• Visual Network Monitor (VNM) is the heterogeneous software system for visual monitoring of the mobile networks objects stage monitoring and roaming monitoring. It has been implemented for NMT, GSM-900, GSM-1800, dual-band GSM-900/1800 standards networks (no any limitations for any another standards).

• VNM implementation signifies a qualitative leap in mobile operator service.

• VNM lets eliminate errors before calls of non-satisfied clients.• VNM is a source of concentrated and visual information to be

used for mobile network real-time control and optimization.

• The main destination is: let a network duty operator see all events at each network object - from switches and destinations to particular blocks of base stations, understand their causes and immediately reach correct decisions. Built-in geographic information system (GIS), statistical analysis tools and reporting functions easy forms a solid time-space imagination of network operation both momentary - to find failures - and for long time period – for detail mobile network operation analysis and for its optimization.

• Real-time alarms monitoring – It is the most critical function of the system for the duty operator.

Each incoming alarm displays at the special window. Alarms can be sorted by time (default), by criticality, by the dispatched objects, by the cases. The most critical ("red") ones indicate additionally by sound. Besides the current alarms window the duty operator can investigate any detail information about the alarm (just click it). The corresponding dispatched object will be immediately focused on the map and its color will also correspond to alarm color. The semaphores on top also indicate coming of critical events.

– The duty operator must react to critical alarms (say call to the dispatched object or to the person in charge), then he must put out the semaphore. All his actions automatically saved into the system journal.

– Operator can use a knowledge base with online help for each alarm type. It simplifies his work, and increases problem solving diagnostic capabilities

• Operation parameters monitoring – It is also an extremely critical function. It happens that the quality of

network operation and particular critical problems looks the most clearly after investigating of the network operation parameters. If the particular parameters overflow the critical threshold values then the corresponding objects became "red" or "yellow"; it displays immediately at the list of objects, on the map, on the semaphores and also by sound (for "red" ones). As well as the critical alarm, a critical parameter value is the signal for the duty operator to investigate the problem and immediately solve it. The interrogation period for network operation parameters is 15 min (customized), in contrary to alarm messages incoming in real time. It makes possible to solve urgent problems in time and to avoid false alarms.

– Sample parameters: traffic rate, number of successful calls divided by number of total calls, etc.

• Roaming monitoring– Network operator can observe the map (say Europe or World) and

see roaming quality with each country as well as with each roaming operator as the set of special highlighted symbols (operators) and links (destinations to countries). The roaming stage with the operators is also displayed on the special window. Queue entry of critical event indicates at the special semaphore.

• Traffic monitoring– Traffic parameters are just special network operation parameters so

their processing is not different to another ones described above. For example, one of the most critical parameters for DEST is the relation between whole number of calls and the number of successful ones.

• SMS Tracing

• Advanced statistical analysis and visualization– Additionally to its first aim - real time network monitoring by duty

network operator - VNM is successfully used for detail network analysis. VNM makes enable statistical analysis of any network parameters, including the initial ones coming directly from the network objects accordingly to the supported protocols and the derivative ones as well. The graphic visualization tools makes the analysis handle and demonstrable.

• SS-7 monitoring• More…

• Built-in GIS• Integrated knowledge base

• Easy-to-use PC based system

• Powerful database and knowledge base

• Multi user, client-server architecture

• Records and displays all network performance parameters, alarms and counters

• The ability to deliver real-time analysis capabilities

• User-friendly menu structure - an ideal tool for both real-time and post measurement analysis

• Automatic fault finding and problem solving diagnostic capabilities

• Statistical, graphical and geographical display

• Open architecture lets grow system features just with adding of new modules or modifying of existing ones

• Integrates heterogeneous systems

• Mobile service providers who need to raise quality of their service and who use equipment of various suppliers.

• Other telecommunication companies (not only mobile) with similar problems to be solved. For example, to measure data flow in communication lines in real time, monitor condition of lines, etc.

• Network equipment providers who need to be integrated with other suppliers easily and/or to add new features to their Operations & Maintenance Center (OMC) software.

• Other complex distributed systems (pipe-lines, processing lines, etc.) which need to be monitored in real time.

• Integration of complex telecommunication systems with heterogeneous parts: – numerous services, different hardware suppliers for

different services; as effect without VNM: various interface protocols, very different user interface, need of number of duty operators at the same time (each one for support of each system part or service), difficult to fix the initial source of the problem in the network.

– With VNM: all services integrated and visualized complexly; one duty operator can see status of all network elements in real time (as well as over given period of time) and in space due to GIS. Operator use base of knowledge for fast fixing of problems.

• End-Users:– Network Duty Operators– Specialists in Network Analysis and Optimization– VIPs – use final results of network analysis (graphics,

reports, etc.)

• VNM is not a stand-alone system. Each customer needs to solve his particular needs and problems. VNM can become a base solution; nevertheless, system configuration, particular modules to be developed and to be included to whole system depend on many factors, such, for example, as hardware to be connected with, the protocols to be supported, the network objects and services to be monitored, new and old functions and features to be implemented, on our support service, etc.

• That’s why final price is a subject for negotiation with each customer.

• Usually our competitors also include into their price annual license cost which depends on the network size (i.e. is also different for different providers). We don’t, therefore VNM is essentially cheaper.

• Server part– Database: Oracle 8.*+ or Sybase. – Operation system – MS Windows NT 4 or later, or Linux. – Hardware requirements – depend on network structure,

number of supported objects and functions

• Main client part (“Mesh” - real time analysis)– Operation system – MS Windows NT 4 or later.– GIS – MapInfo 5.0 +– Minimum hardware requirements – P-III–500, 128 MB RAM

• Statistical analysis clients (“GStat”)– Operation system – MS Windows NT 4 or later.– Minimum hardware requirements – P-III–500, 128 MB RAM

• Interface modules– Operation system and requirements depend on protocols to be

supported.

Competitors: VNM Advantages CommentsTEKELEChttp://www.tekelec.com with the product Sentinelhttp://www.tekelec.com/productportfolio/sentinel/

–Base of knowledge useful for fast emergency diagnostics.–Integrated GIS with advanced functionality together with real-time analysis makes VNM a powerful tool for integrated time-space network perception.–Open architecture lets grow system features just with adding of new modules or modifying of existing ones.

Each company has has particular advantages of their products and service including quite different functionality. Say, Sentinel supports SMS and SS-7 monitoring as well as VNM; VNM supports SMS-tracing in contrary to others.

Operations & Maintenance Center Solutions from WatchMark-Comnitelhttp://www.watchmark.com/solutions/index.asp Aircom International http://www.aircom.com