Abstract: A method of operating a user equipment configured for use with a communications network is provided. The method comprises measuring a network performance characteristic associated with a measurement period, and identifying, using historical data, an application on the UE responsible for transmitting data to, and/or receiving data from, the communication network in the measurement period. The identity of the identified application is then associated with the network performance characteristic.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying an anomaly in a communications network, the communications network covering a geographical area. The method comprises defining a plurality of regions within the geographical area. A measurement of a network performance characteristic is received from a user equipment, UE, connected to the communications network. The measurement is associated with a geographical location. A region of the plurality of regions which contains the geographical location is identified, and it is determined that there is an anomaly in the communications network within the identified region.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention provides a method of fault monitoring in a utility supply network, the method comprising: receiving user queries, each user query about a performance of the network at a respective location; defining a region based on the locations specified in the received user queries; determining an estimate of a user population in the region; and according the region, based on the estimate, a priority for one or more of fault investigation and remediation.

Abstract: A method of assessing latency in a communications network comprising attempting to contact from a UE in a cellular network a specific internet resource with a HTTP request addressed to the resource, and capturing data specifying the period between making the attempt and receiving at the UE from the resource a response to the request. Thus data can be obtained from which can be made an end-to-end measurement of the latency affecting a user of a UE. Such measurements can be used by the operator of the communications network to, amongst other things, assess whether the network is performing satisfactorily, to advise users about the performance of the network and to determine that hardware or software within the network needs repair, upgrade or augmentation.

Abstract: A method of identifying faults in a utility supply network is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a first indication of a fault in the communications network based on a number of network performance queries received from users of user equipments (UEs) connected to the communications network within a first region of the communications network. The method further comprises identifying a second indication of a fault in the communications network based on network performance data associated with the first region. It is determined that a fault exists in the communications network based on identification of the first indication and the second indication.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention provides a method of fault monitoring in a utility supply network, the method comprising: receiving user queries, each user query about a performance of the network at a respective location; defining a region based on the locations specified in the received user queries; determining an estimate of a user population in the region; and according the region, based on the estimate, a priority for one or more of fault investigation and remediation.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing faults in a utility supply network involves receiving performance data indicative of performance of the utility supply network, and receiving historical performance data indicative of a historical performance of the utility supply network and a fault associated with the historical performance data. A fault in the utility supply network is determined based on a comparison of the performance data with the historical performance data.

Abstract: A method of operating a user equipment configured for use with a communications network is provided. The method comprises measuring a network performance characteristic associated with a measurement period, and identifying, using historical data, an application on the UE responsible for transmitting data to, and/or receiving data from, the communication network in the measurement period. The identity of the identified application is then associated with the network performance characteristic.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying an anomaly in a communications network, the communications network covering a geographical area. The method comprises defining a plurality of regions within the geographical area. A measurement of a network performance characteristic is received from a user equipment, UE, connected to the communications network. The measurement is associated with a geographical location. A region of the plurality of regions which contains the geographical location is identified, and it is determined that there is an anomaly in the communications network within the identified region.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining a priority of an incident in a utility supply involves receiving an indication of the incident in the utility supply network, receiving subjective data relating to user perception of performance of the utility supply network and determining a priority of the incident based on the subjective data. Determining the priority may also involve using objective data about the performance of the utility supply network and information about known or planned outages.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention provides a method of fault monitoring in a utility supply network, the method comprising: receiving user queries, each user query about a performance of the network at a respective location; defining a region based on the locations specified in the received user queries; determining an estimate of a user population in the region; and according the region, based on the estimate, a priority for one or more of fault investigation and remediation.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing faults in a utility supply network involves receiving performance data indicative of performance of the utility supply network, and receiving historical performance data indicative of a historical performance of the utility supply network and a fault associated with the historical performance data. A fault in the utility supply network is determined based on a comparison of the performance data with the historical performance data.

Abstract: A method of identifying faults in a utility supply network is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a first indication of a fault in the communications network based on a number of network performance queries received from users of user equipments (UEs) connected to the communications network within a first region of the communications network. The method further comprises identifying a second indication of a fault in the communications network based on network performance data associated with the first region. It is determined that a fault exists in the communications network based on identification of the first indication and the second indication.

Abstract: A network monitoring system is provided for monitoring performance of a utility supply network. The system comprises an asynchronous subsystem configured to receive scheduled measurements of network performance characteristics from a plurality of user equipments (UEs) connected to the network, and to store the scheduled measurements in a database. The system also comprises a synchronous subsystem configured to receive triggered measurements of network performance characteristics from at least one UE connected to the network, and to store the triggered performance measurements in the database. To be accompanied, when published, by FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Abstract: The network monitoring tool comprises an input for receiving data about the performance of the network and a data processor for analysing the data in order to produce an output. The output is at least one of the identification of a fault in the network and the derivation of information about the capability of the network to supply the utility.

Abstract: Where elements in a utility supply network are dependent upon another element for their proper operation, determining, by reference to user queries about network performance, whether there are faults in the dependent elements or a fault in the element upon which the dependent elements rely.

Abstract: A method of assessing latency in a communications network comprising attempting to contact from a UE in a cellular network a specific internet resource with a HTTP request addressed to the resource, and capturing data specifying the period between making the attempt and receiving at the UE from the resource a response to the request. Thus data can be obtained from which can be made an end-to-end measurement of the latency affecting a user of a UE. Such measurements can be used by the operator of the communications network to, amongst other things, assess whether the network is performing satisfactorily, to advise users about the performance of the network and to determine that hardware or software within the network needs repair, upgrade or augmentation.

Abstract: Where elements in a utility supply network are dependent upon another element for their proper operation, determining, by reference to user queries about network performance, whether there are faults in the dependent elements or a fault in the element upon which the dependent elements rely.

Abstract: A monitoring tool receiving a plurality of queries about the performance of a network, each query being a query about the performance of the network in a respective location. The tool groups queries that exhibit a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to one another. The locations of the queries in the group define a zone. If the number exceeds a threshold, then the zone warrants inspection and/or queries about network performance in the zone can be met with an indication that there appears to be a fault affecting the zone. Alternatively, the tool compares a plurality of stored areas, each area corresponding to a different time period and delimited by a boundary formed around the locations to which a plurality of network performance queries, in the respective time period, relate.