Intelligent Real-time Network Management

This paper describes research concerned with automating the monitoring and control of telecommunication networks. It describes an Interactive Real-Time Telecommunications Network Management System (IRTNMS) developed to diagnose and solve problems occurring in the telecommunications network in real time. IRTNMS builds on the Procedural Reasoning System (PRS) which, unlike traditional monitoring and control systems, is able to reason about and perform complex tasks in a very exible and robust manner, somewhat in the manner of a human assistant. Using various problem scenarios in the telecommunications network domain, it is shown how PRS manages to combine both goal-directed reasoning and the ability to react rapidly to unanticipated changes in its environment. In conclusion, some important issues in the design of PRS are reviewed and future enhancements are indicated.