Islands in the information stream: Arkipelago shows network operators the big picture

Arkipelago is attempting to tap the U.S. carrier market with a software system that ties together network design and asset management while facilitating the flow of information among different segments of a carrier organization.

Toronto-based Arkipelago developed the concept for its Relational Object Management Environment product from its experience with computer-aided design systems for the architectural field.

Working in conjunction with AT&T's United Kingdom operations, Arkipelago identified the need for a software tool that would allow companies to exchange information generated from legacy systems while simultaneously enabling engineering and design tasks (see figure).

The key to ROME's open and accessible format is that it is a graphical interface to a centralized relational database. Data entered into the system from different departments in disparate formats is stored in object form. As information on the database is added, updated or changed, ROME synchronizes the database so that it is uniform across all departments.

"ROME takes the high-level operational data and makes it accessible throughout the organization," said Tim O'Hara, president of Arkipelago. "The promise of ROME is that it's going to extend the life of a relational database."

ROME is based on object technology, which allows users to organize and access pieces of information by familiar icons that represent network structures, locations or connections. "We've incorporated an integrated object design tool that allows carriers to deploy an object and assign certain attributes to that object," said Mark Anglin, sales engineer for Arkipelago.

For example, Arkipelago is currently developing a capacity provisioning function for ROME that would allow carriers to build, view and query the ROME database for available capacity. Working in the ROME interface, a carrier technician could access data on possible transmission routes, available capacity and equipment available.

Arkipelago views ROME's combination of network design and network maintenance functionality to be a large part of what differentiates the product in the network management scheme.

Arkipelago ranks products from Visionael and Circuit Vision among its chief competitors but maintains that its integrated design and management format sets ROME apart.

"Two-and-a-half years ago, ROME did what most of these companies are attempting to do now," O'Hara said.

In addition to AT&T in the U.K., ROME has been implemented by the Sprint/Deutsche Telekom/France Telecom international alliance Global One, as well as Swedish carrier NETnet International. Arkipelago is targeting competitive carriers that don't have legacy operations systems in place and are seeking an innovative approach.

"They've embraced the concept faster than some of the older, larger companies we've dealt with," O'Hara said.

The vendor is also targeting incumbent carriers, which would primarily look at ROME as a way to augment their existing operations support systems, Anglin said.

Arkipelago is also in OEM discussions with manufacturers of network infrastructure that may choose to use ROME as an adjunct to existing network management software, Anglin said.

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