Method and system for managing a protective distribution system

Abstract

A method and system for managing a protective distribution system is disclosed. In some embodiments, a physical information transmission line may be monitored. A disturbance on the physical information transmission line may be detected. The detected disturbance may not exceed a first preset threshold for triggering alerts of a first alert type based on detected disturbances. Responsive to the detection, a count for the number of disturbances within a preset time period that do not exceed the first preset threshold may be determined. A determination of whether the count, for the number of disturbances that do not exceed the first preset threshold, exceeds a second preset threshold may be effectuated. The second preset threshold may correspond to a preset number of allowable disturbances within the preset time period. An alert of the first alert type may be triggered responsive to a determination that the count exceeds the second preset threshold.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for managing a protective distribution system, comprising:
 monitoring a physical information transmission line;   detecting, via one or more sensors, a disturbance on the physical information transmission line, wherein the detected disturbance does not exceed a first preset threshold for triggering alerts of a first alert type based on detected disturbances;   determining, responsive to the detection via the one or more sensors, a count for the number of disturbances within a preset time period that do not exceed the first preset threshold;   determining whether the count, for the number of disturbances that do not exceed the first preset threshold, exceeds a second preset threshold, wherein the second preset threshold corresponds to a preset number of allowable disturbances within the preset time period; and   triggering an alert of the first alert type responsive to a determination that the count exceeds the second preset threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (1) the detected disturbance is of a first disturbance type, (2) the first preset threshold is a threshold for triggering alerts of the first alert type based on detected disturbances of the first disturbance type, and (3) the second preset threshold corresponds to a preset number of allowable disturbances of the first disturbance type within the preset time period. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the detected disturbance of the first disturbance type comprises at least one of a vibration, a frequency change, an acoustic change, and a change in distance based on reflectometer reading, and a disturbance of a second disturbance type comprises at least a different one of a vibration, a frequency change, an acoustic change, and a change in distance based on reflectometer reading. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detected disturbance comprises a vibration-related disturbance, and wherein the first preset threshold is a threshold for triggering alerts based on detected vibration-related disturbances. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detected disturbance comprises a frequency-change-related disturbance, and wherein the first preset threshold is a threshold for triggering alerts based on detected frequency-change-related disturbances. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detected disturbance comprises an acoustic-change-related disturbance, and wherein the first preset threshold is a threshold for triggering alerts based on detected acoustic-change-related disturbances. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detected disturbance comprises a disturbance related to a change in signal propagation distance, and wherein the first preset threshold is a threshold for triggering alerts based on detected disturbances related to a change in signal propagation distance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating a response to the detected disturbance responsive to the triggering of the alert of the first alert type, wherein the response comprises at least one of opening a case, dispatching an investigator to investigate the detected disturbance, and documenting the investigation in the case.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating a response to the detected disturbance responsive to the triggering of the alert of the first alert type, wherein the response comprises at least one of disabling a data collection, adjusting a physical security device, rerouting a data collection, and performing network analysis.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing the detected disturbance to be presented in comparison to the first preset threshold in real-time responsive to the detection of the disturbance.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the count is for the number of disturbances within the preset time period that do not exceed the first preset threshold, but exceeds a third preset threshold. 
     
     
         12 . A system for managing a protective distribution system, comprising:
 a computer system comprises one or more processors programmed to execute computer program instructions which, when executed, cause the computer system to:
 monitor a physical information transmission line; 
 detect, via one or more sensors, a disturbance on the physical information transmission line, wherein the detected disturbance does not exceed a first preset threshold for triggering alerts of a first alert type based on detected disturbances; 
 determine, responsive to the detection via the one or more sensors, a count for the number of disturbances within a preset time period that do not exceed the first preset threshold; 
 determine whether the count, for the number of disturbances that do not exceed the first preset threshold, exceeds a second preset threshold, wherein the second preset threshold corresponds to a preset number of allowable disturbances within the preset time period; and 
 trigger an alert of the first alert type responsive to a determination that the count exceeds the second preset threshold. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an intrusion detector coupled to the computer system,   the disturbance is detected by the computer system via the intrusion detector.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an optical line terminal or network switch;   an optical circuit switch;   an optical test access point device;   a network analytic tool; and   a video camera.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein (1) the detected disturbance is of a first disturbance type, (2) the first preset threshold is a threshold for triggering alerts of the first alert type based on detected disturbances of the first disturbance type, and (3) the second preset threshold corresponds to a preset number of allowable disturbances of the first disturbance type within the preset time period. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the detected disturbance of the first disturbance type comprises at least one of a vibration, a frequency change, an acoustic change, and a change in signal propagation distance, and a disturbance of a second disturbance type comprises at least a different one of a vibration, a frequency change, an acoustic change, and a change in signal propagation distance. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer system is further caused to:
 initiating a response to the detected disturbance responsive to the triggering of the alert of the first alert type, wherein the response comprises at least one of opening a case, dispatching an investigator to investigate the detected disturbance, documenting the investigation in the case, disabling a data collection, adjusting a physical security device, rerouting a data collection, and performing network analysis.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the computer system is further caused to:
 causing the detected disturbance to be presented in comparison to the first preset threshold in real-time responsive to the detection of the disturbance.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the count is for the number of disturbances within the preset time period that do not exceed the first preset threshold, but exceeds a third preset threshold. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing computer instructions therein, the computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions which when executed causes a processor to perform a method for managing a protective distribution system, the method comprising:
 monitoring a physical information transmission line;   detecting, via one or more sensors, a disturbance on the physical information transmission line, wherein the detected disturbance does not exceed a first preset threshold for triggering alerts of a first alert type based on detected disturbances;   determining, responsive to the detection via the one or more sensors, a count for the number of disturbances within a preset time period that do not exceed the first preset threshold;   determining whether the count, for the number of disturbances that do not exceed the first preset threshold, exceeds a second preset threshold, wherein the second preset threshold corresponds to a preset number of allowable disturbances within the preset time period; and   triggering an alert of the first alert type responsive to a determination that the count exceeds the second preset threshold.