Self engineering system for use with a communication system and method

Abstract

A self engineering system includes a data acquisition module, a self engineering engine, and a control module. The data acquisition module couples to the communication system and receives current operating data of the communication system. The self engineering engine receives the current operating data and determines new operating parameters of the communication system based upon the current operating data and current operating parameters. The control module implements the new operating parameters within the communication system. The self engineering system may include an expert system that receives the current operating data and, based upon the current operating data and the current operating parameters of the communication system, produces the new operating parameters. The expert system includes a fact library, a knowledge base and an inference engine. The fact library includes configuration data, historical operating data, the current operating parameters and proposed operating parameters. The knowledge base consists of rules intended to alter the fact library based upon contents of the fact library and the current operating data. Finally, the inference engine executes the rules and alters the fact library. The knowledge base and the inference engine then work together to produce the new operating parameters based upon contents of the fact library. The expert system may also include a system simulator that simulates operation of the communication system to verify proposed operating parameters prior to their implementation. The self engineering system also determines configuration errors, possible hardware faults and even improper hardware installation of the communication system. Thus, the self engineering system is useful in cross-checking installation as well as the functionality of the communication system as installed.