Monitoring individual data flow performance

A method of operation of a base station in a communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of data flows;
• detecting data flows containing a performance management indicator which is associated with one of a plurality of different types of user equipment, wherein the performance management identifier is added to the plurality of data flows by a core network node when a user equipment identifier of a data flow is associated with a data flow property, wherein the data flow property is associated with one of a plurality of different types of user equipment;
• aggregating statistics relating to the plurality of data flows containing the performance management indicator;
• and
• reporting the aggregated statistics to a management node of the communications network.

A method of operation of an intermediate network node in a communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from a management node that a plurality of data flows should are to be identified which are all associated with one of a plurality of different types of user equipment;
• determining a performance management identifier that identifies the plurality of data flows which are associated with a user equipment identifier;
• signalling to a core network node identifying the determined performance management identifier to be added to the plurality of data flows which are associated with the one type of user equipment, wherein the determined performance management identifier is added to the plurality of data flows by the core network node when the user equipment identifier of a data flow is associated with a data flow property, wherein the data flow property is associated with one of a plurality of different types of user equipment;
• and
• signalling to at least one base station to initiate aggregating statistics relating to the plurality of data flows containing the performance management identifier.

A system in a communications network, the system comprising:

• an intermediate network node configured to:
• receive a request from a management node that a plurality of data flows should are to be identified which are all associated with one of a plurality of different types of user equipment;
• signal to a core network node that a performance management identifier should is to be added to the plurality of data flows which are associated with the one type of user equipment;
• signal to at least one base station to aggregate statistics relating to the plurality of data flows containing the performance management identifier,
• wherein the performance management identifier is added to the plurality of data flows by the core network node when a user equipment identifier of a data flow is associated with a data flow property, wherein the data flow property is associated with one of a plurality of different types of user equipment;
• and
• a base station configured to:
• identify data flows containing the same performance management identifier which is associated with the one type of user equipment;
• aggregate statistics relating to the identified data flows;
• and
• report the aggregated statistics to the management node of the communications network.