detecting, at a customer premises equipment (CPE) device, a problem associated with a network device. The network device is communicatively coupled to the CPE device via a local area network. For example, the CPE device may include a residential gateway (RG). The method includes determining, at the CPE device, whether the problem associated with the network device is locally correctable. When the CPE device determines that the problem is locally correctable, the method includes initiating a corrective action to resolve the problem. When the CPE device determines that the problem is not locally correctable, the method includes sending data associated with the problem from the CPE device to a network system via a wide area network.

Abstract: A method and system for providing automated diagnostics of networks using multiple physical channels are disclosed. For example, the method receives a ticket indicating a problem and attempts to identify at least one physical channel of the network that is a potential cause of the problem. The method runs at least one diagnostic test on the identified physical channel and reports a result of said diagnostic test.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving a service ticket, determining a likelihood of success of re-testing the service ticket and performing additional steps, if the likelihood of success is greater than a predetermined re-testing threshold. The additional steps including determining a waiting time of the service ticket, adding the service ticket to a service ticket queue containing a plurality of service tickets, the service ticket queue being sorted by a waiting time of each of the plurality of service tickets, initiating performance of the service ticket, after an expiration of the waiting time, removing the ticket from the queue, if the performance of the service ticket is successful and re-start the waiting time, if the performance of the service ticket is unsuccessful.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles to manage routing in networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes obtaining a first interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric associated with a first router and a second interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric associated with a second router communicatively coupled to the first router, detecting whether a mismatch exists between the first and second first interior gateway routing protocol route selection metrics, determining, using a Bellman-Ford algorithm, a target interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric when the mismatch is detected, and transmitting the target interior gateway routing protocol route selection metric to at least one of the first and second routers.

Abstract: Trouble ticket management automates existing institutional operational processes by engaging various external trouble ticketing systems. These systems feed correlated alarm events, trouble analysis results, and trouble ticket information to a particular institutional network. Correlated alarm feeds, including trouble ticket information, are correlated and sent to institutional trouble ticket management systems. The alarms are processed and remedy tickets are created. The remedy tickets interact with remedy tickets at the institutional trouble ticket management systems. These remedy tickets are bonded with maintenance platform tickets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to diagnosing problems in a dual stack network supporting Internet Protocol Version Six (IPV6). Inventoried information can be retrieved from an inventory system in response to a problem associated the dual stack network. It can be determined whether a mismatch exists between live customer address information associated with a customer edge router and the inventoried information. A notification can be generated in response to determining whether a mismatch exists. The notification includes information representing a cause of the problem and resolution of the problem.

Abstract: A data communications system may include a network having a plurality of network provider routers configured to support Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) circuits between customer edge routers outside the network, an automated diagnostic system coupled to the network provider routers. The automated diagnostic system may be configured to automatically initiate one or more inquiries of one or more of the network provider routers in response to a customer IP address identifying a customer edge router servicing a customer location from which a service failure has been reported and a circuit address identifying an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) circuit related to the reported service failure.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to diagnose enhanced interior gateway routing protocol (EIGRP) problems in networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method to identify whether an EIGRP problem is present in a network comprises automatically performing one or more tests of one or more routers of the network in response to a submitted trouble ticket, processing results of the one or more tests to automatically identify whether the EIGRP problem is present in the network, and automatically assigning the trouble ticket to a work center when the EIGRP problem is present in the network.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server in communication with a first network element where the server includes a controller to determine routing values associated with a plurality of second network elements where the second network elements are interfaced with the first network elements where the first network elements and the second network elements utilize Interior Gateway Routing Protocol and where the routing values include at least one of routing algorithm constants, service provider routing identifiers, and size of largest deliverable packets, detect a mismatch among the routing values, determine a target routing value when the mismatch is detected and transmit the target routing value to at least one of the second network elements, where the routing values are adjusted in response to the transmitted routing value to match each other. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to validating a rules-based diagnostic system for a network. Emulated data for use by the rules-based diagnostic system can be generated that includes a trouble ticket to emulate a problem associated at least one of Layer 1 and Layer 2 network services and includes network information associated with the problem. Responses from the rules-based diagnostic system can be received in response to the emulated data being processed by the rules-based diagnostic system. A log generated by the rules-based diagnostic system can be analyzed to determine rules implemented by the rules-based diagnostic system in response to the emulated data, thereby validating operation of the rules-based diagnostic system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to diagnosing problems in a dual stack network supporting Internet Protocol Version Six (IPV6). Inventoried information can be retrieved from an inventory system in response to a problem associated the dual stack network. It can be determined whether a mismatch exists between live customer address information associated with a customer edge router and the inventoried information. A notification can be generated in response to determining whether a mismatch exists. The notification includes information representing a cause of the problem and resolution of the problem.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automating hub and spoke network trouble diagnostics in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method retrieves provisioning and configuration data, access interface alarm information, and network facility status data related to the communication network by a diagnostic system, and identifies at least one of: a network configuration error, an access interface error, or a configuration error associated with at least one hub router or at least one spoke router, as the root cause of the problem of the communication network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that that analyze Layer 2 network performance and identify problems without having to disrupt customer service. Embodiments employ a two-phase approach to identify network problems. For an ingress switch, embodiments monitor frame relay Management Information Base (MIB) port and channel objects. A trouble ticket with various test results may be issued and a network work center notified with recommendations that include switch checking, network checking, Layer 1 access testing and network connectivity testing.

Abstract: A method and system for providing automated diagnostics of networks using multiple virtual circuits are disclosed. For example, the method receives a ticket indicating a problem. The method then determines if the problem is associated with a configuration mismatch and determines if the problem is associated with at least one physical channel supporting a plurality of virtual circuits. The method then verifies status of each of the plurality of virtual circuits if the problem is not associated with the configuration mismatch or the at least one physical channel. The method then reports a result of verifying the status of each of the plurality of virtual circuits.

Abstract: A business process automation system architecture is used to isolate problems in a virtual private network access network. Codified rules and a rules based program are used to determine all equipment from a customer premises equipment to a VPN core access point equipment on a VPN access path and that is associated with a failure. The codified rules also govern the gathering of information on the equipment including determining whether the equipment supports automated diagnostics and the communication protocols used. Extended PING testing is done on the equipment and a status of the extended PING test, link status, line protocol status, and existing loop status is determined. Further testing is automatically run based on the codified rules and the status. The failure is then isolated to the CPE, a local exchange carrier, or a network provider.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method that can comprise automatically rendering information indicative of a cause of a failure in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that comprises one or more routers that utilize Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) tables to route traffic via the VPN. The cause of the failure can be automatically determined.