A belief network reasoning framework for fault localization in communication networks

Abstract

A small fault in a large communication network may cause abrupt and large alarms, making the localization of the root cause of failure a difficult task. Traditionally, fault localization is carried out by an operator who uses alarms in alarm lists; however, fault localization process complexity needs to be addressed using more autonomous and intelligent approaches. Here, we present an overall framework that uses a message propagation mechanism of belief networks to address fault localization problems in communication networks. The proposed framework allows for knowledge storage, inference, and message transmission, and can identify a fault’s root cause in an event-driven manner to improve the automation of the fault localization process. Avoiding the computational complexity of traditional Bayesian networks, we perform fault inference in polytrees with a noisy OR-gate model (PTNORgate), which can reduce computational complexity. We also offer a solution to store parameters in a network parameter table, similar to a routing table in communication networks, with the aim of facilitating the development of the algorithm. Case studies and a performance evaluation show that the solution is suitable for fault localization in communication networks in terms of speed and reliability.