Session based nettrace and test call

A method for operating a network element of a telecommunications network during a trace session, the telecommunications network comprising an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE, wherein the trace session is associated with the first and second UEs, wherein the method is performed by the network element comprising a processing circuitry configured for:

• receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE request message associated with the first or the second UE, the SIP INVITE request message including trace settings describing the trace session;
• detecting the trace settings within the SIP INVITE request message;
• and
• forwarding the received SIP INVITE request message towards the first or the second UE, respectively, based on the trace settings.

A method for operating a first user equipment (UE) during a trace session in a telecommunications network comprising an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, wherein the method is performed by the UE comprising a processing circuitry configured for:

• receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE request message, the SIP INVITE request message including trace settings comprising informational elements describing the trace session;
• detecting the trace settings comprising the informational elements;
• and
• responding to the SIP INVITE request message based on the trace settings,
• wherein, the IMS network further comprises an application server (AS) configured for controlling the trace session, and wherein responding to the SIP INVITE request message further includes transmitting a SIP response message based on the trace settings to the AS for use by the AS in terminating the trace session.

An application server of an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network for use in a trace session performed in a telecommunications network comprising the IMS network, a first user equipment (UE), and a second UE, wherein the trace session is associated with the first and second UEs, the application server comprising:

• a receiver, a transmitter, a memory unit, and a processor, the processor being connected to the receiver, to the transmitter, and to the memory unit, wherein:
• the receiver is configured for receiving, from a trace session initiator, an activation request message for activating the trace session, the activation request message including trace settings comprising informational elements describing the trace session and identity information associated with the second UE;
• the processor is configured for determining from the trace settings, one or more network elements for use in forwarding a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE request message towards the second UE;
• the transmitter is configured for transmitting the SIP INVITE request message including the trace settings towards the second UE;
• and
• the receiver and the processor are further configured for receiving, in response to the SIP INVITE request message, a SIP response message associated with, or from, the second UE for use in terminating the trace session.

A network element of a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and a first user equipment (UE) and a second (UE), wherein a trace session is associated with the first and second UEs, the network element comprising:

• a receiver, a transmitter, a memory unit, and a processor, the processor being connected to the receiver, to the transmitter, and to the memory unit, wherein:
• the receiver is configured for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE request message associated with the first or the second UE, the SIP INVITE request message including trace settings describing the trace session;
• the processor is configured for detecting the trace settings within the SIP INVITE request message;
• and
• the transmitter is configured for forwarding the received SIP INVITE request message towards the first or the second UE based on the trace settings.

A first user equipment (UE) for use in a trace session performed in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network comprising an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the trace session associated with the first UE, the first UE comprising:

• a receiver, a transmitter, a memory unit, and a processor, the processor being connected to the receiver, to the transmitter, and to the memory unit, wherein:
• the receiver is configured for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE request message, the SIP INVITE request message including trace settings comprising informational elements describing the trace session;
• the processor is configured for detecting the trace settings comprising the informational elements;
• and
• the processor and the transmitter are configured for responding to the SIP INVITE request message based on the trace settings,
• wherein the processor and the transmitter are further configured to respond to the SIP INVITE request message by transmitting a SIP response message based on the trace settings to the IMS network for use in terminating the trace session.