Abstract: A system is described for collecting data records which have been correlated to subscriber, or end user, access network, core network, transport network, and application service information, referred to as end user correlated data records and utilizing those records in a wireless or wireline network to identify and address correctable conditions in a network, such as a wireless or wireline network. The system includes at least one probe in the network which is able to monitor network activity and provide detailed data records on that activity. These data records are sent to a mediation device that correlates those data records with subscriber and/or location data, to create the end user correlated data records. An intelligent application services device takes the end user correlated data records and examines the records to determine if there are any correctable conditions in the network or the end user devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the burst bit rate for data in the transport layer of a network is described. The burst bit rate is determined by measuring the time for a total number of bytes to be transferred across a point in the network and adding that time to an estimated network delay. The total number of bytes transferred is then divided by the transfer time plus the estimated network delay thereby calculating the burst bit rate for the transfer.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring user-perceived delay in an IP network, comprising detecting request and corresponding response messages at a monitoring point in the network, calculating an uplink delay based upon the time elapsed between the request and corresponding response messages, detecting response and corresponding transport acknowledgement messages at the monitoring point, wherein the response message is sent in response to the request message, calculating a downlink network delay based upon the time elapsed between the response and corresponding transport acknowledgement messages; and calculating a user-perceived delay by adding uplink delay and downlink network delay, wherein the user-perceived delay represents a time required for an IP message to travel from a user device to a network destination plus the time required for the service (server) to respond and return the response to the user device.

Abstract: A system is described for collecting data records which have been correlated to subscriber, or end user, access network, core network, transport network, and application service information, referred to as end user correlated data records and utilizing those records in a wireless or wireline network to identify and address correctable conditions in a network, such as a wireless or wireline network. The system includes at least one probe in the network which is able to monitor network activity and provide detailed data records on that activity. These data records are sent to a mediation device that correlates those data records with subscriber and/or location data, to create the end user correlated data records. An intelligent application services device takes the end user correlated data records and examines the records to determine if there are any correctable conditions in the network or the end user devices.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring user-perceived delay in an IP network, comprising detecting request and corresponding response messages at a monitoring point in the network, calculating an uplink delay based upon the time elapsed between the request and corresponding response messages, detecting response and corresponding transport acknowledgement messages at the monitoring point, wherein the response message is sent in response to the request message, calculating a downlink network delay based upon the time elapsed between the response and corresponding transport acknowledgement messages; and calculating a user-perceived delay by adding uplink delay and downlink network delay, wherein the user-perceived delay represents a time required for an IP message to travel from a user device to a network destination plus the time required for the service (server) to respond and return the response to the user device.

Abstract: A system and method for correlating messages from A interface links is disclosed. When an initial connection message for a new call connection is detected, a new anchor record and call record are created to capture messages for that call. When an initial handover connection is detected, a handover pending record is created to collect messages related to the handover connection. When either a handover-from or handover-to connection is detected, a handover connection reference record is sent to a rendezvous processor. Handover-to and handover-from connection reference records are correlated in the rendezvous processor by matching data keyed to the specific handover event. Once a handover pending record is paired to an existing anchor record, the handover pending record is converted to a routing record to route messages to the anchor record.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for correlating transaction messages in a communications network into transaction records. A plurality of monitoring units capture the messages from the links in the communication network. A processor or state machine processes the correlated transaction records and detects calls to particular destination telephone numbers. Transactions affecting particular destination point codes can also be detected or monitored. When a short-term threshold number of calls to a particular telephone number are detected, the detecting monitor instructs other monitors to track calls to that telephone number. If a long-term threshold number of calls are detected for the destination telephone number, then a mass call alarm is generated. Information comprising the highly called destination telephone number, dialed number, destination point code, and top originating point codes is provided to the service provider following the mass call alarm.

Abstract: A system and method for processing transaction signaling units is disclosed. A plurality of interlinked network monitoring devices capture signaling units on links in a communications network. The signaling units have unique transaction identifiers which correlate the signaling unit to a specific transaction. The monitoring devices comprise a number of processors, each of the transactions is assigned to a specific processor. The system collects all of the signaling units for each transactions and combine the signaling units into a plurality of transaction records. The processors are capable of correlating multiple detections of individual messages and sorting the individual signaling units into time order. A processor receives signaling units from the communications links and determines whether it is responsible for processing the transaction that corresponds to the signaling units. If the processor has been assigned the corresponding transaction, then the signaling unit is processed locally.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the operation of switching nodes in a telephone network. A first monitor is provided which is operable to capture data on all of the connection links of a first switching node in the network. A second monitor is provided which is operable to capture data on all of the connection links of a second switching node. The first and second monitors capture selected telephone switching messages on the links of the nodes. Each monitor compiles either a primary or secondary record of switching messages pertaining to a particular call or transaction being routed by switching nodes. The primary record is maintained by the monitor which detects the first message which initiates a particular call or transaction. Subsequent messages pertaining to that call or transaction that are captured by the other monitor are compiled in a secondary record.