Network Management and Congestion in the U.S. Telecommunications Network

Several significant steps have been taken to respond to the need for better network management for the evolving U.S. telecommunications network. The current approach provides an economical balance between automatic and manual network management capabilities. With the rapid introduction of Stored Program Controlled (SPC) switching systems and the Common Channel Interoffice Signaling (CCIS) system, more emphasis is being placed on continued improvement in automatic controls. Advances in manual network management controls and real-time surveillance capabilities have been accomplished primarily through the introduction of computer-based systems which support the operation of centralized Network Management Centers (NMC's). Also, new controls are introduced for forthcoming SPC-CCIS network services. The evolution, status, and future needs for network management of the coterminous U.S. telecommunications network are presented. An extensive bibliography is given.