ARRIS ServAssure™ Advanced : VoiceAssure

This solution offers complete VoIP service lifecycle management from initial network analysis and optimization to on-going fault and performance management and capacity planning.

Prior to a VoIP service launch, the software measures a network's quality, identifies problems areas that would negatively impact the service and offers recommendations to address the issues based on its expert analysis.

Once the VoIP service is launched, the software will optimize network capacity to maximize available bandwidth while controlling costs, and understand traffic patterns to ensure sufficient network capacity as call volume grows.

Phase II functionality will collect and analyze management information from the PacketCable components and service flow information to identify and differentiate the high-priority VoIP traffic from best effort traffic to ensure it is delivered with the appropriate quality-of-service and reliability.

Requirements for a Successful VoIP-based Telephony Service

VoIP will test MSO networks unlike any other service. Due to VoIP's symmetrical nature and strict quality and reliability requirements, MSOs will need to manage their network performance and capacity to ensure customers receive telephony service that meets customer expectations. Based on the CableEdge software's comprehensive view of network traffic and connectivity, VoiceAssure will be able to identify and resolve typical transport issues, such as jitter, fragmentation, latency and packet loss that delay data services but render voice inoperable.

PacketCable & VoIP Management Requirements

Recognizing that a VoIP service brings new equipment and standards to a MSOs network, Phase 2 of VoiceAssure will collect and analyze all available VoIP/PacketCable management information from MTAs, CMTSs, Call Management Servers and Media Gateway Controllers. It's the only PacketCable-specific management software with visibility, analysis and control over each step in the call path.

VoIP-specific Network Analysis & Optimization

VoiceAssure is the only software with the ability to measure a network's quality in relation to an MSO's specific quality, performance and reliability requirements for the service. Instead of trying to troubleshoot the network after the service is up and running, the software diagnoses the problems areas in the network that would negatively impact the service and then recommends fixes to eliminate them prior to roll-out:

• Alerts MSO to interfaces that are not VoIP-qualified
  
• Identifies network segments unable to support capacity required for VoIP
  
• Optimizes interfaces and recommends plant maintenance to maximize capacity
  
• The end result is a VoIP-ready network; saving considerable time and expense for the network engineering team while assuring early telephony customers have reliable service

On-going VoIP Management & Capacity Planning

Due to the quality of service requirements and changing capacity needs due to variable call volume, on-going visibility and control over the PacketCable network provides critical benefits to ensuring a successful service over the long term:

• Optimize network capacity to maximize available bandwidth while controlling costs.
  
• Understand current and future traffic patterns to ensure sufficient network capacity as call volume grows.
  
• Track network performance to identify, isolate and resolve congestion and other service-impacting issues as well as understand the quality of service received from a customer's perspective.

In addition, combing the PacketCable and DOCSIS 1.1 service flow information enables MSOs to understand VoIP consumption data that can be used for VoIP as well as data service capacity planning and traffic projections.

Key Benefits:

• Maximum bandwidth utilization to reduce costs without sacrificing quality
  
• VoIP traffic visibility for current consumption and future capacity planning
  
• Comes with SDK that enables VoIP data exchange with other systems
  

Measure VoIP Network Quality, Identify Problem Areas and Apply Recommended Fixes, Plan for Future Capacity Needs

VoIP represents a tremendous opportunity to further leverage your network investment. Based on its unique technical characteristics and the extremely high expectations customers have for voice service quality and reliability, it also represents a huge challenge.

VoiceAssure is designed as a complete VoIP service lifecycle solution to turn this challenge into revenue. The software analyzes your network's ability to support VoIP service prior to a full-service deployment to ensure it can meet the increased demands of the QoS-sensitive service. It then provides on-going network optimization and fault and performance management for the continuous delivery of a successful VoIP service.

Keeping an eye on future growth, VoiceAssure also tracks VoIP consumption data so you can project your future VoIP traffic and plan network capacity accordingly, ensuring your network can grow as fast as your VoIP service without sacrificing quality, performance or reliability.