Abstract: In the field of monitoring communications systems, it is necessary for a monitoring system to be aware of an association of a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC) and an IP Address of a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) of a first network when a mobile terminal is roaming into a second network. Probes monitoring links with the second network generate transaction data. The transaction data is generated from messages communicated as part of a dialogue to establish a data “tunnel” between a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of the second network and the GGSN of the first network. The MCC, MNC and IP address data are extracted from the transaction data and used to update an address network name table.

Abstract: A measurement system comprises a pair of probes located at different points in a communications network. The probes generate transaction records related to messages observed, an exchange of the messages constituting a transaction. The transaction records are passed to a data store, the data store being mined by a correlator engine to match transaction records. The timestamps contained in the matching transaction records obtained are used to calculate a transit metric by a measurement engine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring telecommunications network elements, especially where direct access to those network elements is not available. The invention allows a network manager to build and maintain significant relationship information, as well as model the state of network elements with a high degree of accuracy, but based only on the information contained within the transactions built from the network traffic which is being monitored. In particular, it allows the network manager to obtain the same results that would previously have required direct access to an operator's network elements.

Abstract: A service key is assembled from information in data packets traversing a communications link, to enable identification of services implemented via the data packets.