SIEMENS S.A.

SPOTS V8.0

User Manual

March/2000

E900001-01-114-V8.00I-03
 SIEMENS S.A.
BU.NET DS1/TMN1

R. Irmãos Siemens, nº 1
2720-093 Amadora
Portugal

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
and recording, for any purpose other than the purchaser's personal use without
the written permission of Siemens S.A.
This document consists of a total of 266 pages (8 Annexes included).
The information contained in this document is subject to change.
SPOTS V8.0 — User Manual Siemens S.A.

Table of Contents

References ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. v

Abbreviations ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. vii

Introduction ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 0-1

1. User Interface -- General Principles ................................ ................................ .......................... 0-3
1.1. Windows ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 0-3
1.2. Interaction ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 0-6
1.3. Modes of Operation ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 0-8
1.3.1. Dialogue Mode ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 0-8
1.3.2. Automatic/Scheduled Mode................................ ................................ ................ 0-9
1.4. Help................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ 0-10
1.5. Messages ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 0-11
1.6. Using the Printer ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 0-12
2. Starting SPOTS and Accessing SPOTS Desktops ................................ ................................ ..... 0-13
3. SPOTS Server and Client Configurations................................ ................................ .................. 0-16
4. SPOTS Licensing Policy ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 0-17

Chapter 1 -- Processing Reports................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 1-1

1. TM/PM Variables and Objects ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 1-1
2. Data Evaluation ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 1-6
2.1. Instant Evaluation................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 1-11
2.2. Time Evolution ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 1-14
2.3. Samples at PBH ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 1-15
2.4. Peak Values................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 1-16
2.5. Load Values ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 1-20
2.6. Statistics ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 1-21
2.7. Historical Data ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 1-22
3. TM/PM Data Browser ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 1-24
4. Assistant ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 1-26

Chapter 2 -- Reports with BusinessObjects................................ ................................ ............................. 2-1

1. SSS environment ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 2-8
1.1. Network Optimisation Reports................................ ................................ ....................... 2-8
1.1.1. MSC Grade of Service ................................ ................................ ........................ 2-8
1.1.2. VLR Load ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 2-12
1.1.3. Mobile Originating Calls (MOC) Analysis................................ ......................... 2-13
1.1.4. Mobile Terminating Calls (MTC) Analysis................................ ........................ 2-15
1.1.5. Handover Analysis................................ ................................ .............................. 2-17
1.1.6. Location Updating Analysis................................ ................................ ................ 2-18
1.1.7. Short Message Service Analysis................................ ................................ ......... 2-19
1.2. Trunk Group Reports ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 2-20
1.2.1. Calls (Peak) / (Global) ................................ ................................ ........................ 2-20
1.2.2. Traffic Intensity ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 2-22
1.3. PBX Report ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 2-24
2. BSS environment................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 2-26
2.1. Base Station Grade of Service Report ................................ ................................ ............ 2-27
2.1.1. BR3.0/3.6 and BR3.7................................ ................................ .......................... 2-27

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2.1.2. From BR4.0 on ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2-29

2.1.2.1. TCH Measurements................................ ................................ ................. 2-29
2.1.2.2. SDCCH Measurements ................................ ................................ ........... 2-30
2.2. Handover Analysis Reports................................ ................................ ............................ 2-33
2.2.1. Radio Link Analysis ................................ ................................ ........................... 2-33
2.2.2. Handover Impact on GOS................................ ................................ ................... 2-37
2.2.2.1. Traffic and Blocking ................................ ................................ ............... 2-37
2.2.2.2. Success and Failure ................................ ................................ ................. 2-39
2.3. Call Establishment Report................................ ................................ .............................. 2-41
2.3.1. Procedures Success................................ ................................ ............................. 2-41
2.3.2. Establishment Success/Failure................................ ................................ ............ 2-42
2.4. Sleeping Cells Report................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 2-45
3. SSS&BSS environment ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 2-46
3.1. Compare With Average................................ ................................ ................................ .. 2-46
3.2. Compare With History ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2-47

Chapter 3 -- Performance Management Alarms................................ ................................ ..................... 3-1

1. Administration of Monitored Metrics................................ ................................ ........................ 3-1
1.1. Administration of Thresholds................................ ................................ ......................... 3-4
2. Administration of Monitoring Periods................................ ................................ ....................... 3-5
2.1. Selection of Monitoring Periods ................................ ................................ .................... 3-6
3. Alarm Status Display................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 3-7
4. Pending Alarm Browser................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 3-8

Chapter 4 -- Network Elements Configuration................................ ................................ ....................... 4-1

1. Administration of SSS NEs ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 4-1
1.1. Administration of NE's SW version ................................ ................................ ............... 4-3
2. Administration of BSS NEs................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 4-4
3. Reference Data Administration................................ ................................ ................................ .. 4-6

Chapter 5 -- Data Collection................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 5-1

1. Data Collection "on-demand"................................ ................................ ................................ .... 5-1
2. Data Collection Administration (SSS)................................ ................................ ....................... 5-4

Chapter 6 -- Compound Entities ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 6-1

1. Calculated Variables................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 6-1
2. Sets of Variables................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 6-3
3. Sets of Objects ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 6-4
4. I/O of Compound Entities (CVARs, SOVs and SOOs) ................................ ............................. 6-5

Chapter 7 -- Database Services................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 7-1

1. Backup................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 7-2
2. Restore................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 7-3
3. Delete................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 7-4
4. Catalogue................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 7-5

Chapter 8 -- Utilities ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 8-1

1. Users................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 8-1
2. Scheduler ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 8-3
3. Logged Messages ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 8-4
4. Storage Devices ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 8-6
4.1. Select Storage Device ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 8-8
5. Printer Selection ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 8-9

Annex 1 -- Graph and Table Windows

1. Graph Window ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... A1-1
1.1. Graph's Templates Window ................................ ................................ ........................... A1-5
1.1.1. Template Management ................................ ................................ ....................... A1-9
1.2. Examples of Chart Types ................................ ................................ ............................... A1-10

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2. Table Window ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... A1-13

Annex 2 -- Printing Dialogue Box

Annex 3 -- TM/PM Variables - List of Units

Annex 4 -- Pre-defined Compound Entities

1. Pre-defined Calculated Variables ................................ ................................ .............................. A4-1
1.1. Reference Variables for Historical Data Creation................................ .......................... A4-1
1.2. Performance measurements according to GSM Rec. 12.04 ................................ ........... A4-3
1.3. QoS/QoR monitoring ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... A4-8
1.4. Components of IWE_TV (pre-defined Calculated Variable) ................................ ......... A4-15
1.5. Component of TGRP_OV (pre-defined Set of Variables) ................................ ............. A4-16
1.6. Components of VLR_SUBS (pre-defined Set of Variables) ................................ .......... A4-16
1.7. Others................................ ................................ ................................ ............................. A4-16
2. Pre-defined Sets of Variables ................................ ................................ ................................ .... A4-17

Annex 5 -- TM/PM Counters

1. SSS Measurements ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... A5-2
1.1. AC Measurement................................ ................................ ................................ ............ A5-2
1.2. ANGRP Measurement................................ ................................ ................................ .... A5-2
1.3. CCS7 Measurements ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... A5-3
1.4. CP Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ A5-4
1.5. DEST Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... A5-4
1.6. EIR Measurement................................ ................................ ................................ ........... A5-5
1.7. GP Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ A5-5
1.8. HLR Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... A5-6
1.9. INSTAT Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ... A5-11
1.10. INTCELL Measurements ................................ ................................ ............................. A5-11
1.11. IWE Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... A5-12
1.12. LOCAREA Measurement ................................ ................................ ............................ A5-17
1.13. LTG Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... A5-17
1.14. MSC Measurement................................ ................................ ................................ ....... A5-18
1.15. PBX Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... A5-29
1.16. SSERV Measurement................................ ................................ ................................ ... A5-30
1.17. TGRP Measurement................................ ................................ ................................ ..... A5-31
1.18. VLR Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... A5-33
2. BSS Measurements................................ ................................ ................................ .................... A5-36
2.1. BSCMEAS Measurement................................ ................................ ............................... A5-36
2.2. BTSMEAS Measurement................................ ................................ ............................... A5-38
2.3. BTSHOMEAS Measurement ................................ ................................ ......................... A5-48
2.4. BTSMMEAS Measurement ................................ ................................ ........................... A5-50
2.5. CHANMEAS Measurement................................ ................................ ........................... A5-51
2.6. TRXMEAS Measurement ................................ ................................ .............................. A5-53

Annex 6 -- BusinessObjects and Database Views

1. BusinessObjects................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... A6-1
2. Database Views ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... A6-3
2.1. SSS Measurements................................ ................................ ................................ ......... A6-4
2.1.1. AC Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ A6-4
2.1.2. ANGRP Measurement ................................ ................................ ........................ A6-4
2.1.3. CCS7 Measurements................................ ................................ ........................... A6-4
2.1.4. CP Measurement................................ ................................ ................................ . A6-6
2.1.5. DEST Measurement................................ ................................ ............................ A6-6
2.1.6. EIR Measurement ................................ ................................ ............................... A6-7
2.1.7. GP Measurement ................................ ................................ ................................ A6-7
2.1.8. HLR Measurement................................ ................................ .............................. A6-7
2.1.9. INSTAT Measurement ................................ ................................ ....................... A6-7
2.1.10. INTCELL Measurements................................ ................................ .................. A6-8

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2.1.11. IWE Measurement ................................ ................................ ............................ A6-8

2.1.12. LOCAREA Measurement ................................ ................................ ................. A6-8
2.1.13. LTG Measurement ................................ ................................ ............................ A6-9
2.1.14. MSC Measurement ................................ ................................ ........................... A6-9
2.1.15. PBX Measurement................................ ................................ ............................ A6-9
2.1.16. SSERV Measurement ................................ ................................ ....................... A6-10
2.1.17. TGRP Measurement ................................ ................................ ......................... A6-10
2.1.18. VLR Measurement................................ ................................ ............................ A6-10
2.2. BSS Measurements ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ A6-11
2.2.1 BSCMEAS Measurement ................................ ................................ .................... A6-11
2.2.2 BTSMEAS Measurement ................................ ................................ .................... A6-11
2.2.3 BTSIHDOMEAS and BTSOHDOMEAS Measurements ................................ ... A6-11
2.2.4 BTSMMEAS Measurement................................ ................................ ................. A6-12
2.2.5 CHANMEAS Measurement ................................ ................................ ................ A6-12
2.2.6 TRXMEAS Measurement................................ ................................ .................... A6-12
3. Flexible Database Views Generation................................ ................................ ......................... A6-13

Annex 7 -- Syntax of Processing Elements

Annex 8 -- Transfer of TM/PM Files in the BCT environment

1. Transfer script customisation................................ ................................ ................................ ..... A8-1
2. Transfer script usage................................ ................................ ................................ .................. A8-3

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References

[01] CCITT, Blue Book -- Volume II, Fascicle II.3

Recommendations E.401 - E.880
[02] D900/D1800 Mobile Communication System SR3.0
SSS Network Elements -- O&M
Traffic Measurement
(Siemens Doc A30808-X3245-X105-*-7618)
[03] Information -- Traffic Data Administration SR4.0
Traffic Measurement
(Siemens Doc A30808-X3245-X106-*-7618)
[04] Information -- Traffic Data Administration SR5.0
Traffic Measurement
(Siemens Doc A30808-X3245-X107-*-7618)
[05] Information -- Traffic Data Administration SR6.0
Traffic Measurement
(Siemens Doc A30808-X3245-X108-*-7618)
[06] Information -- Traffic Data Administration SR7.0
Traffic Measurement
(Siemens Doc A30808-X3245-X109-*-7618)
[07] Information -- Traffic Data Administration SR8.0
Traffic Measurement
(Siemens Doc A50016-D1108-G801-*-7618
[08] BusinessObjects User's Guide
Version 4.1.5
UNIX
(Ref.: file "exuser41.pdf" in the folder "/Manuals" of the BusinessObjects distribution CD)
[09] Operation -- Operation and Maintenance Subsystem (OMS) OSR8.0
OMN:OMS
(Siemens Doc A50016-D1308-Q100-*-7619)
[10] D900/D1800
Mobile Communication System
Information -- SBS Performance Measurement BR3.0
(Siemens Doc A30308-X3247-Y400-*-7618)
[11] D900/D1800/D1900
Mobile Communication System
Information -- SBS Performance Measurement BR3.7
(Siemens Doc A30308-X3247-C40-*-7618)
[12] Information -- Performance Measurement BR4.0
(Siemens Doc A30308-X3247-D40-*-7618)
[13] D900/D1800/D1900
Mobile Communication System
Information -- SBS Performance Measurement BR4.5
(Siemens Doc A30308-X3247-E40-*-7618)
[14] Information -- Performance Measurement Counter BR5.0
(Siemens Doc A30308-X3247-G40-*-7618)

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[15] Operation -- O&M System for the BSS OBR5.0

OMN:OMS-B
(Siemens Doc A30808-X3247-G110-*-7619)
[16] Information Technology
Open Systems Interconnection
Systems Management: Alarm Reporting Function
ITU-T Recommendation X.733
[17] Information Technology
Open Systems Interconnection
Systems Management: Metric Objects and Attributes
ITU-T Recommendation X.739

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Abbreviations

ACL ASCII Command Language

BCT Basic Craft Terminal
BO BusinessObjects
BSC Base Station Controller
BSS Base Station System
BTS Base Transceiver Station
BTSM Base Transceiver Station Manager
CALCVAR Calculated Variable, may also be referred as CVAR.
CE Compound Entity
CVAR Calculated Variable, may also be referred as CALCVAR.
HTML Hyper-Text Mark-up Language.
ECL Event Communication Layer.
LAN Local Area Network
MM Monitored Metric
MML Man Machine Language
MSC Mobile Services Centre
NE Network Element
OCI Object Class Identifier
OMC Operation and Maintenance Centre
OMC-B Operations and Maintenance Centre for BSS
OMC-S Operations and Maintenance Centre for Switching Subsystem
OMP Operation and Maintenance Processor
OMT Operation and Maintenance Terminal
OMT-R Remote Operation and Maintenance Terminal
OMT-X Operation and Maintenance X-Terminal
OSF Open Software Foundation
PBH Peak Busy Hour
PM Performance Management
QoS/QoR Quality of Service / Quality of Resource
SOO Set of Objects
SOV Set of Variables
SPBH Samples at PBH
SPOTS Support for Planning, Operation & Maintenance and Traffic Analysis
SSS Switching System
TM Traffic Management

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Introduction

SPOTS was designed to collect and process the TM/PM data, produced by Siemens SSS and BSS NEs,
providing easy-to-use analysis methods, to support the operation of Mobile Networks.
Normally it will be installed as part of the OMC-S; additionally, a Standalone installation is applied in the
following scenarios:
•BCT is used as the Element Manager for SSS NEs.
•more than one OMC-S exist.
•only Siemens OMC-B systems are installed.

The SPOTS application is divided into the following Functional Groups, each one mapping to a Second
LevelDesktop:
Reports
Network Elements
Compound Entities
Performance Management Alarms
Utilities
Database Services

Throughout this introduction, you will find the description of the global aspects related to the usage of
SPOTS.

SPOTS Functional Groups are presented in the remaining chapters:

Chapter 1. Processing Reports

TM/PM data evaluation comprising the following features:
• Trace (time evolution) of data (stored into SPOTS Database).
• Periodic presentation of the last collected data.
• Evaluation of standardised (ITU-T E500 Recommendations) indicators: Traffic Intensity,
Load and Statistics.
• Creation of Historical Data.

Chapter 2. BO Reports
Access to the BusinessObjects tool to produce/execute user-defined Reports and description of
available pre-defined Reports.

Chapter 3. Performance Management Alarms

Management (creation, update and deletion) of PM Alarm entities (Monitored Metrics and the
corresponding Thresholds) and browsing of pending PM Alarms.

Chapter 4. Network Elements Configuration

Administration of the NEs and the corresponding Reference Data (i.e., the measured objects).

Chapter 5. Data Collection

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Collection (and insertion into the SPOTS Database) of the data that are produced in the NEs by
TM/PM Measurements.
Chapter 6. Compound Entities
Management (creation, update, deletion and import/export) of user-defined TM/PM Variables
(Calculated Variables and Sets of Variables) and Objects (Sets of Objects).

Chapter 7. Database Services

Administration of the SPOTS Database, including:
• Backup/Restore.
• Delete TM/PM Data.
• Catalogue (information about the Database contents).

Chapter 8. Utilities
Management (creation, update and deletion) of the SPOTS users.
Selection of the default I/O device used for the Backup/Restore of SPOTS Database.
Setting the User default printer.
Administration of the Scheduled Tasks.
Access to the Logged Messages, produced during the execution of Scheduled Tasks.

Annexes 1 and 2 describe additional functionality, respectively for:

• the Graph and Table Windows.
• the Printing Dialogue Box.

Annexes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 include additional information, respectively on:

• Units of the TM/PM Variables.
• Description of the Pre-defined Compound Entities.
• List of the TM/PM Counters.
• Database Views to be used by the BO tool and the SQL external interface.
• Syntax of Processing Elements.
• Configuring the transfer of TM/PM files in the BCT environment.

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1. User Interface -- General Principles

The different types of windows and the interaction mechanisms will be described in this Section.

1.1. Windows

The interaction with SPOTS application is supported by three types of windows:

- Application Desktop Windows.
- Program Windows and Sub-Windows.
- Dialogue Boxes.

SPOTS Application is subdivided in Functional Groups, each one comprising a set of Sub-Applications
(running as separate Processes).

Desktop Windows are used to provide the access to these functional entities:
• First level Desktop
They are presented as soon as SPOTS is started, providing the access to each SPOTS Functional
Group.
• Second level Desktop
They are presented after a Functional Group has been selected, providing the access to the correspon-
ding Sub-Applications.

Desktop Windows are divided in the following components: Title Bar, Menu Bar, Work Area and
Status Bar.
Title, Menu and Status Bars are described in Program Windows and Sub-Windows; the Work Area
comprises a set of Labelled Icons, identifying the functional entity and proving the access to the
corresponding components.

SPOTS Desktops are presented in the Section 2 of this Chapter.

Program Windows and Sub-Windows

The Program Windows are opened after the corresponding sub-applications have been started.
Program Sub-Windows are opened from the Program Windows, depending on the required interaction
with the user (number of "parameters" to be specified, sub-division into a sequence of steps,...).

The components of the Program Windows and the different kinds of interaction mechanisms are identified
in the following figure (Sub-Windows may use only a subset of these components):

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Title Bar

Menu Bar

Toolbar

Work Area

Status Bar

Program Window

The Title Bar includes the window title and some buttons which depend on the Window Manager
(usually, Iconify, Minimize and Maximize buttons).
For Program Windows, the title includes the application and the sub-application names, separated by ":".
The title for Sub-Windows is restricted to the identification of the task to be executed.

The Menu Bar groups a set of buttons (identified by a name) which give access to Pull Down Menus with
the list of the available options.
File, Window and Help Menus are available in all Desktop and Program Windows; Window Menu is not
mandatory for Sub-Windows.
To select an option, the user can click the left mouse button MB1 or press the corresponding accelerator
key (when available) or use the Alt key followed by the corresponding mnemonic (the underlined letter of
the option name).

The Tool Bar (optional) provides a set of Buttons which are used to directly access (i.e., without the
previous selection of the corresponding Menu) the most frequently used options.
Buttons for the Close Option (File Menu) and for the On Window Option (Help Menu) are available in
all windows.
The picture in each Tool Bar Button is chosen according to the corresponding functionality. However, to
make the interface clearer and easier to use, a mechanism is provided to describe it: a short explanation is
included in a small box, floating over a control (Tool tip), to be displayed whenever the user rests the
pointer device over it for a certain (pre-determined) amount of time.

The Status Bar is an area that is used for displaying additional information on the window elements. It
can be divided into sub-panels, in order to accommodate various types of messages (e.g., processing
feedback and control, status or mode of operation information). The Status Area (left side) is reserved for
messages related with the contents of the window's fields; the Message Area (right side) is used for
messages related with the window's operation status.
If the text to be displayed is longer than the Area length, the text will be truncated. However, a Tool tip
with the full text is displayed, whenever the pointer device points to that Area.

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The scope of the request is specified via the interaction with the Work Area; the following mechanisms
are available:
• Edit Field
In an Edit Field, the user can insert numeric or alphanumeric values, using the keyboard; usually,
auxiliary mechanisms are available to select (from a list) the value to be entered.
Sets of Edit Fields can be "aggregated" as columns of a Table; each entry (row) in a Table usually
corresponds to a record of an "entity". The number of visible rows is fixed: the visible rows can be
selected using the Scroll Bar. Whenever the text to be displayed is longer than the cell length, the
text will be truncated. However, a Tool tip with the full text is displayed, whenever the pointer
device points to that cell.
• Option Button
The Option Button allows to select a value from a list, displayed after selecting the button (clicking
the left mouse button MB1).
• Radio Button
This mechanism allows to select one (and only one) button from a "Selection Group".
• Toggle Button
This mechanism allows to select or de-select one or more buttons from a "Check Group".

For the description of the Work Area, the components will be identified according to the following
format:
Name [<Interaction>]

Note:
Information Fields (without interaction) are identified only by the Name.

Interaction Attributes:
E This attribute indicates that the keyboard can be used to insert or modify the contents of the field.
L This attribute indicates that the field's value will be selected from a list; to display the list of pos-
sible values, click the left mouse button MB1.
B This attribute indicates that the field is a Button; after its selection, a function is executed and
sometimes a new window may be activated.
T This attribute is associated to a Group of Check Buttons (Toggle Buttons).
R This attribute is associated to a Group of Selection Buttons (Radio Buttons).

Dialogue Boxes
These window-like areas can be used to specify values for parameters (e.g., selecting it from a list of
displayed values) or to provide the user with information (messages).

The set of buttons at the bottom area of the Dialogue Box are used to:
OK [B]:
Close the window and return the selected value to the calling window.
For Message Dialogue Boxes, this corresponds to the acknowledgement of the corresponding message.
Cancel [B]:
Return to the calling window, without performing any selection (not applied to Message Dialogue
Boxes).
Help... [B]:
Display the help text about the active window (its functionality and the meaning of the existing Fields).

Almost all Dialogue Boxes are "Modal": the sequence of execution is resumed only after the Dialogue
Box is closed.

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1.2. Interaction

The user interacts with the application through two devices, namely the Keyboard and the Pointer device.

Keyboard
The keyboard is divided into five areas:
Alphanumeric keys
This area contains letters, numbers, punctuation symbols, Space and the Return key. These keys
are used to write the text to fill in the Edit Fields.
Navigation keys
This group includes four direction keys, Tab (selects the next object (1)), the Home and the End
keys. These keys are used to navigate among objects or to set the cursor within the text of an Edit
Field.
Standardized application keys
This group includes the Return (executes the selected action) and BackSpace.
Function keys
This group includes the keys F1 through F10. These keys are used to execute a pre-defined
function (e.g. the F1 key executes the On Window Option of the Help Menu).
Extension keys
This group includes the Shift, Alt and Ctrl keys. These keys are used together with another key(s),
to enhance the keyboard functionality, as described in the following list:

• Shift + Left Arrow(← )

To expand the selection one character to the left (Edit Fields).
• Shift + Right Arrow(→ )
To expand the selection one character to the right (Edit Fields).
• Shift + Up Arrow(↑)
To expand the selection one line above in the same column (2).
• Shift + Down Arrow(↓)
To expand the selection one line below in the same column (2).
• Shift + End
To expand the selection to the end of the line (Edit Fields).
• Shift + Home
To expand the selection to the beginning of the line (Edit Fields).
• Shift + F5
To terminate the application (accelerator for Exit Option in File Menu).
• Shift + F8
To close the window (accelerator for Close Option in File Menu).
• Alt + Space
To open the Window Menu (depends on the Window Manager).
• Alt + Tab
To make the previous window active, bringing it to the top (depends on the Window Manager).
• Alt + F4
To close the window (depends on the Window Manager).
• Ctrl + 1
To execute (start) the selected Desktop or sub-application.
• Ctrl + D
To delete the currently selected Table entry.
• Ctrl + I
To insert a new row before the currently selected Table entry.
• Ctrl + S
To save the current window contents (accelerator for Save Option in File Menu).

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Notes:
(1) Not applicable for Edit Fields with more than one line.
(2) Applicable only for Edit Fields with more than one line.

Pointer device
On the standard configuration, the pointer device will be a Mouse, allowing a quick interaction with the
windows' components. At least two buttons (the left and the right buttons) are available:

MB1 (left): 1)
Used for the selection of an object in the Work Area or to execute an action
(click a Menu Option or a Button).
MB2 (right):
Not used.
MB3 (centre):
If available, it can be used to perform the "Paste" function over a previously
selected string (to select a string, the cursor must be moved over it, with the MB1
button down -- the background colour will change to Black).
1)
This button is also used to support multi-selection facilities:
Shift + MB1: select all the entries between a previously selected pair;
Ctrl + MB1: the currently selected entry is appended to the current list of selected entries.

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1.3. Modes of Operation

1.3.1. Dialogue Mode

SPOTS interactive operation is performed via a graphical user interface, based on X11 and OSF/Motif.

Data Patterns
Easy interaction for repetitive requests is guaranteed: the work space's contents of the window can be
saved (data pattern), assigning it a name:

A "default" data pattern can be defined for each window, including the work space's contents, when the
window is opened.

To perform the same request, the corresponding data pattern must be loaded:

Additionally, existing Data Patterns can be modified and deleted.

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Interaction Modes
A "lock mechanism" is provided to synchronise simultaneous requests for updating the SPOTS
Database; the following Window Interaction Modes are used:
• Edit mode
The access for updating is allowed (one user at a time). The interaction mode must be set to Edit
before changes are specified; it is automatically set to View, after the changes have been saved.
• View mode
No update is allowed.

1.3.2. Automatic/Scheduled Mode

The most relevant "repetitive" SPOTS tasks -- Data Collection, creation of Historical Data, Database
Backup, TM/PM Data Deletion, Processing Reports and Pre-defined (BusinessObjects) Reports -- can be
automatically executed.

To configure the automatic execution of tasks, the following steps must be performed:
• Task definition - the corresponding window is opened to specify the "input values" (the work space's
contents).
• Setting the execution time - the automatically executed tasks must be "attached" to a Job (set of tasks,
to be sequentially executed) and the scheduled execution of the Job must be specified, allowing single
or multiple (periodic) execution of the corresponding tasks.

All messages, which are produced during the execution of scheduled tasks, are handled by the Message
Logging mechanism (see Chpt. 8, Section 3).

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1.4. Help

The purpose of the help system is to provide the relevant information for the interaction of the user with the
application. To access it, the menu Help must be selected; the following options are available (for each
option, a Sub-Window is displayed; to close this window, select the Close Option from the File Menu or the
associated button in the Tool Bar).

On Window
This option provides the help information about the current window, including:
- the description of the global window functionality;
- for each menu option, the description of the associated function;
- for each field, the identification of its type and the description of its contents;
- the identification (associated menu option) of each button in the Tool Bar;
- remarks or relevant notes about the window.

On Keys
This option provides the information about the existing keys and their functionality (the keyboard
assignments).

On Version
This option provides the identification of the installed SPOTS version.

On Help
This option provides the information about the structure of the help system.

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1.5. Messages

In the execution environment of SPOTS, two basic types of Messages are produced: Interactive and
Logged Messages.

Interactive Messages

They are produced in the Dialogue Mode of Operation (see Section 1.3), as a result of an error, to resume
the execution of a "pending" request (e.g., exiting from a window in Edit mode -- changes were not yet
saved) or to confirm the execution of a request (e.g., to delete stored data).

Message PopUp Windows (message text and "OK" button for acknowledgement), Dialogue Boxes or the
window's "Message and Status Area" (see Section 1.1) are the different mechanisms to present these
messages.

Logged Messages

These Messages are produced during the execution of scheduled Tasks (see Chpt. 8, Section 2).
They are presented to a specific or all the SPOTS users and, additionally, stored in the system (for further
retrieving).
The detailed description of this mechanism is included in Chpt. 8, Section 3.

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1.6. Using the Printer

Almost every window has a Print option; this option displays a Dialogue Box which allows the user to
choose the Printer and the printing parameters, the detailed description of this Dialogue Box is presented
in Chpt. 8, Section 5.
Only PostScript printers are supported and at least one must be available and configured as system
default printer. Additionally, each user may optionally define a user default printer.
Whenever a print request is issued, the selection of the printer is performed according to the following
sequence:
1. A specific printer was specified for this request.
2. A user default printer is defined.
3. The system default printer.

Depending on the SPOTS installation (OMC-S Integrated or Standalone), the OMC-S Printing Services
will be available or not i.e., for the OMC-S Integrated installation, the OMC-S Printing Services will be
available for selection, in addition to the Printers defined in the Unix system.

Note:
The system default and the other printers must be previously configured in the Unix System, using the
Admintool utility.

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2. Starting SPOTS and Accessing SPOTS Desktops

When integrated in the OMC-S, the SPOTS Desktop is presented after SPOTS has been started from
the OMC-S environment (Note: previously, a "MIB instance of SPOTS" must be created -- see Ref. [09],
Section 11.1.3.5).
The OMC-S user must be previously created within the SPOTS environment (Chpt. 8, Section 1), using
its OMC-S identification.

For the Standalone configuration, SPOTS is started after executing the following steps:
< Login as a valid Unix User >
$ cd /oms_opt/spots
$ ./spots < user > $DISPLAY
where < user > refers to an existing SPOTS user.

After SPOTS has been started, the SPOTS Desktop is presented.

First level Desktop

The Second level Desktops can be started double-clicking the left mouse button MB1 on the
corresponding Icon, or selecting this Icon, followed by the Open Option (File Menu).
The corresponding button will be "disabled" (turning it grey), until the Desktop appears; after that, it will
be enabled again. However, if it is selected again, a new instance of the desktop is not started -- the active
desktop will be "brought to top" instead (preventing the parallel execution of the same Desktop, in the
same SPOTS session).

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Second level Desktop for Reports

Second level Desktop for Network Elements Configuration

Second level Desktop for Compound Entities

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Second level Desktop for Performance Management Alarms

Second level Desktop for Utilities

Second level Desktop for Database Services

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3. SPOTS Server and Client Configurations

SPOTS is available in two different configurations: SPOTS Server (including the Database and the
application software) and SPOTS Client (restricted to the application software; Database accesses to
SPOTS server are provided via Oracle Net product).

SPOTS Server is installed in a dedicated OMP (PM-Server).

OMT or OMT-R can be used to install SPOTS Client; this type of installation is required for the following
situations:
• when the number of (simultaneous) users is too high.
SPOTS Client(s) is(are) installed in OMT(s), connected, via LAN, to the SPOTS Server; the users'
access will be distributed among the different platforms.
• when remote access is required
Remote users will use the Client Configuration, installed in OMT-R; remote LAN must be
connected to the SPOTS Server LAN, in order to allow the accesses to the SPOTS server
Database.

Access to SPOTS Server and (local) Client configurations can be performed from OMT and OMT-X,
connected to the same LAN.
Additionally, the remote Client Configuration can be accessed from any OMT-R, sharing the same LAN.

The following restrictions are applied to the SPOTS Client configuration:

• Administration of BSS NEs (see Chpt. 4, Section 2) is restricted to users accessing the SPOTS
Server Configuration.
• Data Collection (see Chpt. 5) is restricted to users accessing the SPOTS Server Configuration.
• Database Backup and Restore are restricted to the SPOTS Server Configuration.

Additionally, the following differences should be considered:

• User Working Directory
In a Server / Client environment, this is a "local" directory, at the platform where the user is
running SPOTS -- i.e., for each platform where SPOTS is installed (Server or Client
configurations), an independent working directory is created, the first time the user runs SPOTS.
• Template Public Directory
This is a "local" Public directory, to be shared only by the users that are running SPOTS in the
same platform.

Note:
This description applies to both SPOTS execution environments: OMC-S Integrated and Standalone.

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4. SPOTS Licensing Policy

For licensing purposes, the SPOTS functionality is split in the following functional groups:
• SSS support.
• BSS support.
• Performance Management Alarms
Therefore, specific licence strings must be provided for each functional group.

Throughout this Manual, licensing support enabling the SPOTS full functionality will be assumed.

The maximum number of SSS or BSS Network Elements that can be supported is also limited by the
license agreement.

Note:
Before using SPOTS, please, make sure that the necessary licence strings have been ordered and are
installed -- see SPOTS V8.0 Installation Guide (E900001-01-115-V8.00I-*), Section 6.3.2 "Confi-
guring the SPOTS licenses".

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