Network fault detection

An apparatus configured to detect faults within a telecommunications network, said telecommunications network comprising a plurality of entities, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor configured to execute the functions of:
• a grouping unit for grouping said entities into one or more groups based on one of call traffic handled by said entities and call traffic said entities are configured to handle;
• a monitoring unit for monitoring a call length pattern of a plurality of grouped entities within at least one of said groups for a predetermined monitoring period;
• and
• an analysis unit configured to:
• determine, at the end of the predetermined monitoring period, whether a predefined number of call length patterns have been recorded;
• and
• if the predefined number of call length patterns have been recorded, compare the monitored call length pattern of at least one of said grouped entities with the monitored call length pattern of one or more of the other grouped entities in the same group to determine if the behavior of the grouped entity is indicative of a fault.

An apparatus adapted to detect faults within a telecommunications network, said telecommunications network comprising a plurality of entities, the apparatus being configured to:

• group said entities into one or more groups based on one of the call traffic handled by said entities and the call traffic said entities are configured to handle;
• for at least one of said groups, monitor the call length pattern of a plurality of grouped entities of said group for a predetermined monitoring period;
• at the end of the predetermined monitoring period, determine whether a predefined number of call length patterns have been recorded;
• and
• if the predefined number of call length patterns have been recorded:
• for at least one of said grouped entities, compare the monitored call length pattern of the grouped entity with the monitored call length pattern of one or more of the other grouped entities to determine if the behavior of said grouped entity is indicative of a fault.