ZCorum Enhances TruVizion Broadband Diagnostics with new features for FTTx Providers

ALPHARETTA, Ga., June 17, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- ZCorum, an industry leader in the deployment of diagnostics tools and managed services for broadband providers, announced a major enhancement to their patented TruVizion diagnostics software. TruVizion now provides additional functionality for broadband operators who are offering fiber service (FTTx) to their subscribers. The most significant addition is a diagnostics screen that aggregates performance metrics from the devices connected to the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) that resides in the operator's headend. In addition, new features were added to the diagnostics screen that displays information from the Optical Network Terminal (ONT) residing at the subscriber's location.

"Our new OLT Diagnostics screen provides in a single pane of glass a comprehensive view of what is going on in a fiber network, which is a unique and powerful capability that has not been available for fiber operators," said Peter Olivia, Vice President of Software Development at ZCorum. "Normally, if you are managing a fiber network you have to search in the Element Management System to find key performance metrics and errors." An Element Management System (EMS) is an application for managing the fiber system and equipment, and is proprietary to the specific equipment that the operator has deployed. "You generally have to drill into several layers in the EMS, and even search through logs to get to the information you want," said Olivia. "With TruVizion, that information is presented in an intuitive and organized fashion on one screen, and is color-coded to alert operators of any issues in the plant that need to be addressed. We even have a chart that shows the utilization for each PON port, and with one click we show you the subscribers who make up that usage and how much they have transferred.

The new OLT screen also provides a way to quickly see which devices are being impacted by an issue and where they are located. "Other summary data we provide on the OLT screen is also linked to detailed data," said Olivia. "If you click a number on the screen, we present a report with all of the subscribers that make up that datapoint, including their name, address, and the individual readings and alerts from their ONT. With another click you can plot those devices on a map so you can see where they are located geographically, which helps you determine if there is a common problem affecting multiple customers." Olivia added that you can also click on any subscriber in the report or on the map to open the full ONT Diagnostics screen for their device.

ZCorum has also added two new features to the ONT Diagnostics screen. With one click you can now plot historical performance data for an ONT for the last 24 hours, up to 90 days, including the number of unicast, multicast and broadcast packets transmitted. Multiple types of errors are also tracked over time. In addition, there is now a button that links directly to the management interface on compatible CPE. "Right from our ONT screen you can log in and remotely manage a customer's device just as if you were in the home connected to the ONT's GUI," said Olivia. "This makes it much easier for a Call Center representative to assist a customer, as opposed to trying to walk them through multiple screens to troubleshoot a problem or assist them in changing settings. Besides reducing talk time in the Call Center, this can also eliminate some truck rolls."

"We are happy to be the first to offer a tool that provides an efficient way to troubleshoot network and subscriber issues on a fiber plant," said Julie Compann, President and CEO of ZCorum. "TruVizion is a unique, cross-platform diagnostics application that presents actionable data from both DOCSIS and Fiber networks in a common format useful for multiple disciplines in an organization—from call center representatives and installers, to maintenance staff and NOC personnel." Compann noted that all ZCorum customers who were already using TruVizion for Fiber will receive the new capabilities for no additional cost. If you are interested in learning more about ZCorum's TruVizion diagnostics suite, you can visit the website at https://www.TruVizion.com.

SOURCE ZCorum