Abstract:
A system for managing telecommunications infrastructure is provided, which system includes a computer, a sites database having stored thereon site information relating to a plurality of telecommunications sites, a schedules database having stored thereon schedule maintenance plans relating to a plurality of telecommunications sites, and a pathways database having stored thereon pathway ownership data indicative of which pathways in and between telecommunications sites are owned by which users and which pathways are available for use. In one aspect, software is provided for allowing a plurality of users to access and update the sites database so as to facilitate the management of telecommunications infrastructure by allowing a user to access the most current information available regarding a plurality of telecommunications sites, even if it was another user which was the last to update the sites. In another aspect, software is provided for maintaining the schedules database and for allowing the plurality of users to schedule time periods for access to a plurality of sites so as to avoid scheduling conflicts with the others of the plurality of users. In yet another aspect software is provided for managing the pathway ownership data stored on the pathways database, and for facilitating the planning or pathways for running cables for the plurality of users.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to management and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure, and more particularly to an automated system for managing a plurality of remotely located sites owned, operated and/or serviced by a plurality of system users.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Telecommunications companies often have a large number of remotely located equipment sites. These sites typically include telecommunications equipment, telecommunications cables, and pathways for running cables. These pathways may be occupied by cables or other equipment, may be damaged, destroyed or otherwise unable to receive cables, or may be unoccupied and ready to receive cables.  
           [0003]    The telecommunications equipment sites are frequently numerous, remote from the main office of the telecommunications company and/or unmanned and undergo frequent changes. Accordingly, telecommunications companies often lose track and control over what equipment and cables, or which pathways for running cables, are installed, in use, damaged or available for use at any particular site.  
           [0004]    These problems are exacerbated when two or more telecommunications companies jointly own, operate and/or service telecommunications equipment at the same equipment sites, as is often the case with public infrastructure sites, such as manholes. Each manhole may be maintained by many telecommunications companies, each one having telecommunications equipment and/or cables located in the same manhole, and each one owning the rights to different pathways within the manhole. In such cases, it is extremely difficult for one telecommunications company to know what equipment and cables are present at any given site, particularly when such equipment and cables have been installed by other telecommunications companies.  
           [0005]    Moreover, conflicts may frequently occur when two or more telecommunications companies desire to access the same site at the same time. For example, manholes typically have very limited space, and it is often impossible for more than one worker to operate in the manhole at a time. Thus, if one telecommunications company has a worker operating in a manhole, and a work team from another company arrives at the site seeking to access the same manhole, problems may occur relating to who should have priority in accessing the site. This is particularly troublesome when large scale construction projects involving multiple telecommunications companies are under way.  
           [0006]    What is desired, therefore, is a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure which automatically manages a plurality of remotely located sites, which monitors what equipment and cables, or which pathways for running cables, are installed, in use, damaged or available for use at any particular site, which automatically manages sites owned, operated and/or serviced by a plurality of system users, and which automatically maintains access schedules for the sites so as to minimize conflicts that may occur when two or more telecommunications companies desire to access the same site.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure which automatically manages a plurality of remotely located sites.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure having the above characteristics and which monitors what equipment and cables, or which pathways for running cables, are installed, in use, damaged or available for use at any particular site.  
           [0009]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure having the above characteristics and which automatically manages sites owned, operated and/or serviced by a plurality of system users.  
           [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure having the above characteristics and which automatically maintains access schedules for the sites so as to minimize conflicts that may occur when two or more telecommunications companies desire to access the same site.  
           [0011]    These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by provision of a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure including a computer and a communications link between the computer and a plurality of users. In one aspect, the system includes a sites database accessible by the computer, the sites database having stored thereon site information relating to a plurality of telecommunications sites, and being accessible by a site identifier. Software executing on the computer receives from the plurality of users through the communications link a site identifier indicative of a site of interest, and retrieves from the sites database and transmits to the plurality of users through the communications link information relating to the site of interest. Software executing on the computer is also provided for receiving from the plurality of users through the communications link a site update for a site which has been updated, and for updating the site information relating to the updated site on the sites database. Thus, the system facilitates the management of telecommunications infrastructure by allowing a user to access the most current information available regarding a plurality of telecommunications sites, even if it was another user which was the last to update the sites.  
           [0012]    Preferably, the site information may comprise graphical representations of the current status of the plurality of telecommunications sites, photographs of the plurality of telecommunications sites, or data indicative of the current status of the plurality of telecommunications sites. In the last case, the system most preferably includes software for generating, based upon the data indicative of the current status of the plurality of telecommunications sites, graphical representations of the current status of the plurality of telecommunications sites.  
           [0013]    Also preferably, the site information may comprise an indication of which equipment and cables are installed at the plurality of telecommunications sites and/or an indication of which pathways are in use, damaged or available at the plurality of telecommunications sites.  
           [0014]    In another aspect, the system includes a schedules database accessible by the computer, the schedules database having stored thereon schedule maintenance plans relating to a plurality of telecommunications sites, and being accessible by a site identifier. Software executing on the computer receives from the plurality of users through the communications link a work order for a site to be accessed, the work order comprising a site identifier indicative of the site to be accessed. Software executing on the computer then retrieves from the schedules database and transmits to the plurality of users through the communications link a schedule maintenance plan relating to the site to be accessed. Software executing on the computer is also provided for receiving from the plurality of users through the communications link an indication of a desired time period for access to the site to be accessed. Software executing on the computer then, if no scheduling conflict is determined to exist, updates the schedule maintenance plan relating to the site to be accessed on the schedules database to reflect the indication of the desired time period for access to the site to be accessed.  
           [0015]    Preferably, software executing on the computer is provided for receiving from the plurality of users through the communication link documentation relating to the work order. It is also preferable that the work order includes an indication of whether the work order relates to an emergency situation, and the system further includes an emergencies database accessible by the computer, the emergencies database having stored thereon emergency notifications relating to a plurality of telecommunications sites, and being accessible by a site identifier. In such a case, software executing on the computer is provided for, if the work order relates to an emergency situation, updating the emergency notification on the emergencies database relating to the site identifier included in the work order to reflect the emergency situation.  
           [0016]    Preferably, the schedule maintenance plans comprise graphical representations of scheduled time periods when the plurality of telecommunications sites are available for access, or data indicative of scheduled time periods when the plurality of telecommunications sites are available for access. In the latter case, the system most preferably includes software for generating, based upon the data indicative of scheduled time periods when the plurality of telecommunications sites are available for access, graphical representations of scheduled time periods when the plurality of telecommunications sites are available for access.  
           [0017]    In yet another aspect, the system includes a pathways database accessible by the computer, the pathways database having stored thereon pathway ownership data indicative of which pathways in and between telecommunications sites are owned by which users and which pathways are available for use, the pathway ownership data being accessible by a user identifier. Software executing on the computer receives from the plurality of users through the communications link a user identifier for a particular user. Software executing on the computer then retrieves from the pathways database pathway ownership data indicative of which pathways are owned by the particular user and which pathways owned by the particular user are available for use. Software executing on the computer is also provided for receiving from the plurality of users through the communications link an indication of a desired start site and a desired end site for a cable to be run. Software executing on the computer next calculates and transmits to the plurality of users through the communications link, based upon the desired start site, the desired end site, and the retrieved pathway ownership data, at least one pathway for running the cable, and receives an indication from the plurality of users through the communications link of a selected pathway for running the cable. Finally, software executing on the computer updates the pathway ownership data on the schedules database to reflect the selected pathway for running the cable.  
           [0018]    In one embodiment, the software executing on the computer for calculating and transmitting to the plurality of users through the communications link, based upon the desired start site, the desired end site, and the retrieved pathway ownership data, at least one pathway for running the cable, and for receiving an indication from the plurality of users through the communications link of a selected pathway for running the cable comprises software executing on the computer for transmitting to the plurality of users at least one site to which the cable can be run from the desired start site, and for receiving from the plurality of users an indication of a selected next site, and software executing on the computer for, if the selected end site has not been reached, transmitting to the plurality of users at least one site to which the cable can be run from the desired start site, for receiving from the plurality of users an indication of a selected next site, and for repeating such transmission and receipt until the selected end site has been reached.  
           [0019]    The invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manhole display which may comprise a portion of the site information stored on the sites database of the system for managing telecommunications infrastructure of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a digital photograph of a manhole which may comprise a portion of the site information stored on the sites database of the system for managing telecommunications infrastructure of FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the scheduling software of the system for managing telecommunications infrastructure of FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manhole schedule which may comprise a portion of the schedule information stored on the schedule database of the system for managing telecommunications infrastructure of FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sector of sites and the sites making up such sector;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the pathway maintenance and creation software of the system for managing telecommunications infrastructure of FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram further illustrating operation of the pathway maintenance and creation software of FIG. 7;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating in further detail the operation of one embodiment of the pathway maintenance and creation software of FIG. 7; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 10A through 10D are schematic diagrams illustrating in further detail the operation of the embodiment of the pathway maintenance and creation software of FIG. 9.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a system  10  for managing telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with the present invention is shown. System  10  includes a conventional server-computer  12  connected through a network  14 , such as the Internet, intranet, wide area network, local area network or some other network system, to a plurality of users  16 , which may be operating user computers of workstations. Through this arrangement, users  16  may transmit information  18 , such as user identifiers, document updates, site updates, work orders, schedule updates, emergency updates and pathway updates, to computer  12 , and computer  12  may transmit information  20 , such as documents, site information, schedule information, emergency notifications and pathway information, to user  16 , as described in detail below. Typically, users  16  will comprise telecommunications companies which own, operate and/or service infrastructure sites managed by system  10 .  
         [0031]    System  10  contemplates organizing data in a plurality of databases, which can be located at different sites and accessed through network  14 , or can comprise a part of computer  12 . In addition, system  10  has executing thereon software, which may comprise a plurality of separate programs or applications (as shown in the Figures for clarity), or may comprise a single program or application performing varying functions. The specific databases and software employed is described in detail below.  
         [0032]    In one aspect, system  10  includes personalization and permissions software  22  and a personalization and permissions database  24  accessible by computer  12  and having stored thereon, by user identifier, personalization and permissions information. Personalization and permissions software  22  receives a user identifier  26  from user  16  at logon, which user identifier is unique to each user company  16 , and may or may not be unique to each individual person at each user company  16 . Software  22  then queries personalization and permissions database  24  by user identifier  26  to retrieve personalization and permissions information  28  for that user company  16 .  
         [0033]    Personalization and permissions information  28  may comprise, for example, various indications of which databases, or portions thereof, the particular user  16  can view, edit, save to, etc., which operations the particular user  16  is allowed to perform, and a variety of other security related information and indicators relating to the particular user  16 . Personalization and permissions information  28  may also comprise, for example, various indicators and information concerning the personalized preferences of the particular user  16 , such as a desired format for viewing web pages on system  10 , the desired communication protocols with system  10 , desired methods for receiving confirmations of various actions, and the like. System  10  thus affords a personalized and secure experience for each of users  16 .  
         [0034]    In a related aspect, system  10  may be provided with a documents database  30  accessible by computer  12 , having stored thereon a plurality of documents. Documents  32  may be retrieved from documents database  30  for display to users  16 , and documents stored on documents database  30  may be added to and/or modified by users  16  via document updates  34 . Preferably, documents database  30  is tied to personalization and permissions software  22  in that only certain documents may be available for viewing and/or editing by any given user depending on the personalization and permissions information  28  retrieved from personalization and permissions database  24 . For example, a particular user  16  may specify that a document stored on documents database  30  be only viewable by it, or that the document may be viewable by other, or all, users, but only capable of being edited by it. System  10  thus provides for the secure storage, and/or dissemination of documents by users  16 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, another aspect of the invention involves the ability to keep track of and control over a plurality of telecommunications equipment sites. To this end, a sites database  36  accessible by computer  12  and site maintenance software  38  are provided. Sites database  36  has stored thereon site information  40  relating to a plurality of sites, such as indications of which equipment and cables, or which pathways for running cables, are installed, in use, damaged or available for use at any particular site. The site information  40  is stored and retrievable by site, and is kept current by site updates  42  entered by users  16  when work or an inspection is performed at the site.  
         [0036]    Site information  40  may comprise data which may be retrieved and displayed to user  16  by site maintenance software  38  in relatively raw data form, or may be interpreted by site maintenance software  38  and displayed to user in a more user friendly form. For example, and with reference to FIG. 2, the site in question may be a manhole, and site information  40  may relate to the status of various pathways within the manhole. In such a case, site maintenance software  38  may retrieve site information  40  from sites database  36 , and convert it into a graphical, user-friendly display  44  which is transmitted to user  16 . For example, display  44  comprises an indication of a typical manhole configuration  46 , which itself comprises a plurality of pathways  48 . Display  44  includes indications as to the status of each of pathways  48 , such as whether the pathway contains cable  50 , whether the pathway does not contain cable  52 , whether the pathway is available and empty  54 , or whether the pathway is not available  56 . It should be understood that site updates  42  also may be entered in relatively raw data form, or may be received from user  16  in a more user friendly form similar to that presented above, and then interpreted by site maintenance software  38  before being stored on sites database  36 .  
         [0037]    Site information  40  may also comprise graphical representations of the sites, such as digital photographs  58  (see FIG. 3) taken by users  16  when the site is updated or inspected, or periodically taken by digital cameras stationed at the site itself. In another embodiment, site maintenance software  38  may be in communication with a web-cam (not shown) or the like to allow system  10  to provide real-time images of the site. In this case, the web-cam is preferably movably mounted and controlled by system  10  such that a user  16  of system  10  can rotate or position the web-cam to obtain a plurality of views of the site.  
         [0038]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, this aspect of the invention is particularly useful when two or more telecommunications companies jointly own, operate and/or service telecommunications equipment at the same equipment sites, as it allows any of users  16  to update sites database  36 , and allows any of users  16  to view updates even if those updates were made by other users. Thus, all users can easily and remotely determine the status of any site, and what equipment and cables are present at the site, at any given time.  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 and  5 , in another aspect, system  10  provides a mechanism by which a plurality of telecommunications companies may schedule access to a plurality of telecommunications sites such that conflicts when two or more telecommunications companies desire to access the same site at the same time may be avoided. In a related aspect, system  10  provided a convenient mechanism for monitoring when an emergency, such as a mistakenly cut cable, or another event has occurred which might interfere with a system user&#39;s access to a telecommunications site. To these ends, system  10  includes scheduling software  60  executing on computer  12 , along with schedules database  62  and emergencies database  64 , which have stored thereon schedule information and emergency information respectively.  
         [0040]    Schedules database  62  and emergencies database  64  are updated by work orders received from users  16  and processed by scheduling software  60  to create schedule updates  66  and emergency updates  68 , as shown in more detail in FIG. 4. Scheduling software  60  first receives, at  70 , a work order relating to a particular telecommunications site and an indication of whether the work order is of normal status or whether it relates to an emergency situation. If it is determined, at  72 , that the work order is of normal status, scheduling software  60  prompts user  16  to upload, and receives from user  16 , all required documentation relating to the work order, such as a method of operation file, at  74 , and/or a traffic safety plan, at  76 . Once scheduling software  60  receives all required documentation, it, at  78 , retrieves from schedules database  62  and displays to user  16  the scheduled maintenance plan for the site in question, and prompts user  16  to enter, and receives from user  16 , a request for access to the site at a particular time.  
         [0041]    The scheduled maintenance plan for the site in question is preferably in a user-friendly graphical format so that user  16  can quickly and easily determine an appropriate time for scheduling access to the site in question. For example, the scheduled maintenance plan  80  shown in FIG. 5 shows scheduled access times for a plurality of manholes  82  for a plurality of dates  84 . Each date  84  may be broken down into a number of shifts  86  (typically three per day), with an indication of whether the manhole is in use for the entire shift  88 , whether the manhole is un use for a portion of the shift  90 , or whether the manhole is available for the entire shift  92 . Obviously, if the site is in use for the entire shift, a user  16  will not be able to schedule access to the site during that shift without generating a conflict. However, if the site is in use for only a portion of the shift, a user  16  will preferably be able to select the shift, and then be presented with a more detailed breakdown of the shift, such as by the hour, or by the half hour. User  16  will then be able to schedule access to the site during periods of non-use during the shift without generating a conflict. If the site is available for the entire shift, user  16  will be able to schedule access for the entire shift, or for a portion thereof (e.g., by the hour, half hour, etc).  
         [0042]    Once scheduling software  60  receives from user  16  a request for access to the site in question at a particular time, scheduling software  60  compares the request with the scheduled maintenance plan for the site in question to determine, at  94 , if a scheduling conflict exists. If a conflict is found to exist, scheduling software  60  notifies user  16  of such conflict, and again, at  78 , retrieves from schedules database  62  and displays to user  16  the scheduled maintenance plan for the site in question, and prompts user  16  to enter, and receives from user  16 , a request for access to the site at a particular time. If no conflict is found to exist, at  94 , scheduling software  60  updates, at  96 , the scheduled maintenance plan for the site in question on schedules database  62  to reflect the newly scheduled access.  
         [0043]    If it is determined, at  72 , that the work order is of emergency status, user  16  is not prompted to upload documentation relating to the work order, nor is user  16  prompted to enter any scheduled time periods for access. Instead, scheduling software  60 , at  98 , updates emergencies database  64  to reflect the emergency, preferably by generating and storing on emergencies database  64  an emergency notification  100  relating to the site in question. This emergency notification may be used in a variety of ways to alert users  16  to the emergency. For example, all emergency notifications  100  may be displayed to users  16  when they log on. Alternately, the display of emergency notifications  100  may be more selective. For example, emergency notifications  100  may be displayed to a user  16  only if that user has an interest in the site to which the emergency notification pertains (e.g., the user has equipment at the site, owns rights to a pathway at the site, etc.), or may be displayed to users if they attempt to schedule access at the site to which the emergency notification  100  pertains.  
         [0044]    Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 10, in another aspect, system  10  facilitates the maintenance and creation of pathways between telecommunications sites. As discussed above, each of user telecommunications companies may own the rights to one or more pathways at a particular telecommunications sites, which ownership information for each discrete site may be stored on sites database  36 . However, it should be appreciated that in many cases, the telecommunications sites have pathways for running cable or other equipment therebetween, which pathway rights between sites are also owned by the telecommunications companies. For example, and with reference to FIG. 6, a sector  102  may be comprised of a plurality of sites  104 , such as manholes. Sector  102  generally comprises a 10×10 grid of manholes, although manholes may not actually be present or available at each grid location (indicated by blacked-out grids). It should also be appreciated that not all manholes may have pathways passing therebetween (e.g., although grid  000  is adjacent  010 , there may not be a pathway therebetween), and that users  16  may not own rights in all manholes or between manholes.  
         [0045]    In order to facilitate the maintenance and creation of pathways between telecommunications sites, system  10  includes pathway maintenance and creation software  106  and pathways database  108  accessible by computer  12 . Pathways database  108  has stored therein information relating to the locations of the various pathways, and which users  16  have ownership rights in which pathways.  
         [0046]    Referring now to FIG. 7, in order to assist users in planning proposed cable routes, pathway maintenance and creation software  106  first receives, at  110 , a user identifier either directly from user  16  or via personalization and permissions software  22 . Pathway maintenance and creation software  106  then, at  112 , retrieves from pathways database  108  pathway information  114 , which comprises indications of pathways between telecommunications sites, and more particularly, a record of pathways between sites in which user  16  has ownership rights. At  116 , pathway maintenance and creation software  106  prompts user  16  to enter, and receives from user  16 , an indication of a start point and an end point for the cable pathway user  16  is currently planning. Next, pathway maintenance and creation software  106 , at  118 , calculates and displays possible pathways by which cable can be run by user  16  from the indicated start point to the indicated end point based upon the records of pathways owned by user  16 . Pathway maintenance and creation software  106  then, at  120 , receives an indication of the selected pathway from user  16 , and updates pathways database  108  accordingly by generating a pathway update  122 .  
         [0047]    With reference now to FIG. 8, a first embodiment of pathway maintenance and creation software  106  will be discussed. In this example, user  16  has selected grid  500  as the pathway start point  124  and grid  190  as the pathway end point  126 . Using this information, and the records of pathways owned by user  16 , pathway maintenance and creation software  106  calculates one or more pathways  128 ,  130  between the start point  124  and the end point  126 , displays these pathways to user  16 , and receives an indication from user  16  as to which of the pathways is selected.  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a second embodiment of pathway maintenance and creation software  106  will be discussed. In this example, user  16  has selected grid  500  as the pathway start point  124  and grid  190  as the pathway end point  126 . Using this information, pathway maintenance and creation software  106  first, at  132 , retrieves from pathways database  108  and displays to user  16  possible directions for the pathway to proceed from the start point  124  (FIG. 10A). Next, pathway maintenance and creation software  106 , at  134 , receives an indication of the chosen next point from user  16 . Suppose in this example that user  16  selects grid  510  as the next site.  
         [0049]    Pathway maintenance and creation software  106  then, at  136 , determines whether the end point  126  has been reached. If it has, the pathway is complete, and pathway maintenance and creation software  106  updates, at  138 , pathways database  108  to reflect the chosen pathway. If, however, the end point has not been reached, as is the case with the ongoing example, pathway maintenance and creation software  106 , at  140 , retrieves from pathways database  108  and displays to user  16  possible directions for the pathway to proceed from the current point (i.e., grid  510 ) (FIG. 10B). Pathway maintenance and creation software  106  then again, at  134 , receives an indication of the chosen next point from user  16 , and the process is repeated over and over (FIGS. 10C and 10D) until the pathway end point  126  is reached.  
         [0050]    The present invention, therefore, provides a system for managing telecommunications infrastructure which automatically manages a plurality of remotely located sites, which monitors what equipment and cables, or which pathways for running cables, are installed, in use, damaged or available for use at any particular site, which automatically manages sites owned, operated and/or serviced by a plurality of system users, and which automatically maintains access schedules for the sites so as to minimize conflicts that may occur when two or more telecommunications companies desire to access the same site.  
         [0051]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.