The tools and features under Customer Management handle the logical and commercial aspects of dpCom, represented by the objects for:

•Customer

•Service

•Fiberchain

•Connection

•Muxed Connection

•Muxed Channel

 

Definitions

 

Customer

The customer can be a service provider, a private person in a household, or a business. When the customer is a private person, the personal details are described in the customer object. For service providers and other business customers, one or more contact persons can be linked to the customer.

A customer can link to one or more services.

 

Service

A service is the business object agreed upon between the network owner/supplier and the customer. A service can be linked to one or more customers and one or more connections, thereby connecting the service to the physical network. Services can form a hierarchy with higher-level and lower-level services. These hierarchies are typically used to represent:

•An FTTH-like hierarchy where the lowest level service objects represent the path from the customer node to the first active node, such as the access switch. A service representing the uplink of that switch includes all the customer node connecting services as its subordinate services, and this structure continues into the core of the network.

•A p2p or p2mp capacity/bitstream service that passes over several active nodes. This service is linked as a higher-level service to the physical layer service objects connecting the active nodes to each other.

Different types of service objects:

•Infrastructure service - A special type of service object. Instead of representing communication, it represents access to infrastructure such as a rack, part of a rack, a site, or access to a pipe/duct. An infrastructure service is linked to the actual infrastructure object rented out to the customer.

•Uplink service - Represent connections that continue up in the hierarchy. These services can have one or more connections and may include uplink or regular services as children. An uplink service can also have another uplink service as its parent.

•Capacity service - Represent the physical path through the network. These services do not have connections but can include regular or other capacity services as children. They can also have capacity services as parents.

 

The Services above search is used to identify services that have underlying services in the network. The results are useful for analyzing hierarchical relationships and identifying candidates for the Uplink service type.

1.Press the query tool .

2.In the Search tab, select Customer management > Services above.

3.Fill in the desired fields and press Search. Services with underlying services will appear in the results list.

4.To change the subtype, right-click the desired row in the results list and select Object > Change subtype.

 

Fiberchain

In its basic form, a fiberchain represents one or more fiber paths by linking to one or more connections. A fiberchain also specifies redundancy in the services sold to customers by linking two fiberchains together.

A fiberchain links to connections, and dpCom assumes that when linked to multiple connections, these connections are parallel, for example, representing a fiber pair. This condition is always true when created in the patch chain tool, but when links are made manually, this condition must be verified through manual review.

To document redundancies, fiberchains can link to other fiberchains with either a redundancy link or a full redundancy link. These links can be created in sveral ways:

•In the fiberchain tool.

•In the attribute form.

•By using the right-click menu options: Links > Create redundancy between chains or Links > Create full redundancy between chains.

The difference between redundancy and full redundancy is that in a redundancy, the chains may share the first route from the start and end node, while in full redundancy, only the start and end nodes themselves may be shared.

 

Connection

A connection represents a fiber path, typically between two places or locations in the physical network. In a PON (Passive Optical Network) network, however, it can include several nodes. The fiber path is formed by a combination of connected fiber-level objects, such as fibers, patches, contacts, and ports.

Behind the scenes, the connection is linked to the physical network via a contact, for example, an ODF contact. Normally, this detail is not crucial, but when the physical network is being modified, it is important not to disrupt these links. The tools Show connection information for connection and Relocate connection, both available in the right-click menu, are used to check the safety of the connection and, if necessary, relocate it to another connection point.

Connections link to fiberchains and services.

 

Muxed connection and muxed channel

In parts of the network that use WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) or other multiplexing technologies like TDM (Time Division Multiplexing), the connection object is replaced by the muxed connection. This object is created in the same way as a regular connection, but it has muxed channel children representing the actual wavelengths in a WDM schema. In this setup, the service objects are linked to the channels rather than to the connection itself.

A product specification for a muxed connection is a convenient way to define the structure of systems like CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing) and DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing). The product specification outlines all of the muxed channels, and when a new muxed connection is created, all its muxed channels are automatically created with the correct channel names.

 

Create objects

•Connection or Muxed connection - Can be created using one of the connection tools, such as the splicing or patching tool. This process will also establish the link to the physical network. Alternatively, the connection can be created in the patch chain tool.

•Muxed channel - Is typically created alongside the muxed connection, preferably using a product specification. The generation of muxed channels uses similar mechanisms to the generation of fibers for a fiber cable. This means that the codelisted attribute Muxed connection type should specify the number of muxed channels, while the product specification will define the attributes of the channels.

•Fiberchain - Can be created either in the patch chain tool or from Customer management > Create new patchchain.

•Service object - Can be created either from Customer management > Create new service or within the attribute forms that also link to a service, using the Create new service button. In the latter case, the creation process also links the new service to the object it was initiated from.

•Customer object - Can be created either Customer management > Create new customer or within the attribute form of a service, using the Create new customer button. In the latter case, the creation process also links the new customer to the service it was initiated from.

 

Create new customer

1.In the menu bar, select Customer management > Create new customer. An attribute form to create a new customer opens.

 

Create new service

1.In the menu bar, select Customer management > Create new service. An attribute form to create a new service opens.

 

 

Create new fiberchain

1.Select Customer management > Create new fiberchain. An attribute form to create a new fiberchain opens.

 

 

Link objects

Links can be made between the following objects:

•Customer and service

•Service and connection

•Service and muxed channel

•Fiberchain and connection

 

These links can be done in several ways:

•From within the attribute forms - The attribute forms for customer, service, connection, fiberchain, and muxed channel include tables listing existing links, along with buttons for adding and removing links. In many cases, there is also a button for creating a new object. The Link to [object] button opens a search dialog for finding the object to link to. This search dialog is typically the same as the one found in the Search tab of the sidebar.

•From one object to another - Right-clicking on a customer, service, connection, fiberchain, or muxed channel and select Links to view the relevant commands for linking. For this to work, a representation of the object to link to must be prepared. Since these objects rarely have graphics on the map, the representation is usually found in a table or report. The destination object must first be selected, then the right-click menu will have the option Select for active plugin. You can select multiple starting objects at the same time. For example, two or more connections can be pre-selected, and the command Link connections to service will link them all to the service.

•In the patch chain tool - The patch chain tool can create one or more connections, create a fiberchain, and link them all together. A service can also be added. Additionally, the patch chain tool can create redundancy links between fiberchains.

Links are typically removed in the attribute forms of one of the linked objects. For example, a link between a connection and a service can be removed in either the service's attribute form or the connection's attribute form by using the Remove link button.

 

Link customer to a service

1.In the attribute form for a customer, press the Link to service button in the lower right corner. A search window to find the right service opens.

2.Select the service and press OK.

 

Remove link between service and customer

Alternative 1

1.In the attribute form of the customer, select the service and press the Remove link button.

Alternative 2

1.In the attribute form of the service, select the customer and press the Remove link button.

 

Manage connections and services in the connection tools

The connection tools in the toolbar (connection tool, patching tool, splicing tool, etc.) can show, create, and delete connections and services. Connections, services, and muxed connections are visualized in the tool by the Load services button.

A connection or muxed connection is created by selecting a row in the bottom table of the tool and pressing either the Add service or Add muxed connection icon. If a connection already exists, the button will display the existing connection or muxed connection instead of creating a new one. Therefore, it is a good practice to load services first before attempting to create a new object.

If several rows are selected and the Add service or Add muxed connection icons are pressed, the attribute form for the connection or muxed connection will be shown one at a time for each row. To link several connections to one and the same service:

1.For the first connection, either create a new service or link to an existing one. For the next connections, do not take any action with the services; that means, do not press the Link to service button.

2.When all connections are created, select the ones without a service in the table, right-click and select Links > Link connections to service.

3.In the same table, select the service (from the first connection), right-click, and select Select for active plugin.

 

 

Create and connect logical connections

Logical connections are used, for example, when you lease a fiber in a network for which you lack detailed information, for example if the fiber belongs to another network owner. The tool allows you to add services to the connection, even if its exact route is unknown.

 

1.In the menu bar, select Customer management > Create new logical connection.

2.Fill in the desired information and press OK.

3.Search for the logical connection, for example via:

a.Press Query tool .

b.In the Queries tab, select Telco objects > Logical connection.

c.Check the box for Only changeset.

d.Press Search.

4.Right-click the connection in the table and select Object > Connect.

5.Left-click on a contact in active equipment, for example in a node content view, on one side.

6.Right-click the connection in the table and select Object > Connect.

7.Left-click on a contact in active equipment, on the other side. A logical connection is now created and connected.

 

Show logical connection in the map

1.Search for the logical connection, for example via:

a.Press Query tool .

b.In the Queries tab, select Telco objects > Logical connection.

c.To search for a connection you just created, check the box for Only changeset.

d.Press Search.

1.Right-click on the connection in the table and select Show service > [desired view].

 

Find and view connections and services

Search for desired customer management objects, for example via:

1.In the sidebar, select the Search tab and fill in the desired search criteria.

 

Show the geographical layout of a service or connection on the map:

1.Right-click on the service or connection and select Show service or Show service with hierarchy. When run from a service, these tools highlight the connection objects.

 

A service or connection can be used as the starting object for reports like Trace report, Vertical trace report, or Connection report. These reports provide more details on the physical layout.

More important services can be provided with a permanent representation on the map using its line and/or text component. To place the line component, follow these steps:

1.Locate the service, for example, in a search or a report like Show customer trace data.

2.Right-click and select Show service. This will generate a temporary straight line as well as a highlight of routes and nodes.

3.Right-click on the service and select Object > Place component for object, and select the Line component.

4.Select the temporary straight line, right-click and select Copy other geometry.

5.Select the temporary straight line. Now the temporary line has been drawn permanently.

 

Connection endpoints

The endpoints belong to the connection object, but for convenience, they are also shown in the attribute form of the service by pressing the Set side button.

The main purpose of the endpoint is to act as a gatekeeper when modifications are made to the network that has active connections. When the connection is created, the endpoints are also created, representing the result of a fiber-level trace in the network at the time of creation. If changes are made to the network, a new trace may produce different results. This is presented using the Marked and Traced columns of the table.

•Marked - Represents the endpoint at the creation of the connection or as it was the last time Set end points on physical connections was run.

•Traced - Represents the result of a current trace in the network.

If all the rows in the table have both Marked and Traced checked, the current network and the connection are consistent. Rows with only Marked checked are not consistent with the current trace, and rows with only Traced checked are not consistent with the connection as it was before the network changes.

There are two primary use cases for this inconsistency:

•Intended network changes - The changes in the network were intended to alter the reach of the connection. A common example is the addition of active equipment, for example, a CPE (Customer Premises Equipment), to dpCom.

•Unintended network changes - A mistake occurred during network changes, for example, an equipment upgrade in a node, that was not intended to alter the reach of the connection.

In the first use case, the change should be confirmed with Set end points on physical connections, available as a button in the form as well as in the right-click menu. In the second use case, the mistake needs to be corrected. After correction, Marked and Traced should be consistent, and no further action is needed.

Inconsistencies are detected in the set of controls that run when posting. These controls can also be run manually with Run post checks.

The side column allows for defining one endpoint as A and the other as B. This is used by some reports, like the Connection report and the Vertical trace report, to determine the start and end nodes. The setting of A and B sides can also be done from the attribute form of the service.

 

Measurement

A measurement is an object that represents and documents one or more attenuation measurements. As measurements can be performed on several wavelengths and from one or both directions, the measurement object stores multiple attenuation values.

The measurement is linked to a connection and is created and viewed from the connection attribute form. Since measurements can be taken multiple times along a fiber path, multiple measurement objects may be linked to a connection.

Because the measurement is linked to the connection, the allowed measurement points are determined by the layout of the connection. By default, the end-points are the normal measurement points, but it is also possible to document measurements from a point in the middle of the fiber path.

To create and link a measurement to the connection:

1.In the attribute form for a connection, press the button Create measurement.

2.Enter the relevant data in the Attenuation measurement data tab.

3.In the Attenuation measurement value tab, press the Add button to add the actual dB values. A dialog opens.

4.Enter the relevant data and press OK. A row will be added to the Attenuation measurement value tab.

 

Concerned customers

This function lists concerned customers on a certain route.

1.Select the route, right click and select Show > Customers concerned. You can export the result to a spreadsheet or as a pdf-file.