Case studies

A major communications company

IBM Research uses cutting edge technologies and methods to assess networks and networked applications for this communications company

Business impact

Expert analysis and targeted recommendations are helping company executives make informed decisions and structure strategies for near-future and long-term infrastructure needs.

Issue

This communications company, which delivers broadband cable, commerce and content, is experiencing rapid growth and expanding its operations to include digital services, more innovative programming, faster Internet capabilities and IP-enabled phone service. To do so, company leaders saw the need to move from separate and distinct infrastructures, protocols and client endpoints toward a more converged organization and services. Leaders also wanted to improve network reliability and better manage risks.

Executive summary

IBM was brought in to help develop a high-level assessment of the company network for factors such as scalability and resiliency and to identify architectural bottlenecks. IBM also was asked to recommend solutions, including emerging technologies such as Session Internet Protocol (SIP). SIP is the core technology for the growing convergence of applications such as voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP), instant messaging and presence (the ability to detect whether other users are online and whether they are available). IBM Research assumed a lead role in SIP analyses and conclusions, and delivered a set of recommendations designed to meet corporate goals.

Among those recommendations was to migrate toward an autonomic computing and storage model for enhanced use of hardware resources. Researchers also recommended the implementation of a common SIP infrastructure to support future growth, help reduce capital requirements and enhance resiliency. Included in this recommendation was a suggestion to establish an enterprise-wide SIP Center of Excellence to evaluate vendor adoption, alternatives, specification evolution, migration readiness and roadmaps.

What IBM did

IBM applied a structured approach to develop as-is assessments, hypotheses and recommendations. Included in the approach:

detailed reviews of project-related documents, trouble ticket data, critical incident reports, and architecture diagrams and related documents

extensive interviews, meetings and workshops with product groups, owners and users

IBM reference models and methods, as well as reviews of third-party reports

review of current architectures for delivering multiple services such as VoIP, video-on-demand and instant messaging

evaluation of the applicability of SIP as the underlying unifying framework for these diverse services

Capabilities applied

Researchers used cutting-edge models, algorithms, software and IBM expertise to help assess the networks and networked applications, and to help this communications giant plan for expanding networks and to understand and optimize the ones they already have. Similar assessments are available to companies in various industries through IBM Research Services, the results-oriented partnership between IBM Research and IBM Global Business Services.