US 8,787,901 B2Granted

Method, apparatus and system for flexible user tracing in mobile networks

AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)

InventorsAndrás Rácz, Tamás Borsos, László Kovács

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Abstract

In existing mobile networks, users may be traced to troubleshoot problematic user connections, monitor generic network performance, and to perform root cause analysis to identify network problems. However, the existing tracing methods provide incomplete trace information. To address this and other issues, early tracing recording is enabled in which an involved trace entity starts recording the trace data when any initial activity related to the user equipment is detected. The trace entity can continue the trace if a trace trigger is later confirmed or may discard the trace data if the trigger is not confirmed.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A method performed by a trace entity of a mobile network for trace data collection in the mobile network, the method comprising:

starting, by the trace entity, the trace data collection upon detection of an activity related to a wireless user equipment (UE), the trace data collection comprising recording of trace data associated with signaling messages sent from and/or received at the trace entity, wherein the signaling messages are related to the wireless user equipment;
determining, by the trace entity, at a predetermined point in time after the trace data collection has started, whether tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment, the tracing being activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment when the trace entity confirms that the wireless user equipment meets tracing requirements set forth in a trace configuration or when the trace entity receives a trace trigger related to the wireless user equipment from an upstream network entity;
continuing, by the trace entity, the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment;
and
stopping, by the trace entity, the trace data collection and discarding, by the trace entity, the recorded trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has not been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment,
wherein the trace entity is a network entity of the mobile network or the wireless user equipment that can perform tracing, and
wherein the trace data collection is started by the trace entity prior to the trace entity determining whether or not the tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment and prior to the tracing being activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment.

4 more elements

A trace entity of a mobile network arranged to perform data collection in the mobile network, the trace entity comprising:

a message transceiving unit arranged to transmit and receive messages from nodes in the mobile network;
a trace data collection unit arranged to start the trace data collection upon detection of an activity related to a wireless user equipment, the trace data collection comprising recording of trace data associated with signaling messages sent from and/or received at the trace entity, wherein the signaling messages are related to the wireless user equipment;
and
a trace activation unit arranged to determine, at a predetermined point in time after the trace data collection unit has started the trace data collection, whether tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment, the tracing being activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment when it is confirmed that the wireless user equipment meets tracing requirements set forth in a trace configuration or when the message transceiving unit receives a trace trigger related to the wireless user equipment from an upstream network entity,
wherein the trace data collection unit is arranged to continue the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment, and to stop the trace data collection and to discard the recorded trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has not been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment, and
wherein the trace data collection unit is arranged to start the trace data collection prior to the trace activation unit determining whether or not the tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment and prior to the tracing being activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment.

3 more elements

A mobile network comprising one or more trace entities arranged to perform trace data collection, the one or more trace entities including a trace entity, wherein the trace entity is arranged to

start the trace data collection upon detection of an activity related to a wireless user equipment, the trace data collection comprising recording of trace data associated with signaling messages sent from and/or received at the trace entity, wherein the signaling messages are related to the wireless user equipment;
determine at a predetermined point in time after the trace data collection has started whether tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment, the tracing being activated at that trace entity for the wireless user equipment when the trace entity confirms that the wireless user equipment meets tracing requirements set forth in a trace configuration or when the trace entity receives a trace trigger related to the wireless user equipment from an upstream network entity;
continue the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment;
and
stop the trace data collection and discard the recorded trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has not been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment,
wherein the trace entity is arranged to start the trace data collection prior to the trace entity determining whether or not the tracing has been activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment and prior to the tracing being activated at the trace entity for the wireless user equipment.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.