mirror of
https://github.com/fdiskyou/Zines.git
synced 2025-03-09 00:00:00 +01:00
696 lines
36 KiB
Text
696 lines
36 KiB
Text
![]() |
==Phrack Inc.==
|
||
|
|
||
|
Volume Three, Issue 26, File 2 of 11
|
||
|
|
||
|
Computer-Based Systems for Bell System Operations
|
||
|
|
||
|
by
|
||
|
|
||
|
Taran King
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
This file contains a variety of operating systems in the Bell System.
|
||
|
Some of them are very familiar to most people and others are widely unknown.
|
||
|
Each sub-section gives a brief description of what the computer system's
|
||
|
functions are.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Table Of Contents:
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
I. TIRKS
|
||
|
a. COC
|
||
|
b. E1
|
||
|
c. F1
|
||
|
d. C1
|
||
|
e. FEPS
|
||
|
II. PICS
|
||
|
III. PREMIS
|
||
|
IV. TNDS
|
||
|
a. EADAS
|
||
|
b. EADAS/NM
|
||
|
c. TDAS
|
||
|
d. CU/EQ
|
||
|
e. ICAN
|
||
|
f. LBS
|
||
|
g. 5XB COER
|
||
|
h. SPCS COER
|
||
|
i. SONDS
|
||
|
j. CU/TK
|
||
|
k. TSS
|
||
|
l. TFS
|
||
|
m. CSAR
|
||
|
V. SCCS
|
||
|
VI. COEES
|
||
|
VII. MATFAP
|
||
|
VIII. Various Operating Systems
|
||
|
IX. Acronym Glossary
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
TIRKS (Trunks Integrated Records Keeping System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
TIRKS is the master record-keeping system for the network. It
|
||
|
supports network operations related to growth and change in the network by
|
||
|
providing accurate records of circuits and components that are in use and
|
||
|
available for use. It was developed to mechanize the circuit-provisioning
|
||
|
process. Two circuit-provisioning aspects are applied: daily circuit
|
||
|
provisioning and current planning.
|
||
|
Daily circuit provisioning is processing orders to satisfy customer
|
||
|
needs for special service circuits and processing orders initiated for message
|
||
|
trunks and carrier systems for the PSTN. The process begins at various
|
||
|
operations centers and ends up at the CPCs (Circuit Provision Centers) which
|
||
|
track orders, design circuits, and assign the components using TIRKS. It also
|
||
|
prepares work packages and distributes them to technicians working in the field
|
||
|
who implement them.
|
||
|
Current planning determines the equipment and facility requirements
|
||
|
for future new circuits. It apportions forecasts for circuits among the circuit
|
||
|
designs planned for new circuits.
|
||
|
TIRKS consists of five major interacting component systems: COC
|
||
|
(Circuit Order Control system), E1 (Equipment system), F1 (Facility system), C1
|
||
|
(Circuit system), and FEPS (Facility and Equipment Planning System).
|
||
|
|
||
|
o COC controls message trunk orders, special-services orders, and
|
||
|
carrier system orders by tracking critical dates throughout the
|
||
|
existence of an order as it flows from the source to the CPC and on
|
||
|
to the field forces. It provides management with the current status
|
||
|
of all circuit orders and provides data to other TIRKS component
|
||
|
systems to update the assigned status of equipment, facilities, and
|
||
|
circuits as orders are processed.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o C1 is the heart of TIRKS. It automatically determines the types of
|
||
|
equipment required for a given circuit, assigns the equipment and
|
||
|
facilities needed, determines levels at the various transmission
|
||
|
level points on the circuit, specifies the test requirements, and
|
||
|
establishes circuit records for the circuits. All records of
|
||
|
circuits already installed are kept in C1 for future additions or
|
||
|
changes.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o E1 is one of the two major inventory component systems in TIRKS.
|
||
|
It contains equipment inventory records, assignment records, and
|
||
|
pending equipment orders. The records show the amount of spare
|
||
|
equipment that is available and equipment's circuit identification.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o F1 is the other of the major inventory component systems. It
|
||
|
contains cable and carrier inventory and assigns records.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o FEPS supports the current planning process which determines the
|
||
|
transmission facilities and equipment that will be required for new
|
||
|
service. It uses data in E1, F1, and C1 as well as other forecasts
|
||
|
to allocate existing inventories efficiently, to determine future
|
||
|
facility and equipment requirements, and to update planning
|
||
|
designs.
|
||
|
|
||
|
TIRKS uses IBM-370 compatible hardware and direct-access storage
|
||
|
devices. It provides benefits to the BOCs through improved service to
|
||
|
customers, capital and expense savings, and better management control.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
PICS (Plug-in Inventory Control System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
PICS is the mechanized operations system developed for the efficient
|
||
|
management of large amounts of equipment inventories. It assists with both
|
||
|
inventory and materials management. Inventory managers establish corporate
|
||
|
policies for the types of equipment and for equipment utilization, assist
|
||
|
engineering organizations in introducing new types of equipment while phasing
|
||
|
out older types, and set utilization goals that balance service objectives and
|
||
|
carrying charges on spare equipment. Material managers work to achieve
|
||
|
utilization goals by acquiring spare equipment for growth and maintenance
|
||
|
purposes. They also administer a hierarchy of locations used for storing spare
|
||
|
equipment.
|
||
|
PICS/DCPR (PICS with Detailed Continuing Property Records) administers
|
||
|
all types of CO equipment. The DCPR portion of PICS/DCPR serves as a detailed
|
||
|
investment database supporting accounting records for all types of CO plug-in
|
||
|
and "hardwired" equipment. PICS/DCPR accomplishes its goals of increasing
|
||
|
utilization, decreasing manual effort, and providing a detailed supporting
|
||
|
record for phone company investment through software, databases, administrative
|
||
|
procedures, and workflows.
|
||
|
Two new functional entities are created in the BOC first: PIA
|
||
|
(Plug-In Administration) and the central stock. PIA is the materials manager
|
||
|
and is responsible for acquiring equipment, distributing it as needed to field
|
||
|
locations, repairing it, and accounting for it. The central stock is a
|
||
|
warehouse where spare equipment is consolidated and managed.
|
||
|
There are five subsystems in PICS/DCPR:
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Plug-in inventory subsystem - maintains order, repair, and
|
||
|
inventory records for all types of plug-in equipment.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Inventory management subsystem - provides the PIA with mechanized
|
||
|
processes to assist in various tasks.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Plug-in DCPR subsystem - provides processes required to maintain
|
||
|
investment records for plug-in units.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Hardwired DCPR subsystem - maintains detailed accounting records
|
||
|
for hardwired CO equipment.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Reference file subsystem - provides and maintains reference data
|
||
|
used by all other subsystems.
|
||
|
|
||
|
PICS/DCPR runs on IBM-compatible equipment with the IBM Information
|
||
|
Management System database manager. It interfaces with TIRKS as well as a few
|
||
|
other circuit-provisioning systems.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
PREMIS (PREMises Information System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
PREMIS provides fast, convenient access to information needed to
|
||
|
respond to service requests. It was developed in response to the need for
|
||
|
address standardization. It has three mechanized databases: address data, a
|
||
|
credit file, and a list of available telephone numbers. It also serves a
|
||
|
function to the LAC (Loop Assignment Center), called PREMIS/LAC. PREMIS/LAC is
|
||
|
an extension of the address database and provides for the storage of outside
|
||
|
plant facility data at each address entry.
|
||
|
PREMIS supports the following service representative tasks:
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Determining the customer's correct address. The address related-
|
||
|
and address-keyable information is the major feature of PREMIS.
|
||
|
If an input request does not contain an accurate or complete
|
||
|
address, PREMIS displays information that can be used to query the
|
||
|
customer. The address database allows PREMIS to give the full
|
||
|
address and information about the geographic area which includes WC
|
||
|
(Wire Center), exchange area, tax area, directory group, and the
|
||
|
service features available for that area. It also displays
|
||
|
existing or previous customer's name and telephone number, modular
|
||
|
jacking arrangement at the address, and an indication of whether a
|
||
|
connect outside plant loop from the address back to the CO was left
|
||
|
in place. If service was discontinued at the site, the reason for
|
||
|
disconnect and the date of disconnect are also displayed.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Negotiating service features. PREMIS indicates the service
|
||
|
features that can be sold at that address, providing useful
|
||
|
information for discussing these with a customer.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Negotiating a service date. If it indicates that an outside plant
|
||
|
loop back to the CO has been left in place, PREMIS allows for
|
||
|
earlier installation as no installer will need to visit the site.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Checking a customer's credit status. PREMIS maintains a
|
||
|
name-keyable file of customers with outstanding debts to the
|
||
|
telephone company. If there is a match in the database, the
|
||
|
customer's file is displayed.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Selecting a telephone number. There is a file in PREMIS listing
|
||
|
all available telephone numbers from which service representatives
|
||
|
request numbers for a specific address. The available telephone
|
||
|
numbers are read from COSMOS (COmputer System for Mainframe
|
||
|
OperationS) magnetic tape.
|
||
|
|
||
|
PREMIS/LAC has a feature called DPAC (Dedicated Plant Assignment
|
||
|
Card). Records of addresses where outside plant loop facilities are dedicated
|
||
|
are organized and accessed by address by the LAC through DPAC.
|
||
|
PREMIS is an on-line interactive system whose prime users are service
|
||
|
representatives interacting with customers. It uses the UNIVAC 1100 as its
|
||
|
main computer. It has network links to various other computer systems, too,
|
||
|
to obtain various pieces of information that are helpful or necessary in
|
||
|
efficiently completing service functions.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
TNDS (Total Network Data System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
TNDS is actually a large and complex set of coordinated systems which
|
||
|
supports a broad range of activities that depend on accurate traffic data. It
|
||
|
is more of a concept that incorporates various subsystems as opposed to a
|
||
|
single computer system. It consists of both manual procedures and computer
|
||
|
systems that provide operating company managers with comprehensive, timely, and
|
||
|
accurate network information that helps in analysis of the network. TNDS
|
||
|
supports operations centers responsible for administration of the trunking
|
||
|
network, network data collection, daily surveillance of the load on the
|
||
|
switching network, the utilization of equipment by the switching network, and
|
||
|
the design of local and CO switching equipment to meet future service needs.
|
||
|
TNDS modules that collect and format traffic data usually have
|
||
|
dedicated minicomputers which are at the operating company's Minicomputer
|
||
|
Maintenance (Operations) Center (MMOC/MMC). Other modules generate engineering
|
||
|
and administrative reports on switching systems and on the trunking network of
|
||
|
message trunks that interconnects them. These mostly run on general-purpose
|
||
|
computers. Still others are located in AT&T centers and are accessed by
|
||
|
various operating companies for data.
|
||
|
The functions of TNDS are carried out by various computer systems
|
||
|
since TNDS itself is just a concept. These subsystems include EADAS, EADAS/NM,
|
||
|
TDAS, CU/EQ, LBS, 5XB COER, SPCS COER, ICAN, SONDS, TSS, CU/TK, TFS, and CSAR.
|
||
|
The following sections cover these systems briefly.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
EADAS (Engineering and Administrative Data Acquisition System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
EADAS is the major data collecting system of TNDS and runs on a
|
||
|
dedicated minicomputer at the NDCC (Network Data Collection Center). Each
|
||
|
EADAS serves up to fifty switching offices. The 4ESS and No. 4 XBAR both have
|
||
|
their own data acquisition systems built into the switch and they feed their
|
||
|
data directly to other TNDS component systems that are downstream from EADAS,
|
||
|
thereby bypassing the need for EADAS on those switches. EADAS summarizes data
|
||
|
collected for processing by downstream TNDS systems and does so in real-time.
|
||
|
EADAS is used by network administrators to determine quality of service and to
|
||
|
identify switching problems. It also makes additional real-time information
|
||
|
available to these administrators by providing traffic data history that covers
|
||
|
up to 48 hours. This data history is flexible through the module NORGEN
|
||
|
(Network Operations Report GENerator) so that administrators can tailor their
|
||
|
requests for information to determine specifics. Information from EADAS is
|
||
|
forwarded to other downstream systems in TNDS via data links or magnetic tape.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
EADAS/NM (EADAS/Network Management)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
EADAS/NM is one of the three TNDS systems that EADAS forwards traffic
|
||
|
data downstream to either by data links or magnetic tape. EADAS/NM uses data
|
||
|
directly from EADAS as well as receiving data from those switching systems
|
||
|
which do not interface with EADAS previously mentioned. It monitors switching
|
||
|
systems and trunk groups designated by network managers and reports existing or
|
||
|
anticipated congestion on a display board at local and regional NMCs (Network
|
||
|
Management Centers). It is used to analyze problems in near real-time to
|
||
|
determine their location and causes. EADAS/NM provides information that
|
||
|
requires national coordination to the AT&T Long Lines NOC (Network Operations
|
||
|
Center) in Bedminster, NJ which uses it's NOCS (NOC System) to perform
|
||
|
EADAS/NM-like functions on a national scale. Like EADAS, EADAS/NM uses
|
||
|
dedicated minicomputers to provide interactive real-time response and control.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
TDAS (Traffic Data Administration System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
The second of three TNDS systems that is downstream from EADAS is TDAS
|
||
|
which formats the traffic data for use by most of the other downstream systems.
|
||
|
It accepts data from EADAS, local vendor systems, and large toll switching
|
||
|
systems on a weekly basis as magnetic tape. It functions basically as a
|
||
|
warehouse and distribution facility for the traffic data and runs a batch
|
||
|
system at the computation center. Correct association between recorded traffic
|
||
|
data and the switching or trunking elements is the result of shared information
|
||
|
between TDAS and CU/EQ. Data processed through TDAS is matched against that
|
||
|
stored in CU/EQ. The data is summarized weekly on magnetic tape or printout
|
||
|
and is sent for use in preparation of an engineering or administrative report.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
CU/EQ (Common Update/EQuipment)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
CU/EQ is a master database which stores traffic measurements taken by
|
||
|
TDAS and it shares information with TDAS, ICAN and LBS. As said before,
|
||
|
correct association between recorded traffic data and the switching or trunking
|
||
|
elements is due to the shared information between CU/EQ and TDAS. It runs as a
|
||
|
batch system in the same computer as TDAS and is regularly updated with batch
|
||
|
transactions to keep it current with changes in the physical arrangement of CO
|
||
|
switching machines which ensures that recorded measurements are treated
|
||
|
consistently in each of the reporting systems that use CU/EQ records.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
ICAN (Individual Circuit ANalysis)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
The final of the three systems downstream from EADAS is ICAN, which
|
||
|
also uses data directly from EADAS but uses CU/EQ for reference information.
|
||
|
It is a CO reporting system which detects electromechanical switching system
|
||
|
faults by identifying abnormal load patterns on individual circuits within a
|
||
|
circuit group. ICAN produces a series of reports used by the NAC (Network
|
||
|
Administration Center) to analyze the individual circuits and to verify that
|
||
|
such circuits are being correctly associated with their respective groups.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
LBS (Load Balance System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
LBS is a batch-executed system that helps assure the network
|
||
|
administrator that traffic loads in each switching system are uniformly
|
||
|
distributed. It analyzes the traffic data to establish traffic loads on each
|
||
|
line group of the switching system. The NAC uses the resulting reports to
|
||
|
determine the lightly loaded line groups to which new subscriber lines can be
|
||
|
assigned. LBS also calculates load balance indices for each system and
|
||
|
aggregates the results for the entire BOC.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
5XB COER (No. 5 Crossbar Central Office Equipment Reports)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
The 5XB COER provides information on common-control switching
|
||
|
equipment operation for different types of switching systems. It is a
|
||
|
batch-executed system that runs on a BOC mainframe that analyzes traffic data
|
||
|
to determine how heavily various switching system components are used and
|
||
|
measures certain service parameters. It calculates capacity for the No. 5
|
||
|
Crossbar. Network administrators use 5XB COER reports to monitor day-to-day
|
||
|
switching performance, diagnose potential switching malfunctions, and help
|
||
|
predict future service needs. Traffic engineers rely on reports to assess
|
||
|
switching office capacity and to forecast equipment requirements. It produces
|
||
|
busy hour and busy season reports so service and traffic load measurements can
|
||
|
be most useful in predictions.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
SPCS COER (Stored-Program Control Systems Central Office Equipment Reports)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
The SPCS COER is basically the same as the 5XB COER as it too monitors
|
||
|
switching system service and measures utilization in the same manners as
|
||
|
mentioned above. The essential differences between the 5XB COER and the SPCS
|
||
|
COER are that the latter calculates capacity for 1ESS, 2ESS, and 3ESS switching
|
||
|
offices as opposed to the No. 5 Crossbar switch and SPCS COER is an interactive
|
||
|
system that runs on a centralized AT&T mainframe computer.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
SONDS (Small Office Network Data System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
SONDS collects its own data from small step-by-step offices
|
||
|
independently of EADAS and TDAS. It performs a full range of data manipulation
|
||
|
functions and provides a number of TNDS features economically for smaller
|
||
|
electromechanical step-by-step offices. The data collected is directly from
|
||
|
the offices being measured. It processes the data and automatically
|
||
|
distributes weekly, monthly, exception, and on-demand reports to managers at
|
||
|
the NACs via dial-up terminals. SONDS runs on an interactive basis at a
|
||
|
centralized AT&T mainframe computer.
|
||
|
|
||
|
CU/TK (Common Update/TrunKing)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
CU/TK is a database system that contains the trunking network
|
||
|
information and as well as other information required by TSS (Trunking
|
||
|
Servicing System) and TFS (Trunk Forecasting System). The CU/TK is regularly
|
||
|
updated by CAC (Circuit Administration Center) by personnel to keep it current
|
||
|
with changes in the physical arrangements of trunks and switching machines in
|
||
|
the CO. For correct trunking and switching configuration in the processing by
|
||
|
TSS and TFS, this updating process, which includes maintaining office growth
|
||
|
information and a "common-language" circuit identification of all circuits for
|
||
|
individual switching machines, ensures that traffic data provided by TDAS will
|
||
|
be correctly associated.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
TSS (Trunk Servicing System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
TSS helps trunk administrators develop short-term plans and determine
|
||
|
the number of circuits required in a trunk group. Data from TDAS is processed
|
||
|
in TSS and the offered load for each trunk group is computed. Through offered
|
||
|
load calculation on a per-trunk-group basis, TSS calculates the number of
|
||
|
trunks theoretically required to handle that traffic load at a designated grade
|
||
|
of service. TSS produces weekly reports showing which trunk groups have too
|
||
|
many trunks and which have too few that are performing below the
|
||
|
grade-of-service objective. Trunk orders to add or disconnect trunks are made
|
||
|
by the CAC after they use the information provided through TSS.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
TFS (Trunk Forecasting System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
TFS uses traffic load data computed by TSS as well as information on
|
||
|
the network configuration and forecasting parameters stored in the CU/TK
|
||
|
database for long-term construction planning for new trunks. TFS forecasts
|
||
|
message trunk requirements for the next five years as the fundamental input to
|
||
|
the planning process that leads to the provisioning of additional facilities.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
CSAR (Centralized System for Analysis and Reporting)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
CSAR is designed to monitor and measure how well data is being
|
||
|
processed through TNDS. It collects and analyzes data from other TNDS systems
|
||
|
and provides operating company personnel at NDCCs, NACs, and CACs with
|
||
|
quantitative measures of the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the TNDS
|
||
|
data flow as well as the consistency of the TNDS record bases. CSAR also
|
||
|
presents enough information to locate and identify a data collection problem.
|
||
|
CSAR summarizes the results of its TNDS monitoring for the company as input to
|
||
|
the TPMP (TNDS Performance Measurement Plan) which is published monthly by
|
||
|
AT&T. CSAR runs as a centralized on-line interactive system at an AT&T
|
||
|
computer center. Its data is placed into special files, which, at the end of a
|
||
|
CSAR run, are merged and transferred to the AT&T computer center. CSAR
|
||
|
performs the proper associations and analyzes each system's results. These
|
||
|
results are obtained by company managers via dial-up and they can be arranged
|
||
|
in a number of formats that provide details on overall TNDS performance or
|
||
|
individual system effectiveness. Specific problems can also be identified
|
||
|
through these reports.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
The following is a diagram of data flow among TNDS systems:
|
||
|
|
||
|
*Trunk Network Reporting Systems*
|
||
|
|
||
|
|-> TSS ----------------------> TFS
|
||
|
* Data*| ^ ^
|
||
|
*Acquisition*| %_______ _______/
|
||
|
* Systems*| %-CU/TK-/
|
||
|
_________ |
|
||
|
| |-->EADAS |
|
||
|
|Switching| Alt. |
|
||
|
|Systems | Systems| * Central Office *
|
||
|
|_________|% | / *Reporting Systems* *System Performance *
|
||
|
| % %->TDAS-------------------------- *Measurement Systems*
|
||
|
| % | %_______ | | |
|
||
|
| % EADAS | LBS 5XB SPCS .............CSAR
|
||
|
| % | | / COER COER .
|
||
|
| EADAS/NM CU/EQ-< .
|
||
|
| % .
|
||
|
| ICAN SONDS .
|
||
|
| ^ .
|
||
|
|__________________________________| Selected data from
|
||
|
other TNDS Systems
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
SCCS (Switching Control Center System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
The Switching Control Center (SCC) was created to centralize the
|
||
|
administration, maintenance, and control of the 1ESS switching system. By
|
||
|
using the remote-interaction interfacing of the MCC (Master Control Center),
|
||
|
which is a frame of equipment in a 1ESS system that indicates the current state
|
||
|
of the office equipment, the SCC functions as the centralized maintenance
|
||
|
center for the switch.
|
||
|
At the SCC, a minicomputer system called the CSS (Computer Sub-System)
|
||
|
is added and along with the equipment units that remote the MCC, it makes up
|
||
|
the SCCS. The CSS can support a number of SCCs. Generally, the CSS is located
|
||
|
in the MMOC. Basically, a number of switches are handled by each SCC and the
|
||
|
various SCCs are handled by the CSS.
|
||
|
The SCCS contains maintenance and administrative data that is sent
|
||
|
directly from the switches. Through the SCCS, a technician can remotely operate
|
||
|
the MCC keys on the switches hooked up to it as well as perform any available
|
||
|
command or task supported by the switch. The SCCS can handle up to 30 or more
|
||
|
offices although usually only 15 or so are handled per SCC. This number
|
||
|
depends also on the size of the offices and the amount of data that is
|
||
|
transmitted.
|
||
|
Major alarms that sound at a switching office set off alarms at the
|
||
|
SCC within seconds and it also causes an update of the status of the office on
|
||
|
the critical indicator panel and it displays a specific description of the
|
||
|
alarm condition on a CRT alarm monitor at a workstation. Software enhancements
|
||
|
to the SCCS fall into four broad classes:
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Enhanced Alarming - Besides alarms sounding, incoming data can
|
||
|
generate failure descriptions for easy interpretation and
|
||
|
real-time analysis techniques.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Interaction with Message History - Using past information on a
|
||
|
switch's troubles, the SCCS allows pertinent information on a
|
||
|
specific switch to be provided in case of an alarm.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Mechanization of Craft Functions - Certain conditions no longer
|
||
|
need to be looked into directly. If an alarm goes off, the SCCS
|
||
|
can perform routine tests and fix the problem as best it can or
|
||
|
else, if that doesn't work, a trouble ticket is issued.
|
||
|
|
||
|
o Support for Switch Administration - Through the SCCS, data can be
|
||
|
sent automatically to different operations centers as well as
|
||
|
other operations systems which require data from the switches.
|
||
|
|
||
|
Since the original SCCS came into operation, many changes have taken
|
||
|
place. The current SCCS supports all of the entire ESS family of switches as
|
||
|
well as network transmission equipment and it also can maintain several
|
||
|
auxiliary processor systems, like TSPS (Traffic Service Position System) and
|
||
|
AIS (Automatic Intercept System), and supports network transmission equipment.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
COEES (Central Office Equipment Engineering System)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
COEES is a time-sharing system that runs on a DEC PDP-10. It is the
|
||
|
standard system for planning and engineering local switching equipment. COEES
|
||
|
contains component systems for Step-By-Step, Crossbar, 1/1AESS, and 2/2BESS
|
||
|
switching systems, each of which has a different capability.
|
||
|
The COEES database stores information obtained from forecasts for each
|
||
|
local switching office on number of lines of all types, number of trunks of all
|
||
|
types, average call rate per line and trunk, average usage per line and trunk,
|
||
|
and all features, signaling types, etc. that are required. COEES determines
|
||
|
the quantity of each type of equipment in the office needed to satisfy the
|
||
|
forecasted load at objective service levels, determines an estimated price for
|
||
|
engineering, procuring, and installing the equipment addition needed to reach
|
||
|
the require level, and then it sums up the costs of doing it eight different
|
||
|
ways for the network designer to review. The system also takes into account
|
||
|
varying parameters like call rate or proportion of lines with certain features
|
||
|
which is called sensitivity analysis.
|
||
|
With the information provided by the COEES forecast, the designer can
|
||
|
then make a recommendation. After a decision is made on the recommendation,
|
||
|
COEES prints out an order so that the additional equipment can more quickly and
|
||
|
easily be obtained.
|
||
|
COEES also puts out a report called call store on a 1ESS, which tells
|
||
|
the engineer and the equipment supplier how much memory to allocate to
|
||
|
different functions in the switch depending on inputs that the engineer
|
||
|
provides to the system.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
MATFAP (Metropolitan Area Transmission Facility Analysis Program)
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
MATFAP is a computer program that aids in facility planning. It
|
||
|
analyzes the alternatives available to the operating company for its future
|
||
|
transmission equipment and facilities using present worth of future expenses
|
||
|
and other measures.
|
||
|
By combining trunk and special-service circuit forecasts with
|
||
|
switching plans, network configuration, cost data, and engineering rules,
|
||
|
MATFAP can identify what transmission plant will be needed at various locations
|
||
|
and when it will be needed. It also determines economic consequences of
|
||
|
specific facility and/or equipment selections as well as routing choices and it
|
||
|
provides the least-cost assignment of circuits to each facility as a guide to
|
||
|
the circuit-provisioning process. It is oriented towards metropolitan networks
|
||
|
and facilities/equipment found in those regions.
|
||
|
MATFAP provides two benefits. It helps automate the transmission-
|
||
|
planning process and it takes into account economies that cannot be identified
|
||
|
by restricted analysis. It also balances circuit loads on high-capacity
|
||
|
digital lines with additional multiplex equipment. Data from MATFAP is edited
|
||
|
through RDES (Remote Data Entry System).
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Various Operating Systems
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
The following is a list of other operating systems used by the Bell System with
|
||
|
brief descriptions:
|
||
|
|
||
|
ATRS (Automated Trouble Reporting System) - aids in the analysis of trouble
|
||
|
%%%% reports by sorting, formatting, forwarding, and examining them from
|
||
|
the entire country for standard errors
|
||
|
BOSS (Billing and Order Support System) - allows access to customer records,
|
||
|
%%%% CN/A, bill adjustments, and information routing
|
||
|
CAROT (Centralized Automatic Reporting On Trunks) - operations system that
|
||
|
%%%%% tests a trunk on electromechanical and electronic switching systems
|
||
|
and sends its findings to a remote computer terminal
|
||
|
CATLAS (Centralized Automatic Trouble Locating and Analysis System) - an
|
||
|
%%%%%% operations system that automates trouble location procedures that
|
||
|
identify faulty circuit packs in a switch when trouble is detected
|
||
|
and diagnosed
|
||
|
CMDS (Centralized Message Data System) - analyzes the AMA tapes to determine
|
||
|
%%%% traffic patterns
|
||
|
COSMOS (COmputer System for Mainframe OperationS) - stores the full inventory
|
||
|
%%%%%% of telephone numbers
|
||
|
CRIS (Customer Records Information System) - contains the customer billing
|
||
|
%%%% database
|
||
|
CRS (Centralized Results System) - a management information system that
|
||
|
%%% automates the collection, analysis, and publication of many
|
||
|
measurement results
|
||
|
CUCRIT (Capital Utilization CRITeria) - used mainly for project economic
|
||
|
%%%%%% evaluation and capital budgeting and planning
|
||
|
DACS (Digital Access Cross-connect System) - remote digital access for testing
|
||
|
%%%% of special-service circuits in analog or digital form
|
||
|
EFRAP (Exchange Feeder Route Analysis Program) - used in planning of the loop
|
||
|
%%%%% network
|
||
|
IFRPS (Intercity Facility Relief Planning System) - also like MATFAP but deals
|
||
|
%%%%% with radio and coaxial cable as opposed to voice-frequency facilities
|
||
|
IPLAN (Integrated PLanning And Analysis system) - used mainly for project
|
||
|
%%%%% economic evaluation
|
||
|
LMOS (Loop Maintenance Operations System) - maintenance outages on loops
|
||
|
%%%% remotely by a service employee
|
||
|
LRAP (Long Route Analysis Program) - like EFRAP, used in planning of the loop
|
||
|
%%%% network
|
||
|
LSRP (Local Switching Replacement Planning system) - a system used in the
|
||
|
%%%% planning of wire centers
|
||
|
NOTIS (Network Operations Trouble Information System) - aids in the analysis
|
||
|
%%%%% of trouble reports
|
||
|
NSCS (Network Service Center System) - at the NSC, aids in the analysis of
|
||
|
%%%% trouble reports
|
||
|
OFNPS (Outstate Facility Network Planning System) - similar to MATFAP but
|
||
|
%%%%% contains a decision aid that identifies strategies for the
|
||
|
introduction of digital facilities in a predominantly analog network;
|
||
|
rural transmission facility network planning
|
||
|
RDES (Remote Data Entry System) - allows for remote editing of on-line
|
||
|
%%%% computer data
|
||
|
RMAS (Remote Memory Administration System) - changes translations in the
|
||
|
%%%% switching systems
|
||
|
SARTS (Switched Access Remote Test System) - accessed to perform sophisticated
|
||
|
%%%%% tests on most types of special-service circuits
|
||
|
SMAS (Switched Maintenance Access System) - through the use of relays,
|
||
|
%%%% provides concentrated metallic access to individual circuits to
|
||
|
permit remote access and testing by SARTS
|
||
|
TASC (Telecommunications Alarm Surveillance and Control System) - an alarm
|
||
|
%%%% program that identifies the station and transmits it back to the
|
||
|
central maintenance location
|
||
|
TCAS (T-Carrier Administration System) - an operations system responsible for
|
||
|
%%%% T-carrier alarms
|
||
|
TCSP (Tandem Cross Section Program) - a program for analysis of traffic
|
||
|
%%%% network planning
|
||
|
TFLAP (T-carrier Fault-Locating Application Program) - a subprogram of
|
||
|
%%%%% Universal Cable Circuit Analysis Program which analyzes networks with
|
||
|
branches, multiple terminations and bridge taps
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Acronym Glossary
|
||
|
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|
||
|
AIS Automatic Intercept System
|
||
|
AMA Automatic Message Accounting
|
||
|
ATRS Automated Trouble Reporting System
|
||
|
BOSS Billing and Order Support System
|
||
|
C1 Circuit system
|
||
|
CAC Circuit Administration Center
|
||
|
CAROT Centralized Automatic Reporting On Trunks
|
||
|
CATLAS Centralized Automatic Trouble Locating and Analysis System
|
||
|
CMDS Centralized Message Data System
|
||
|
CPC Circuit Provision Center
|
||
|
CO Central Office
|
||
|
COC Circuit Order Control
|
||
|
COEES Central Office Equipment Engineering System
|
||
|
COSMOS COmputer System for Mainframe OperationS
|
||
|
CRIS Customer Records Information System
|
||
|
CRS Centralized Results System
|
||
|
CRT Cathode-Ray Tube
|
||
|
CSAR Centralized System for Analysis and Reporting
|
||
|
CSS Computer SubSystem
|
||
|
CUCRIT Capital Utilization CRITeria
|
||
|
CU/EQ Common Update/EQuipment system
|
||
|
CU/TK Common Update/TrunKing system
|
||
|
DACS Digital Access and Cross-connect System
|
||
|
DPAC Dedicated Plant Assignment Card
|
||
|
E1 Equipment system
|
||
|
EADAS Engineering and Administrative Data Acquisition System
|
||
|
EADAS/NM EADAS/Network Management
|
||
|
EFRAP Exchange Feeder Route Analysis Program
|
||
|
ESS Electronic Switching System
|
||
|
F1 Facility system
|
||
|
FEPS Facility and Equipment Planning System
|
||
|
5XB COER No. 5 Crossbar Central Office Equipment Report system
|
||
|
ICAN Individual Circuit ANalysis
|
||
|
IFRPS Intercity Facility Relief Planning System
|
||
|
IPLAN Integrated PLanning and ANalysis
|
||
|
LAC Loop Assignment Center
|
||
|
LBS Load Balance System
|
||
|
LMOS Loop Maintenance Operations System
|
||
|
LRAP Long Route Analysis Program
|
||
|
LSRP Local Switching Replacement Planning system
|
||
|
MATFAP Metropolitan Area Transmission Facility Analysis Program
|
||
|
MCC Master Control Center
|
||
|
MMC Minicomputer Maintenance Center
|
||
|
MMOC Minicomputer Maintenance Operations Center
|
||
|
NAC Network Administration Center
|
||
|
NDCC Network Data Collection Center
|
||
|
NMC Network Management Center
|
||
|
NOC Network Operations Center
|
||
|
NOCS Network Operations Center System
|
||
|
NORGEN Network Operations Report GENerator
|
||
|
NOTIS Network Operations Trouble Information System
|
||
|
NSCS Network Service Center System
|
||
|
OFNPS Outstate Facility Network Planning System
|
||
|
PIA Plug-In Administrator
|
||
|
PICS Plug-in Inventory Control System
|
||
|
PICS/DCPR PICS/Detailed Continuing Property Records
|
||
|
PREMIS PREMises Information System
|
||
|
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
|
||
|
RDES Remote Data Entry System
|
||
|
RMAS Remote Memory Administration Center
|
||
|
SARTS Switched Access Remote Test System
|
||
|
SCC Switching Control Center
|
||
|
SCCS Switching Control Center System
|
||
|
SMAS Switched Maintenance Access System
|
||
|
SONDS Small Office Network Data System
|
||
|
SPCS COER Stored-Program Control System/Central Office Equipment Report
|
||
|
TASC Telecommunications Alarm Surveillance and Control system
|
||
|
TCAS T-Carrier Administration System
|
||
|
TCSP Tandem Cross Section Program
|
||
|
TDAS Traffic Data Administration System
|
||
|
TFLAP T-Carrier Fault-Locating Applications Program
|
||
|
TFS Trunk Forecasting System
|
||
|
TIRKS Trunks Integrated Records Keeping System
|
||
|
TNDS Total Network Data System
|
||
|
TPMP TNDS Performance Measurement Plan
|
||
|
TSPS Traffic Service Position System
|
||
|
TSS Trunk Servicing System
|
||
|
WC Wire Center
|
||
|
______________________________________________________________________________
|
||
|
|
||
|
Recommended reference:
|
||
|
|
||
|
Bell System Technical Journals
|
||
|
|
||
|
Engineering and Operations in the Bell System
|
||
|
|
||
|
Phrack IX LMOS file by Phantom Phreaker
|
||
|
|
||
|
Phrack XII TNDS file by Doom Prophet
|
||
|
|
||
|
Various COSMOS files by LOD/H, KOTRT, etc.
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Completed 3/17/89
|
||
|
______________________________________________________________________________
|