Patent ID: 8549133

Claim:
A system for monitoring the reliability of a network, wherein the network includes a plurality of nodes interconnected by links, wherein each node includes a plurality of modules, and wherein the modules cooperate to transport signals along paths from origins to destinations on the network, the system, comprising: a network management system comprising a computer system executing software that gathers network information by periodically testing individual paths through the network and identifying paths that are not operating properly, wherein the network information includes the configuration, history and status of paths on and modules in the network, wherein the network information further includes data associated with failed paths and modules responsible for the failed paths; and a reliability monitoring tool configured to: receive the network information; determine an actual reliability for at least a portion of the network; produce output representing the condition of paths on the network and actual reliability data associated with at least one path; receive predicted reliability performance data for one or more modules associated with a path, wherein the predicted reliability performance data are based on manufacture-supplied reliability predictions for the one or more modules; determine a predicted reliability based on manufacture-supplied reliability predictions for at least a portion of the network from the predicted reliability performance data of the one or more modules; compare the actual reliability with the predicted reliability based on manufacture-supplied reliability predictions; and produce output relating to the comparison.