NETWORK DATA ANALYSIS METHOD AND APPARATUS

A network monitoring and diagnosis apparatus comprises a processor, data storage device, graphical user interface, data mining means, data visualization means, data correlation means, and problem solving means. Performance data signals generated periodically by a communications network are collected by a network controller. The collected performance data is continuously mined, examining the data for performance parameters which are outside preset limits. Performance data outside preset limits is displayed on a graphical user interface, in a format determined by the visualization means. Performance parameters which are out of limits are correlated with other related parameters, information on which is available from the performance data signals, and patterns of parameter changes are identified by the correlation means. For performance parameters which are outside limits, a problem solving means examines the out of limit performance data and generates suggested solutions to underlying problems resulting in out of limit performance parameters. Each of the mining means, visualization means, correlation means and problem solving means may be implemented in terms of case based reasoning statements stored as control instructions in data storage means, and used to operate the processor to process raw performance data signals generated by the network without significant pre-processing of data.