AT&T Co has published an open interface specification to its fault management system, for manufacturers to develop products that can communicate with it. The fault management system is called Trouble Tracker and it enables users to receive and manage facility alarms and trouble tickets for switch-based networks. Products that incorporate the interface will be able to send a trouble message with a detailed description of the alarm. The message can trigger Trouble Tracker to open a new trouble ticket automatically and fill in the information on that ticket. AT&T has started work with TSB International, the Canadian telecommunications company that recently bought Hoskyn’s voice networking division to tie TSB’s HUB Communications Controller to Trouble Tracker. The HUB Communications Controller monitors alarms, or polls remote intelligent alarm communicator devices located on customer’s premises. They read the alarm information as it is created by the switching systems, and either communicate it directly to the HUB Communications Controller (if the alarm is critical), or store it locally until polled by HUB. The specification is available through AT&T’s Customer Information Centre.
