Abstract: A method and network management node for determining the managed nodes on a path from a given source node to a given destination node based on a statistical inference of traffic volume reports available from the nodes. Traffic counts from Performance Management (PM) counters are collected from all managed transport nodes including the source and destination nodes. Based on the observed pattern of traffic volume received from the PM counters, the most likely matching path from a given source to a given destination is selected. If the traffic counts are insufficient to establish a path with adequate certainty, the method may optionally generate additional traffic from the source node to the destination node to increase the reliability of the path determination.

Abstract: A method and network management node for determining the managed nodes on a path from a given source node to a given destination node based on a statistical inference of traffic volume reports available from the nodes. Traffic counts from Performance Management (PM) counters are collected from all managed transport nodes including the source and destination nodes. Based on the observed pattern of traffic volume received from the PM counters, the most likely matching path from a given source to a given destination is selected. If the traffic counts are insufficient to establish a path with adequate certainty, the method may optionally generate additional traffic from the source node to the destination node to increase the reliability of the path determination.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for sampling data elements from a data stream that comprises a plurality of data elements, each data element having a respective unique quasi-random identifier determined from a set of identifiers. Data elements are selected from the data stream whose identifiers are within a first element selection range to obtain a set including a predefined number of selected data elements, the first element selection range being a subset of the set of identifiers. A second element selection range is determined as a proper subset of the first element selection range. Data elements are discarded from the set of selected data elements whose identifiers are not within the second element selection range. At least one further data element is selected from the data stream whose identifier is within the second element selection range for the set of selected data elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enabling performance monitoring in packet-switched IP networks such as those configured according to an IP multimedia subsystem, IMS, architecture. Performance is monitored by reconstructing selected control signaling sequences. The control signaling sequences, which are typically executed according a signaling protocol such as the Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, are reconstructed by parsing the contents of monitoring request headers configured, modified, and attached to control messages according to the present invention. The header includes at least an IMS monitoring ID field (510) for identifying the signaling sequence to be reconstructed, a processing node ID field (520) for representing the entities processing the messages, and a requester ID field (530) for identifying a requesting entity. It may also specify a monitoring level (540) indicative of the monitoring tasks required. The monitoring may be requested by an IMS node, or by an entity outside the IMS.

Abstract: A method of handling performance data comprising a set of events is described. An event record for each event is stored as a set of blocks, each block containing one or more attributes of the event. The storage space occupied by each event record in is then reduced in discrete steps, each step including a reduction process that reduces the size of one of the set of blocks. This enables the provision of intermediate records between events and counters so that new event records contain complete details of their event, older event records contain less information, and even older event records may contain only high-level (counter) information.

Abstract: Methods of processing record data are presented, together with a Central Management Node for processing record data, and Management Subsystem DataBases for providing a record data set and matching record data. Triggered by service related network fault event, a key table comprising at least one key type is determined, based on a focus target record and related to the network fault event is determined, which key table is used in the step matching the at least one key with record data sets in determined Management Subsystem DataBases. Matched results are merged, whereafter a service performance indicator may be determined, based on which a multi-layer water flow analysis of subsystem specific performance related indicators can be obtained. This analysis may be successfully used to reveal the location of the service related network fault.

Abstract: There is provided a method of sampling data elements from a data stream for subsequent analysis, the data stream comprising a plurality of data elements, wherein each data element has a respective unique quasi-random identifier determined from a set of identifiers, the method comprising selecting data elements from the data stream whose identifiers are within a first element selection range to give a set of selected data elements, the first element selection range being a subset of the set of identifiers; wherein, once the set of selected data elements comprises a predetermined number of data elements, the method further comprises: determining a second element selection range as a proper subset of the first element selection range; discarding data elements from the set of selected data elements whose identifiers are not within the second element selection range; and selecting at least one further data element from the data stream whose identifier is within the second element selection range for the set of sel

Abstract: A performance management system and method are described herein that can control which client terminal(s) (e.g., mobile terminal(s)) are to provide Quality of Experience, QoE, report(s) and also control a level of detail for the requested QoE report(s).

Abstract: A method of handling performance data comprising a set of events is described. An event record for each event is stored as a set of blocks, each block containing one or more attributes of the event. The storage space occupied by each event record in is then reduced in discrete steps, each step including a reduction process that reduces the size of one of the set of blocks. This enables the provision of intermediate records between events and counters so that new event records contain complete details of their event, older event records contain less information, and even older event records may contain only high-level (counter) information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enabling performance monitoring in packet-switched IP networks such as those configured according to an IP multimedia subsystem, IMS, architecture. Performance is monitored by reconstructing selected control signaling sequences. The control signaling sequences, which are typically executed according a signaling protocol such as the Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, are reconstructed by parsing the contents of monitoring request headers configured, modified, and attached to control messages according to the present invention. The header includes at least an IMS monitoring ID field (510) for identifying the signaling sequence to be reconstructed, a processing node ID field (520) for representing the entities processing the messages, and a requester ID field (530) for identifying a requesting entity. It may also specify a monitoring level (540) indicative of the monitoring tasks required. The monitoring may be requested by an IMS node, or by an entity outside the IMS.

Abstract: Methods of processing record data are presented, together with a Central Management Node for processing record data, and Management Subsystem DataBases for providing a record data set and matching record data. Triggered by service related network fault event, a key table comprising at least one key type is determined, based on a focus target record and related to the network fault event is determined, which key table is used in the step matching the at least one key with record data sets in determined Management Subsystem Databases. Matched results are merged, whereafter a service performance indicator may be determined, based on which a multi-layer water flow analysis of subsystem specific performance related indicators can be obtained. This analysis may be successfully used to reveal the location of the service related network fault.

Abstract: A system and method of handling poll-based alarms. The method begins by detecting a high-priority problem in a network. Next, network elements in the network related to the high-priority problem are mapped. The mapping step includes grouping network elements into focus groups wherein each focus group includes network elements having the same alarm. The mapped network elements are then polled for alarms. The polled alarms of the network elements are then correlated and processed.