Performance monitoring and surveillance in integrated services networks

The author addresses state-of-the-art monitoring, surveillance, and operational techniques for maintaining digital transmission performance at required levels. Specific areas reviewed are the architectural framework in which operations and maintenance functions are carried out and the transport network elements to be maintained, including physical links and logical paths. Also presented are performance monitoring requirements which should be considered in the development of future industry standards. These requirements include digital transmission performance parameters and associated alert thresholds, as well as local memory requirements, and the modes of reporting performance information across a standard interface to a surveillance center