Surveillance

The element of surveillance can be broken into 2 parts: monitoring and call testing. The element of monitoring includes a carrier’s ability to actively observe the health of the network and address problems as they arise. The recognition and accumulation of E911 call failures are not only serious issues to the emergency caller, but can place the public in general in peril if left unaddressed.
In addition to monitoring E911 call failures, it is important to monitor the other elements of the network that could have either an immediate or latent affect on subsequent E911 calls. The comprehensive monitoring of E911 trunks, PSAP premise equipment, and real-time alarms on network equipment that may have an influence on E911 call routing, need to be addressed as a comprehensive surveillance approach.
The Assure911 platform monitors the network and focuses not only on alarms or troubles reported on E911 trunks, but proactively assesses the health of the network and suggests appropriate actions to minimize the effect on the overall network.
Finally, the ability to initiate pro-active testing in the network is necessary to ensure that an inadvertent action by a technician in the field for example, has not caused serious impacts on the E911 network. The Assure911 platform along with its constant monitoring of the network, allows ad hoc tests to be conducted to ensure that maintenance and/or growth jobs have not jeopardized the health of the E911 network.
The Regional 911 Monitoring module of the Assure911 platform allows local telcos, both incumbent (ILECs) and smaller competitive telcos (CLECs) to raise the visibility of equipment and circuits that comprise the 911 and E911 networks, as well as other elements of the network.

Restoration

In the event of a network problem, a Disaster Recovery approach needs to be formalized and automated to bring the level of service back to within the stringent tolerances enforced by the FCC. In addition to procedures to restore services within the network, a means of disaster recovery for individual PSAPs is also necessary. A fail-over process should be in place that seamlessly transfers incoming calls from one PSAP and/or Selective RouterTandem for 911 to its back-up.
The Assure911 PSAP Monitoring module allows a large emergency service bureau, such as you might find in a major metropolitan Emergency Management Center, to share with the local telco the monitoring of the health of the interoffice trunking, switching and transport systems, and other equipment dedicated to 911 and E911 and allows users easy access to the data that need to be on hand to resolve network troubles. In addition, the Assure911 ASAP module detects the need for, and then automatically (or through manual initiative) execute, the switchover from a failing primary router to a standby router.

Communications

During a network outage, communications is essential across the various constituents within the carrier, emergency management entities, governing bodies such as the FCC, as well as between carriers. Elements of communicating anomalies in the E911 network should minimally include the following:

• The carrier should have the ability to gauge an outage duration and its effect on subscribers. An impact evaluation process should be in place to outline how many subscribers are affected by an outage, the geographic area that is impacted, and a timeframe on when service will be restored.
• The carrier should have the ability to track troubles in the network and correlate those troubles with like or disparate troubles. Correlation of a trouble will allow the carrier to access the various trouble characteristics, even if at the outset, symptoms of the outage do not seem to be related. A means to Open/Edit/Close Trouble Reports could provide vital historical data in proactively managing potential outages in the future.
• Automated report generation for internal and FCC Reporting would provide a means by which standard outage reports could be generated. This would allow a complete description of the problem and resolution, and can be made available for both internal and FCC reporting.

During an outage, communications is critical. The carrier needs to have the ability to communicate on an intra-company basis as well as to other carriers and emergency management organizations. Capabilities such as links to company paging, Email distribution of alarms/reports, messaging to other OSSs, and posting of status to intranet web site(s) are all effective means of communication and can be vital to the discovery and notification of an outage.
Finally, the secure exchange of confidential/proprietary information within the carrier and emergency management authorities can be crucial during an outage and the restoration period that follows.
Our patented Emergency Services Monitoring module allows two or more independent telcos to work together to provide the highest level of assurance for end to end 911 service. The system allows a number of usually competitive organizations to share information critical to 911 network reliability, without exposing confidential or proprietary data.

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NESS Assure911 Platform

Assure911 Benefits

Our customers have indicated significant benefits and market differentiation with the deployment of Assure911, including:

• A Single point of reference for total 911 service – one place to look for the health of their 911 network
• Elevated visibility for trunk groups and facilities dedicated to the 911 network
• Instant alert when 911 translations are altered - Critical details are just a few mouse clicks away
• A market differentiator to be sold as a service to large PSAPs
• Assure911 provides a platform for additional reliability and testing capabilities for the 911 network
• The Assure911 platform can adapt to existing systems, without the ramp-up costs of introducing a new OSS
• Substantially increases reliability of a critical service for Homeland Security

Assure911 - Surveillance

One of the primary functions of the NESS Assure911 platform is the surveillance of the 911 network. Elements of the surveillance function include the monitoring of 911 call failures, including an awareness of failures of 911 calls, first trial failures, second trial failures, etc. The Assure911 platform uses call irregularity messages from the switching network, including alarms such as “Call Failed from NPA-NXX-XXXX”. In addition, the surveillance function includes Trunk Status Monitoring, with “at a glance” In Service (IS)/Out of Service (OOS) messages, as well as trunk event messages from the switching network and trunk traffic data from a Traffic OSS, or from the network itself. Some of the sample alarms monitored by the Assure911 platform are:

• Trunk OOS (Cleared when trunk is IS)
• Trunk Group OOS (Cleared when one trunk is IS)
• Alarm Reached (Automatically clears after a predetermined timer)
• Trunk(s) Made Busy (Cleared when all trunks IS)
• All Trunks Busy (Cleared when one trunk IS)
• Bad Data received(Clears after audit is done)

Along with alarm monitoring, the Assure911 platform monitors translations in the network. The system is aware of changes to Route Indexes, etc., and uses the switch clock (CRON) and Receive Only Printer (ROP) messages, as well as Route Index Mismatch messages. In addition, the Assure911 platform allows a proactive approach to PSAP premise equipment monitoring to provide “at a glance” In Service/Out of Service messages, including:

• Premise Equipment Out of Service (cleared when EQP is IS)
• Call Box Open (cleared when Call Box is closed)
• Real time alarms
• Links to PSAP contact info, circuit ID and circuit layout data

Finally, the Assure911 platform supports intrusive and non-intrusive call testing to verify hard failures; verify repairs have been completed and capture success/fail messages from the user. Non-intrusive call testing provides a continuous, positive end-to-end status without impacting operations at the PSAP.

Our browser-based Assure911 suite can provide a unique range of solutions to local telephone companies for improving response time to outages that effect 911 service. Shorter response time to each event will mean fewer incidents need to be reported to the FCC.

The NESS Regional 911 Monitoring application allows local telcos, both incumbent (ILECs) and smaller competitive telcos (CLECs) to raise the visibility of equipment and circuits that comprise the 911 and E911 networks.

An example of the Assure911 regional alarm map is shown below.



The NESS PSAP Monitoring application allows a large emergency service bureau, such as you might find in a major metropolitan area, to share with the local telco the health of the interoffice trunking, switching and transport systems, and other equipment dedicated to 911 and E911, and allows users easy access to the data that needs to be on hand to resolve network troubles. A sample Assure911 PSAP alarm display is shown below.

Assure911 - Restoration

Another function of the NESS Assure911 platform provides for the restoration of 911 network support. A major element of the restoration functionality includes Disaster Recovery. The Assure911 custom approach for region, state, or individual PSAP recovery provides an “at a glance” availability of written procedures, and can automate those Manual Procedures where it’s appropriate by re-routing to an alternate PSAP on a manual or automated basis.

We offer the only known Selective Router Disaster Recovery System on the market. One of our clients depends on this solution to provide automated 911 network recovery in the event of a failure of a primary Selective Router for a major metropolitan area.

Assure911 - Communication

The NESS Assure911 platform provides a series of communications capabilities in the event of a problem in the 911 network. Elements of the communications function includes FCC and/or state commission reporting, and automated or manual report generation. The Assure911 platform is sensitive to the number of subscribers affected, sensitive to the duration of the outage, sensitive to PUC and FCC rules and regulations, and sensitive to individual company procedures.

Furthermore, the communications function of the Assure911 platform can initiate Intra-Company Notification, links to established company Paging/Alerting capabilities, E-mail distribution of alarms and reports, transmission of messages to other OSSs as necessary, and appropriate outage and restoration information to the intranet or pre-defined website(s). The Assure911 Trouble Tracking capabilities allows the Open/Edit/Closure of Trouble reports and can generate Periodic/Ad Hoc Management Reports.

Finally, the Assure911 platform supports an exchange of data with other carriers and PSAPs that might be necessary to restore service. This patented process ensures the Secure exchange of confidential/proprietary information across carriers.

The NESS patented Emergency Services Monitoring application allows two or more independent telcos to work together to provide the highest level of assurance for end to end 911 service. The system allows a number of usually competitive organizations to share information critical to 911 network reliability, without exposing confidential or proprietary data. Samples of the Assure911 alarm displays are shown below.

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Elements of Reliable E911 Networks

The NESS Assure911 Platform

NESS Solutions and Services

NESS Home Page

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NESS 911 Solutions and Services

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We are a software solutions consulting and network operations systems provider for the telecommunications industry. NESS can provide a comprehensive solution to support your network assurance platform, which will enhance a telco or Emergency Management Center’s ability to troubleshoot E911 network problems, foster rapid disaster recovery, facilitate intra-company communications, as well as expedite external regulatory reporting. The range of products and services we provide are as follows.

Professional Services

NESS has telecommunications specialists to help you evaluate your network and your processes that come into play during a network outage. We can also evaluate your 911 network to determine potentially vulnerable areas and suggest modifications based on telecommunications standards. NESS associates have over 100 years of combined experience in network management, network surveillance and network restoration, who can help you provide the most reliable 911 network required to meet the needs of your customers and National Homeland Security. We also work with you to build processes for ongoing operations of new network equipment and support systems. We pick up where vendor documentation leaves off, capturing implementation specific information in high quality manuals and hands-on training. Finally, we study new equipment and support systems. We develop architectures to incorporate new equipment and support systems with your existing suite of systems. We then take a role in bringing the architecture to reality.

Software Development

Programming in Perl, JAVA, HTML, C/C++, we are experienced with UNIX and expert system shells, and a variety of GUI tools. We can provide software which conforms to your requirements for quality, security, "look and feel", and any other applicable generic requirements. We have built a reputation of providing efficient, cost effective solutions when elaborate development efforts are not warranted (or affordable).

We provide 24 x 7 telephone support for any project in which we are involved. The same goes for any software which we develop, install, or configure. If any problem occurs which is outside of our domain, we prefer to stay involved until resolution. Apart from the specific project areas for which NESS might be engaged, we find we are assisting our clients in areas of general concern, such as UNIX shell programming, and LAN administration. In addition, we provide training for everything we deliver, and help you integrate our solution into your business environment.

NESS Strategic View

The NESS Assure911 platform bridges the gap between the telecommunications providers and the PSAPs. Significant tangible and intangible benefits accrue to all parties in the overall service of 911. NESS has years of experience in and with telecommunications and 911 PSAPs, with MF, SS7, advanced intelligent signaling networks, and with ALI database providers for ILEC and CLEC clients.

We want to work with you and your network, IT and customers to create reliable solutions that work!

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Elements of Reliable E911 Networks

The NESS Assure911 Platform

NESS Solutions and Services

NESS Home Page

To learn more about Network Expert Software Systems and the other solutions we offer, go to our NESS Home Page at www.nessinc.com.

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