VANCOUVER, British Columbia-Botting Systems Inc. announced the release of its Total Network Knowledge software suite designed to convert Signaling System 7 records into detailed call records for carriers.
The system collects the information from the SS7 switch and stores it in a private network database, where it may be analyzed in whatever way the carrier wishes. For instance, the data can be used to identify areas of network congestion and inefficient routing, as well as determine what types of calls are being made-such as voice calls, faxes, calls to Internet service providers, voice-mail systems and general data.
“Traffic is now very mixed, and network planning and maintenance has to take into account the purpose of traffic-why a subscriber made a call,” said Rod McIntosh Shand, vice president of network research for BSI. “Understanding purpose, and using it to assess network performance, requires a far more detailed analysis of traffic.”
Shand said most analyses of networks today revolve around billing data, which is not actual call data. So rather than counting the number of busy or disconnected calls, TNK can provide detail about each call, such as why the calls were not completed.
“Knowing about calls that have not been completed can also provide important information to network engineers and marketers,” the company said. “Incomplete calls due to network capacity, design or routing problems can be a signal to network engineers that there are underlying recurring problems.”
BSI is targeting wireless carriers now because, according to Shand, it believes mobile carriers soon will face the same congestion problems wireline carriers do, as wireless local loop becomes more prevalent.
“Once you replace the copper cables with wireless waves, you’re going to deal with the same issues,” he said.
Aside from using this information to identify network inefficiencies, Shand said it can help carriers better understand how their network is being used, and as such better create and market new and enhanced services.
To date, wireline carrier BCTEL of Canada has been beta testing the system, but BSI now is ready to offer it commercially, with shipping and installation planned for the fourth quarter.
