Abstract: A technique for controlling and handling set up of a probe tunnel stretching from an access network node through a core network towards a core network node is described. In a method implementation, probe tunnel set up control comprises determining a First Fully Qualified Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (F-TEID) associated with the core network node and sending a probe tunnel set up instruction to the access network node. The instruction commands the access network node to locally set up the probe tunnel towards the core network node based on the F-TEID.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of a method and device taught herein provide for monitoring wireless terminal behavior in a wireless communication network, where each wireless terminal has a defined terminal type. Data describing the behavior of a plurality of wireless terminals in the wireless communication network is obtained. Based on the obtained data, an aggregated severity score for a given terminal type is determined that is indicative of the extent to which one or more of a plurality of performance criteria have not been met by wireless terminals of the given terminal type. If the aggregated severity score for the given terminal type exceeds a corresponding severity score threshold, one or more of a plurality of predefined actions are performed based on the extent to which the threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: Methods and devices in a cellular radio system for handling repeated handovers of a user equipment between a pair of cells is provided. It is determined if the user equipment is in one of two states, moving state or stationary state. Based on the determination different actions can be taken. For example threshold optimizations for reducing repeated handover may only be applied to a user equipment determined to be in a stationary state or a user equipment determined to be in a stationary state to can be nailed to the best cell of said pair of cells by not allowing the user equipment to handover to the other cell of said pair of cells.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of a method and apparatus taught herein provide for the detection of faulty wireless terminals in a wireless communication network. According to an exemplary method, an occurrence of one or more service incidents occurring for a wireless terminal during an observation time period is detected. For each service incident, a service quality score indicative of the severity of incident is determined. A performance metric is calculated responsive to the service quality scores of the wireless terminal occurring during the observation time period. The wireless terminal is determined to faulty if the performance metric exceeds a service quality threshold. A corresponding network node operable to implement the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method by which a network element in a telecommunications network can report factors that have limited the performance of a UE in an observation period. A bottleneck score is calculated for each factor, the bottleneck score providing a measurement of the extent to which that factor has limited the performance of that UE compared to other factors in the observation period A data record for the UE is populated with the bottleneck scores and sent in a report towards upper layer management functions. When these reports are received (e.g. by a MME) they may be complemented with global entities of the users and aggregated measures created.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling data traffic in a communications network. The server determines that network conditions are suitable for sending delay tolerant data traffic, and as a result of the determination, it transmits a grant message to at least one client device, the grant message informing the client device that it is permitted to send or receive delay tolerant data traffic.

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: Methods and devices enabling improved switch-on procedures during the reactivation of base stations already switched off to save power are provided. In accordance with one embodiment a method of activating a de-activated cell in a cellular radio system is provided. First measurements are collected from a number of user equipments connected to the cellular radio system. Based on the collected measurements a model for mapping a cell, the best cell, providing the least power increase in the cellular radio system when activated is constructed. When the traffic demand of the cellular radio system cannot be served using already activated cells it is determined to activate the cell that is mapped as the best cell to be activated. Hereby, the cells of a cellular radio system can be managed to maximally utilize the energy used in the system.

Abstract: Methods and devices in a cellular radio system for handling repeated handovers of a user equipment between a pair of cells is provided. It is determined if the user equipment is in one of two states, moving state or stationary state. Based on the determination different actions can be taken. For example threshold optimizations for reducing repeated handover may only be applied to a user equipment determined to be in a stationary state or a user equipment determined to be in a stationary state to can be nailed to the best cell of said pair of cells by not allowing the user equipment to handover to the other cell of said pair of cells.

Abstract: In a method and system for automatically bringing a cell into DTX mode, a time period is introduced during which the outcome of bringing a cell into DTX mode is observed. The cell can return to a transmission mode if the outcome is non-satisfactory as determined by some criteria. Hereby an improved automated DTX method can be implemented which helps save energy in a cellular radio system.

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 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.

Abstract: A network management system (100) and a method are described herein that are capable of identifying and accessing Quality of Service (QoS) issues within a communications network (104, 106). In one application, the network management system (100) includes a service performance unit (108), a service performance database (110), a factor scoring system (112), a factor score database (114) and a factor strength analysis module (116).

Abstract: A method is provided in a network management node for handling an alarm caused by a fault in a communications system. An alarm caused by a fault in the communications system is received from a first network element within the communications system. The alarm is associated with an identity of the first network element, and an alarm time associated with the time when the alarm was active. After receiving the alarm, the network management node sends a request to a user activity database, requesting one or more matching records. Each of the matching records is requested to comprise an identity equal to the identity of the first network element associated with the alarm, and a record time period that comprises the time when the alarm was active.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring buffer data from a first network node to a second network node during a mobile handover between cells. In order to improve the speed at which buffer data is transferred during a handover, a connection using a congestion control protocol is established between the two nodes prior to the handover. Dummy data is sent over this connection, in order to approach or reach the available data transfer rate, and at the handover, the dummy data is replaced with buffer data.

Abstract: A method of reducing buffer overflow in a cellular radio network caused by a transfer of data from a buffer in a first cell to a buffer in a second cell when a handover of mobile equipment from said first cell to said second cell occurs. The method comprises temporarily increasing an amount of temporary buffer space required to handle data transferred from the buffer of the first cell to the buffer of the second cell. In one embodiment of the method, prior to increasing the amount of temporary buffer space, the amount of temporary buffer space required is calculated.

Abstract: The idea of the present invention providing a solution for configuration problems of a node is based on the following components. A problem recognition system, which analyses performance indicators and identifies root causes, so that signatures can be attached to a found problems. Furthermore there is a signature based filtering system, which looks for transactions satisfying signatures. A customer identification system labels the transactions with the subscriber identify. A solution feedback system generates feedback event to the end node according to the rule of the signature.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in an IP-based mobile communication network for actively probing a tunneled transmission path from a base station such as an eNB to a core network. A UE-emulator emulates a User Equipment (UE) and provides emulated NAS signaling to a Probe Connection Control (PCC) unit in the base station, which establishes the tunneled transmission path by forwarding the NAS signaling received from the emulator toward the core network. The PCC stores associated communication endpoints and UE-assigned IP addresses. A Probe Traffic Control (PTC) unit within the base station utilizes the stored endpoints and IP addresses to generate probe traffic through the tunneled transmission path toward a probe server or another base station configured as a probe reflector. The probe reflector collects and reports path properties such as packet loss, delay, jitter, and throughput.

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).