# US 2014/0192674 A1 · Method and Node For Measuring Processing Power in a Node in a Communications Network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192674 A1 - Document ID: US20140192674A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/240,054 - Filed: 2011-08-30 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-30 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericksson (publ) - Inventors: Hans Ronneke; Joakim Hallberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192674A1 ## CPC - H04W 16/22: Traffic simulation tools or models - H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic - H04L 43/062: related to network traffic - H04W 8/02: Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks - H04W 24/10: Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} - H04W 60/00: Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration - H04W 92/14: between access point controllers and backbone network device - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The embodiments herein relate to a method in a first network node (105) for measuring processing power in a second network node (103) in a communications network (100). The first network node (105) obtains a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message. Based on the obtained signaling load value, the first network node (105) measures the processing power of the second network node (103). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method in a first network node (105) for measuring processing power in a second network node (103) in a communications network (100), the method comprising: obtaining (205, 504) a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message; and measuring (208, 511) the processing power of the second network node (103) based on the obtained signaling load value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network node (105) is comprised in the second network node (103), and wherein the method further comprises: detecting (202, 204a, 501) receipt of the message from a fourth network node (101); and executing (203, 502) the procedure triggered by the received message. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first network node (105) is comprised in a third network node (107), and wherein the method further comprises: receiving (204b, 503) information about the message from the second network node (103); and which message is sent from a fourth network node (101) to the second network node (107). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The method according to any of the claims 1-3, further comprising: adding (206, 505) the obtained signaling load value to a first total signaling load value; and wherein the measuring (208, 511) the processing power in the second network node (103) is further based on the total signaling load value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the first total signaling load value is at least one of per fourth network node (101), per procedure executed in the second network node (103) and per time interval. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) The method according to any of the claims 1-5, further comprising: determining (207, 506) a maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node (103) by increasing a number of received messages until a maximum capacity of processing power of the second network node (103) is reached; and wherein the measuring (208, 511) the processing power of the second network node (103) is further based on the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, further comprising: determining (209, 507) a resource value associated with the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node (103). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) The method according to any of the claims 1-7, further comprising: determining (206, 508) a second total signaling load value per fourth network node (101) and per time period; and establishing (206, 509) a category of fourth network node (101) based on the second total signaling load value; and wherein the category of fourth network node (101) enables network planning and dimensioning of the communications network (100). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) The method according to any of the claims 1-8, further comprising: sending (210, 510) information about the first total signaling value and the second total signaling load value to a third network node (107). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) The method according to any of the claims 1-9, wherein the signaling load value associated with the procedure is preconfigured in the first network node (105). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) The method according to any of the claims 1-10, wherein the received message fulfils a predetermined condition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) The method according to any of the claims 1-11, wherein the signaling load value is further associated with consumption of an amount of processing power when the procedure is executed in the second network node (103). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) The method according to any of the claims 1-12, wherein information about the message, conditions and parameters associated with the procedure and information about the signaling load value associated with the procedure is stored in a table in the first network node (105), and wherein the signaling load value is obtained from the table. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) The method according to any of the claims 1-13, wherein the second network node (103) is a Mobility Management Entity, referred to as MME, a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as SGSN, a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as GGSN, a Serving Gateway, referred to as S-GW, a Packet Data Network Gateway, referred to as P-GW, a Machine Type Communication Interworking Function node, referred to as MTC IWF, wherein the third network node (107) is a monitoring node (107) and wherein the fourth network node (101) is a user equipment (101) or a fourth network node configured to communicate with the second network node (103). ### Claim 15 A first network node (105) for measuring processing power in a second network node (103) in a communications network (100), the first network node (105) comprising: an obtaining unit (601) configured to obtain a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message; and a measuring unit (603) configured to measure the processing power of the second network node (103) in the communications network (100) based on the obtained signaling load value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The first network node (105) according to claim 15, wherein the first network node (105) is comprised in the second network node (103), and wherein the first network node (105) further comprises: a detecting unit (605) configured to detect receipt of the message from a fourth network node (101); and a processing unit (607) configured to execute the procedure triggered by the message. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The first network node (105) according to claim 15, wherein the first network node (105) is comprised in a third network node (107), and wherein the first network node (105) further comprises: a receiving unit (610) configured to receive information about the message from the second network node (103); and which message is sent from a fourth network node (101) to the second network node (103). ### Claim 18 (depends on 15, 16, 17) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-17, wherein the processing unit (607) is further configured to add the obtained signaling load value to a first total signaling load value; and wherein the measuring unit (603) is further configured to measure the processing power in the second network node (103) further based on the total signaling load value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The first network node (105) according to claim 18, wherein the first total signaling load value is at least one of per fourth network node (101), per procedure executed in the second network node (103) and per time interval. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-19, wherein the processing unit (607) is further configured to determine a maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node (103) by increasing a number of received messages until a maximum capacity of processing power of the second network node (103) is reached; and wherein the measuring unit (603) is further configured to measure the processing power of the second network node (103) further based on the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The first network node (105) according to claim 20, wherein the processing unit (607) is further configured to determine a resource value associated with the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node (103). ### Claim 22 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-21, wherein the processing unit (607) is further configured to: determine a second total signaling load value per fourth network node (101) and per time period; and to establish a category of fourth network node (101) based on the second total signaling load value; and wherein the category of fourth network node (101) enables network planning and dimensioning of the communications network (100). ### Claim 23 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-22, further comprising: a sending unit (612) configured to send information about the first total signaling value and the second total signaling load value to a third network node (107). ### Claim 24 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-23, wherein the signaling load value associated with the procedure is preconfigured in the first network node (105). ### Claim 25 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-24, wherein the received message fulfils a predetermined condition. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-25, wherein the signaling load value is further associated with consumption of an amount of processing power when the procedure is executed in the second network node (103). ### Claim 27 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-26, wherein information about the message, conditions and parameters associated with the procedure and information about the signaling load value associated with the procedure is stored in a table in the first network node (105), and wherein the obtaining unit (601) is further configured to obtain the signaling load value from the table. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) The first network node (105) according to any of the claims 15-27, wherein the second network node (103) is a Mobility Management Entity, referred to as MME, a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as SGSN, a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as GGSN, a Serving Gateway, referred to as S-GW, a Packet Data Network Gateway, referred to as P-GW, a Machine Type Communication Interworking Function node, referred to as MTC IWF, wherein the third network node (107) is a monitoring node (107), and wherein the fourth network node (101) is a user equipment (101) or a fourth network node configured to communicate with the second network node (103).