Obtaining Signalling Information in a Packet Switched Network

A node for acting as a first end node in a packet switched network, the first end node comprising:

• a physical processor;
• a storage medium;
• a communication interface for communicatively connecting the first end node to the packet switched network, the communication interface configured to send and receive messages to and from the packet switched network;
• the physical processor configured to:
• generate a request message for setting up a test call, the request message comprising a first request for collecting trace information;
• send the request message towards a second end node in the packet switched network via the communication interface;
• receive, via the communication interface in response to the request for collecting trace information, a first response message sent by the second end node, the first response message comprising trace information relating to an intermediate node involved in routing the first response message between the second end node and the first end node.

A node for acting as a second end node in a packet switched network, the second end node comprising:

• a physical processor;
• a storage medium;
• a communication interface for communicatively connecting the second end node to the packet switched network, the communication interface configured to send and receive messages to and from the packet switched network;
• the physical processor configured to:
• receive, via the communication interface, a request message for setting up a test call sent by a first end node, the request message comprising a first request for collecting trace information;
• send a first response message towards the first end node in response to receipt of the request message and via the communication interface, the first response message comprising:
• trace information;
• a request for an intermediate node involved in routing the first response message towards the first end node to add additional trace information relating to the intermediate node to the trace information.

A node for acting as an intermediate node in a packet switched network, the intermediate node comprising:

• a physical processor;
• a storage medium;
• a communication interface for communicatively connecting the intermediate node to the packet switched network, the communication interface configured to send and receive messages to and from the packet switched network;
• the physical processor configured to:
• receive, via the communication interface, a message from a second end node via the communication interface, the message comprising trace information and a request to add additional trace information to the trace information in the message;
• add the additional trace information to the trace information in the message in response to receipt of the message, the additional trace information relating to the intermediate node;
• and
• thereafter forward the message, with the additional trace information added thereto, to a first end node in the packet switched network via the communication interface.