Operations support system

An operational support system ( engl. Operations Support System - OSS) is a term used in telecommunications, describes a network management system, which supports automated service processes ( service management ). These are summarized in the telecommunications sector under FCAPS - FCAPS stands for Fault Management, Configuration Management, Accounting, Performance Management and Security.

History

The number of to be supported by telecommunications companies services, as well as their requirements and deployments are constantly increasing. In addition, telecommunications companies continually market new offers. In addition, require the IP networks which form the basis for a variety of IP-based services (such as IPTV, VoIP, Triple Play and IP - VPN), a complete end - to-end provision of a defined quality of service.

This has the consequence that the service processes became more complex in telecommunications companies. Formerly the individual areas of importance to telecommunication companies serviceprocesses Fault Management, Configuration Management, Accounting, Performance and Security management were mostly supported by separate systems for different tasks. Today, however, we seek to ensure cross-organizational platform that can be accessed as network and system planning, management services and corporate management to the employees from various areas. Such operations support systems thus form the basis of the management of telecommunications networks and services.

An operating system should support all involved processes, systems and departments together so that a smoothly functioning unit is created that can respond efficiently and quickly to new customer requirements. In such a system, the entire development process for a service, from planning through implementation to deployment should be implemented on a single platform. After provisioning the services can be monitored and managed on the OSS platform.

Components

The base of an operation support system is the component library with which the service components are developed. The service elements for the individual services are designed on the OSS platform, placed after the test in the component library and may be accessed and updated dynamically.

This allows network nodes to customers or data connection on or align remotely employees ( operators). For more complex network technologies such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) take over such systems also re-routing and traffic classification tasks (for example: voice, data, video).

To monitor the networks and thus serve unrealized Services Fault management systems. This condition of the network nodes in the event of an error message and set it to the operator in an understandable form ( visualized geodifferent ) dar. Furthermore, ask the fault and performance management systems at regular intervals, the network nodes on the status and potential performance parameters ( throughput, utilization, switching power etc.) and make them also dar. Sophisticated systems correlate combinations of individual errors and so give the operator quickly and concentrates the actual cause ( root cause analysis ), and effect on the service business of the service provider.

Similar systems also collect call detail records (CDR ) and Usage Data Records ( UDR) and make that lying billing systems.

OSS - BSS

Operational support systems are complemented by so-called business support systems (BSS). Business Support Systems is a newer term and typically refers to "business systems for customer contacts ," such as order processing, billing or customer payments. Both systems are usually abbreviated to as BSS / OSS or B / OSS together. B / OSS play a critical role for telecommunications companies.

TeleManagement Forum

As specialists platform, the TeleManagement Forum ( TMForum ) has established that the TOM- GB910 recommendation ( Enhanced Telecom Operations Map ) developed a standard that can be used by several telecommunications service providers as the basis for harmonization and further development of its own legacy systems.

The Telecom Operations Map is the first Blueprint, the process directions and roots collected and describes and as interfaces for Service Level Agreements, Operational Level Agreements and Underpinning Contracts provides. This recommendation is equally used by OSS manufacturers and service providers, and often cited as a reference in tenders for OSS.

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