A view of reliability and quality measurements for telecommunications systems

The authors present a customer (telephone company) oriented view of R&Q (reliability and quality) measurements for telecommunications systems based on Bellcore´s experience and work in this area. On behalf of its clients, Bellcore has published its preliminary view of generic requirements for supplier quantification of several aspects of system reliability and quality measurement. These generic requirements are contained in Bellcore´s `Reliability and Quality Measurements for Telecommunications Systems (RQMS),´ TA-TSY-000929 (1989). The measurements are applicable to network switching elements (local switch, tandem, signal transfer point, service control point, packet switch, adjunct, etc.), operations systems, and transparent systems. Their scope covers system, software, hardware, firmware, and product support, and they are directed toward the system test, first office application, and general availability system life-cycle stages. Issues covered by this document are discussed in some detail