System and method for normalizing network device communication capabilities

A processing node, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• an electronic processor operatively connected to the memory, the electronic processor configured to perform operations comprising:
• establishing a trace session, and
• while the trace session is active:
• receiving a plurality of message reports, wherein respective ones of the plurality of message reports correspond to protocol interactions between an access node and a wireless device,
• determining whether the wireless device is technically capable of communicating using a communication technique,
• determining, from the plurality of message reports, whether the wireless device is communicating with the access node using the communication technique, and
• in response to a determination that the wireless device is capable of communicating using the communication technique and that the wireless device is not communicating with the access node using the communication technique, initiating an over-the-air upgrade process to enable the communication technique in the wireless device.

A system for managing network communications, comprising:

• an access node;
• a wireless device in communication with the access node;
• and
• a processing node configured to perform operations comprising:
• establishing a trace session, and
• while the trace session is active:
• receiving a plurality of message reports, wherein respective ones of the plurality of message reports correspond to protocol interactions between the access node and the wireless device,
• determining whether the wireless device is technically capable of communicating using a communication technique,
• determining, from the plurality of message reports, whether the wireless device is communicating with the access node using the communication technique, and
• in response to a determination that the wireless device is capable of communicating using the communication technique and that the wireless device is not communicating with the access node using the communication technique, initiating an over-the-air upgrade process to enable the communication technique in the wireless device.