A network status monitoring system using personal computer

The Customer Operations Service Management Interface Control (COSMIC) system, a network status monitoring system used by an AT&T Network Control Center (NCC) to monitor the status of a large private telecommunications network is described. COSMIC integrates and correlates network alarm information and graphically displays the network's status on a near-real-time basis. COSMIC has established the use of personal computers for network status monitoring. Its main capabilities are in the areas of real-time graphical displays for network management. Its features include a hierarchical graphical display of the network configuration, alarm correlation, and additional database referencing features. COSMIC provides a user-friendly and easy-to-use interface to the technicians in the NCC. The system has been deployed in the NCC for more than a year, and the efficiency of network management operations with the NCC has improved substantially. The software and hardware architecture of the COSMIC system and the features and functionality it provides to the NCC are described.<>