System and method for monitoring signaling units on A-interface links in a GSM network

A method for correlating messages in a communication network, wherein said messages include source data identifying a specific call connection between a base station and a switch, said system comprising:

• creating an anchor record, wherein said anchor record identifies a call record to receive messages associated with a first call connection;
• creating a secondary record, wherein said secondary record identifies a processor having said anchor record;
• creating a handover pending record when a handover-to call connection is initiated;
• determining whether said handover pending record corresponds to said first call connection;
• and
• converting said handover pending record to a routing record when said handover pending record corresponds to said first call connection, wherein said routing record identifies a processor having said anchor record.

A method of correlating a connection on a first communication link to a connection on a second communication link comprising the steps of:

• detecting a handover-from message on said first communication link;
• creating a first handover reference record for said connection on said first link;
• detecting a handover-to message on said second communication link;
• creating a second handover reference record for said connection on said second link;
• comparing said first and second handover reference records;
• and
• combining said first and second handover reference records into a communication record.

A computer readable medium having a computer program stored thereon for use in a system for correlating messages in a communications network, said computer readable medium comprising:

• means for correlating messages captured from a first link in said communications network and for combining said first link messages into a first call record, wherein said call record is associated with a call connection on said first link;
• means for collecting messages captured from a second link in said communications network and for determining whether said second link messages correspond to said call connection on said first link;
• and
• means for collecting messages captured from a third link in said communications network and for determining whether said third link messages correspond to said call connection on said second link.

A system for correlating a plurality of diverse messages into a single record representing a particular communication on one or more communication networks, said system comprising:

• means for correlating related messages of a first type into a first message record;
• means for correlating related messages of a second type into a second message record;
• means for determining whether said first and second message records are associated with a single communication;
• means for combining said first and second message records into a first communication record, wherein said first communication record is associated with a particular communication;
• means for correlating related messages of a third type into a third message record;
• and
• means for determining whether said third message record is associated with said particular communication.