OSU Network Interface

SOTAS, Inc.by the ambitious concept of creating a self-contained network element that monitors and maintains fiber optic networks, <%=company%> presents the OSU Network Interface, an essential part of an intelligent SONET/SDH network. Each OSU is a section-terminating regenerator with enhanced overhead processing capabilities, allowing customers the best possible service. In place of a non-intelligent device, the OSU provides standard performance monitoring (PM) and alarm surveillance (AS) from edge-to-edge to identify circuit problems at network boundaries. By optimizing performance monitoring, carriers can reliably provide a guaranteed level of service to all customers. When the OSU is deployed at the end of a linear stretch of fiber, PM provides visibility of the last mile.

The OSU is an intelligent demarcation hardware/software device that can be positioned at many places in the fiber optic network, User to Network Interface (UNI), Network to Network Interface (NNI), and at logical points of demarcation within a carrier's own network. At the UNI, the OSU can provide an extra measure of security by isolating a provider's transmission network management system from the customer. At the NNI boundary, the OSU serves as a demarcation device, which allows monitoring of the status and condition of traffic at the demarcation point. This permits the localization of technical problems and response with the appropriate measures instead of slow and costly test and find methods. Also useful for NNI applications are the OSU patented translation features that allow overhead translation from older to newer equipment, for interoperability of management information, and translations between SONET and SDH formats.

Features include section level performance monitoring, offline diagnostic loopbacks, SONET to SDH translation, DCC blocking, byte translation, tributary PM VC-12, automatic protection switching, test access, DCC mediation and filtration, encryption of DCC or payload, CPE management gateway function, OC-3 electrical to optical conversion, orderwire support, Injected Bit Error Rate (BER), and ITU, ANSI and Bellcore compliance.

Alarm surveillance monitors Loss of Signal (LOS), Loss of Frame (LOF), Out of Frame (OOF), path-level loss of pointer, DCC failure, internal failure; and monitors and generates Alarm Indication Signals (AIS). It also has dual auxiliary alarm input and output ports and power fail alarm contacts. Network operations include TLI Operation Systems (OS) interface, optional SNMP VI, CMISE/CWP interfaces, integral X.25 to DCC gateway, and remote login security.

Performance monitoring has intermediate line, path and tributary; stores 32 15-minute and 7 one-day registers; configurable threshold crossing alarms; configurable reporting of registers, which includes severely errored framing, section errored blocks, section errored seconds, section severely errored seconds, and software including dual flash for online download.

<%=company%>, 910 Clopper Rd. Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Tel: 301-258-0110; Fax: 301-258-0059