System, tool and method for network monitoring and corresponding network

Abstract

A system, method and tool for monitoring switching events in a network with at least two nodes, and a corresponding network, the system, method and tool including means for representing the events originated from different nodes as data in a uniform format, and means for counting the occurrence of events in a node of the network wherein switching events being represented as the same data are counted as the same event.

1 . A method for monitoring switching events in a network, wherein the network comprises a first mobile switching centre (MSC), a first mobile communication device and a second mobile communication device, wherein the first MSC defines a plurality of switching events associated with calls between the first mobile communication device and the second mobile communication device, the method comprising:
 defining, in the first MSC, a subset of the plurality of switching events, wherein each switching event in the plurality of switching events influences subscriber perception of network quality;   setting a counter in the first MSC for each event in the subset of switching events;   the first mobile communication device calling a phone number of the second mobile communication device via the first MSC, thereby generating a first series of switching events in the first MSC; and   in the counters in the first MSC, counting events from the first series of switching events, thereby collecting data values that represent subscriber perception of network quality.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at a switching centre management system (SCMS) coupled to the first MSC, retrieving the collected data values from the first MSC; and   at the SCMS, storing the collected data values in a traffic database file.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 defining, in a second MSC, the subset of switching events;   setting a counter in the second MSC for each of the subset of switching events;   a third mobile communication device calling a phone number of a fourth mobile communication device via the second MSC, thereby generating a second series of switching events in the second MSC;   in the counters set in the second MSC, counting events from the second series of switching events, thereby collecting data values that represent subscriber perception of network quality;   at the SCMS, wherein the SCMS is coupled to the second MSC, retrieving the collected data values from the second MSC; and   at the SCMS, storing the collected data values in the traffic database file.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising
 the SCMS combines (i) the collected data value from the first MSC for a given switching event of the subset of switching events and (ii) the collected data value from the second MSC for the given switching event, into an aggregate collected data value; and   the SCMS stores the aggregate collected data value in the traffic database file.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 defining one or more switching events of the subset of switching events corresponding to a traffic destination, thereby representing subscriber perception of network quality associated with the traffic destination.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 defining one or more switching events of the subset of switching events as a class of switching events, thereby representing subscriber perception of network quality associated with the class of switching events.   
   
   
       7 . A method for detecting malfunctions in a network comprising:
 maintaining a threshold number of switching events for a given class of switching events;   collecting switching events from a plurality of nodes in the network, wherein each switching event is of the given class;   counting the collected switching events, thereby determining a number of occurrences of switching events of the given class;   determining that the number of occurrences of switching events of the given class is out of range in comparison to the threshold number of switching events for the given class;   storing the number of occurrences of switching events of the given class in an alert database file;   generating, from the alert database file, an output alert file;   transmitting the output alert file to at least one information management system; and   the at least one information management system displaying an indication of the contents of the output alert file.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the given class of switching events comprises a switching event related to a traffic destination. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the traffic destination is geographical location. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the traffic destination is a network. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the traffic destination is a network service. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the given class of switching events comprises a switching event related to a signaling event. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the given class of switching events comprises a switching event related to a processor loading. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the given class of switching events comprises a switching event related to a route through the network. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein collecting switching events is performed at a regular interval. 
   
   
       16 . A method for monitoring switching events in a network, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of classified switching events from one or more mobile switching centers (MSCs), wherein the plurality of classified switching events relate to the establishment of a communication session between a first device and a second device;   accumulating the received plurality of classified switching events in at least one event counter in the form of a value;   reading the value of the at least one event counter;   storing the read value of the at least one event counter in a database file;   comparing the stored value in the database file with at least one threshold value to determine if the stored value in the database file is within a normal operating range;   upon determining that the stored value is not within the normal operating range, writing the stored value to an output alert file; and   transmitting the output alert file.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 receiving the output alert file at an information management system; and   the information management system displaying information from the output alert file.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the displayed information comprises a geographical map showing locations of the MSCs. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the information management systems are wireless Internet devices. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of classified switching events also relate to subscriber perception of network quality.