US Signal, the leading telecommunications provider serving the Midwest, recently completed the building of a new network operations center (NOC) in its Grand Rapids, Michigan headquarters. The center provides complete 24/7 monitoring of US Signal’s entire network and telecommunications infrastructure throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio.
US Signal hired audio video technology and telecommunications specialists, Central Interconnect in Grand Rapids, Michigan to design and install the latest display technology in the showpiece facility. According to Michael Smith, Vice President for Central Interconnect, “This mission critical facility continuously monitors US Signal’s vast multi-state network analyzing traffic and performance. The objective was to build a NOC that would demonstrate US Signal’s industry-leading reputation for dependable, uninterrupted telecommunications transmission.”
“To maximize data analysis efficiency, we designed a display system that would centralize a wide range of visual information sources and present them in a correlated manner to NOC personnel. We selected RGB Spectrum’s QuadView multi-image display processor to perform the information display function. The QuadView processor supports a wide array of live inputs so that operators can quickly assess and analyze pertinent data.”
The US Signal NOC facility’s staff of eight operators and a manager continuously view information on two conjoined 100-inch diagonal screens. Operators monitor network traffic, analyze network performance, troubleshoot, resolve transmission problems, and reroute transmissions to avert communications problems and optimize performance.
The QuadView processor is fed computer-generated imagery consisting of network system and geographical maps, live network traffic activity data, telecommunications data, and National Weather Service storm information. The QuadView processor also receives video feeds of national and regional weather and news broadcasts. The QuadView integrates computer and video sources and outputs any four of them to the Panasonic ceiling-mounted projector for viewing on the left screen. The right screen displays a single, full screen image of any image. Operators use a touch screen controller to select and route image sources and choose pre-set Quadview display arrangements. Sources can be displayed any size, anywhere on screen. Operators can also pan and zoom within an to view an area of particular interest.
Smith commented, “The client response has been excellent. They are very pleased with the results. The system is a powerful sales tool to promote US Signal’s leading edge telecommunications capabilities.”
