Telecommunication networks

Abstract

A mobile telecommunications network includes a core and a radio access network having a radio for wireless communication with mobile terminals registered with the network. The radio access network includes a controller operable to control the use of network resources by the mobile terminals. The controller may include an application programming interface, API, which provides a consistent interface to a multiplicity of applications hosted on the control mean. The controller may be provided at an access node site and/or a gateway site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile telecommunications network, comprising:
 a core; and   a radio access network for wireless communication with a plurality of mobile terminals registered with the radio access network,   wherein the radio access network includes a controller,   wherein the controller is operable to detect likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of the mobile terminals and to take action to reduce effects of the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour on the mobile telecommunications network,   wherein the controller is operable to determine sets of reference characteristics to apply respectively to ones of or groups of the mobile terminals and to compare measured characteristics relating to each of the mobile terminals with the reference characteristics applicable thereto to detect the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of the mobile terminals, and   wherein the controller is operable to identify a need for the reference characteristics for the mobile terminals if the controller determines that the controller does not have an appropriate set of definitions available and is operable to retrieve the appropriate set of definitions from the core or a third party.   
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is provided at an access node site and/or a gateway site. 
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to detect the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of at least one of the mobile terminals that potentially impacts an ability of the radio access network to control the mobile terminals and/or an ability of the radio access network to allow user data to be transmitted to or from the mobile terminals. 
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to obtain the reference characteristics by calculating the reference characteristics based on previously measured characteristics. 
     
     
         5 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the measured characteristics and/or the reference characteristics relate to a specific one of the mobile terminals, a specific terminal type and/or a particular application run by one or more of the mobile terminals. 
     
     
         6 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to detection of the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of at least one of the mobile terminals, the controller is operable to trigger a management event for reducing an impact on the mobile telecommunications network. 
     
     
         7 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to use an identifier of at least one of the mobile terminals to retrieve from the core information about the at least one of the mobile terminals in order to select an appropriate set of reference characteristics. 
     
     
         8 . A method of operating a mobile telecommunications network including a core and a radio access network for wireless communication with a plurality of mobile terminals registered with the radio access network, the radio access network including a controller, the method comprising:
 operating the controller to detect likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of the mobile terminals and to take action to reduce effects of the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour on the mobile telecommunications network, the operating of the controller including:
 determining sets of reference characteristics to apply respectively to ones or groups of the mobile terminals and comparing measured characteristics relating to each of the mobile terminals with the reference characteristics applicable thereto to detect the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of the mobile terminals; and 
 identifying a need for the reference characteristics for the mobile terminals if the controller determines that the controller does not have an appropriate set of definitions available and retrieving the appropriate set of definitions from the core or a third party. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is provided at an access node site and/or a gateway site. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the controller detects the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of at least one of the mobile terminals that potentially impacts an ability of the radio access network to control the mobile terminals and/or an ability of the radio access network to allow user data to be transmitted to or from the mobile terminals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the controller obtains the reference characteristics by calculating the reference characteristics based on previously measured characteristics. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the measured characteristics and/or the reference characteristics relate to a specific one of the mobile terminals, a specific terminal type and/or a particular application run by one or more of the mobile terminals. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to detection of the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of at least one of the mobile terminals, the controller triggers a management event for reducing an impact on the mobile telecommunications network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the controller uses an identifier of at least one of the mobile terminals to retrieve from the core information about the at least one of the mobile terminals in order to select an appropriate set of reference characteristics. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for operating a mobile telecommunications network including a core and a radio access network for wireless communication with a plurality of mobile terminals registered with the radio access network, the radio access network including a controller, the software comprising:
 executable code that operates the controller to detect likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of the mobile terminals and to take action to reduce effects of the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour on the mobile telecommunications network, the executable code that operates the controller including:
 executable code that determines sets of reference characteristics to apply respectively to ones or groups of the mobile terminals and compares measured characteristics relating to each of the mobile terminals with the reference characteristics applicable thereto to detect the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of the mobile terminals; and 
 executable code that identifies a need for the reference characteristics for the mobile terminals if the controller determines that the controller does not have an appropriate set of definitions available and retrieves the appropriate set of definitions from the core or a third party. 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is provided at an access node site and/or a gateway site. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the controller detects the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of at least one of the mobile terminals that potentially impacts an ability of the radio access network to control the mobile terminals and/or an ability of the radio access network to allow user data to be transmitted to or from the mobile terminals. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the controller obtains the reference characteristics by calculating the reference characteristics based on previously measured characteristics. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the measured characteristics and/or the reference characteristics relate to a specific one of the mobile terminals, a specific terminal type and/or a particular application run by one or more of the mobile terminals. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the software further comprises:
 executable code that, in response to detection of the likely malfunctioning or abnormal behaviour of at least one of the mobile terminals, triggers a management event for reducing an impact on the mobile telecommunications network.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the software further comprises:
 executable code that uses an identifier of at least one of the mobile terminals to retrieve from the core information about the at least one of the mobile terminals in order to select an appropriate set of reference characteristics.