Abstract: A method and system for determining quality and capacity of a transport monitoring connection between radio service nodes to facilitate local management of subscriber connections are disclosed. One method includes sending first test packets from a first radio service node to a second radio service node via the transport monitoring connection. Second test packets are received from the second radio service node. The second test packets have information added to the first test packets by the second radio service node. The second test packets are analyzed to determine a quality and a bandwidth of the transport monitoring connection. Control and user plane functions are informed when transport monitoring performance is one of degraded and improved based on the quality and bandwidth. The method includes making radio service provisioning decisions based on the quality and bandwidth of the transport monitoring connection.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting performance and controlling mobility between multiple different radio access technologies are disclosed. According to one aspect, a controller in a network collects performance data concerning at least a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, and a second network operating according to a second RAT, the first RAT being different from the second RAT. The controller includes a performance monitoring collector, PMC, configured to collect performance data from at least a node of the first RAT and from at least a node of the second RAT. The collected performance monitoring data is analyzed to trigger selection of at least one serving radio cell for a user equipment, UE, connection based on the analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing faults at the tail end of the user plane associated with an MBMS bearer. A fault detection time interval associated with the MBMS bearer can be defined and monitored. A fault can be detected in response to determining that the defined time interval has elapsed without receipt of a synchronization packet. Mechanisms for detecting, indicating, localizing and repairing MBMS bearer faults are described.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting packets between an access node and a core node via a proxy node. The access node has an access node address, the core node has a core node address, and the proxy node has a proxy node address. A first packet for transmission to the core node is received from the access node. The first packet includes a first source address field including the access node address and a first destination address field including the core node address. An uplink static mapping entry with a longest address prefix matching the access node address in the first source address field is selected. The uplink static mapping entry is associated with the proxy node address. The access node address in the first source address field is replaced with the proxy node address associated with the uplink static mapping entry.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for determining the forward and reverse available capacity or tight link capacity of an IP path from a single endpoint includes the steps of: transmitting, from a source IP endpoint node toward a destination IP endpoint node, a forward packet train including a first plurality of IP test packets over the forward IP path; and receiving, at the source IP endpoint node, a corresponding reverse packet train from the destination IP endpoint node, the reverse packet train including a second plurality of IP test packets over the reverse IP path each of which correspond to a respective one of the first plurality of IP test packets. For those IP path capacity measurements embodiments which are TWAMP-based, no changes are needed to the TWAMP control protocol, e.g., since exemplary embodiments make use of padding octets to transfer additional information which can be used for available IP path capacity and tight IP link capacity calculations.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node for controlling sending rates in a communications network, and a related network node. The method controls the sending rate by dropping received data packets if the transport network experiences congestion. If the transport network experiences congestion the received data packets are dropped based on a packet drop precedence value comprised in a radio access network or IP header.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for determining the forward and reverse available capacity or tight link capacity of an IP path from a single endpoint includes the steps of: transmitting, from a source IP endpoint node toward a destination IP endpoint node, a forward packet train including a first plurality of IP test packets over the forward IP path; and receiving, at the source IP endpoint node, a corresponding reverse packet train from the destination IP endpoint node, the reverse packet train including a second plurality of IP test packets over the reverse IP path each of which correspond to a respective one of the first plurality of IP test packets. For those IP path capacity measurements embodiments which are TWAMP-based, no changes are needed to the TWAMP control protocol, e.g., since exemplary embodiments make use of padding octets to transfer additional information which can be used for available IP path capacity and tight IP link capacity calculations.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting performance and controlling mobility between multiple different radio access technologies are disclosed. According to one aspect, a controller in a network collects performance data concerning at least a first network operating according to a first radio access technology, RAT, and a second network operating according to a second RAT, the first RAT being different from the second RAT. The controller includes a performance monitoring collector, PMC, configured to collect performance data from at least a node of the first RAT and from at least a node of the second RAT. The collected performance monitoring data is analyzed to trigger selection of at least one serving radio cell for a user equipment, UE, connection based on the analysis.

Abstract: Arrangements include methods and systems for enabling collection of end to end performance information of individual tunnels in a GPRS. According to one aspect, a GTP-U sender node is configured to provide to a GTP-U receiver node a sequence number for a G-PDU to enable determination of a first set of one-way performance data of a GTP-U tunnel to be monitored. The GTP-U sender node may further be configured to provide an exit timestamp for a G-PDU to enable determination of a second set of one-way performance data of the GTP-U tunnel to be monitored. Either one or both of the sender node and the receiver node may send G-PDU performance monitor records to a GTP-U performance monitor collector.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling collection of end to end performance information for a control and provisioning of wireless access points, CAPWAP, bi-directional control channel established between first and second CAPWAP nodes are disclosed. According to one aspect, the system provides a first CAPWAP channel endpoint in the first CAPWAP node configured to provide a first plurality of sequence numbers in request messages on the CAPWAP bi-directional control channel. A second CAPWAP channel endpoint in the second CAPWAP node is configured to send a second plurality of sequence numbers in CAPWAP response messages on the CAPWAP bi-directional control channel, in response to the request messages. The first and second plurality of sequence numbers enable determination of a first set of one-way performance data for each direction of the CAPWAP bi-directional control channel.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring the performance of the end-to-end mobile subscriber connection is disclosed. Test traffic originating from the network is sent to the mobile device and the mobile device acting as a test traffic reflector includes current radio bearer conditions that may be impacting the end-to-end performance of the subscriber connection within the test traffic that is returned back to the source. The radio access node acting as a test traffic interceptor includes current radio cell conditions that may be impacting the end-to-end performance of all subscriber connections in the cell within the test traffic that is returned back to the source. The test equipment or controller collects, calculates and reports the IP test performance towards the mobile device and radio node with correlation to the radio bearer and radio cell performance.

Abstract: A method and system for determining quality and capacity of a transport monitoring connection between radio service nodes to facilitate local management of subscriber connections are disclosed. One method includes sending first test packets from a first radio service node to a second radio service node via the transport monitoring connection. Second test packets are received from the second radio service node. The second test packets have information added to the first test packets by the second radio service node. The second test packets are analyzed to determine a quality and a bandwidth of the transport monitoring connection. Control and user plane functions are informed when transport monitoring performance is one of degraded and improved based on the quality and bandwidth. The method includes making radio service provisioning decisions based on the quality and bandwidth of the transport monitoring connection.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting packets between an access node and a core node via a proxy node. The access node has an access node address, the core node has a core node address, and the proxy node has a proxy node address. A first packet for transmission to the core node is received from the access node. The first packet includes a first source address field including the access node address and a first destination address field including the core node address. An uplink static mapping entry with a longest address prefix matching the access node address in the first source address field is selected. The uplink static mapping entry is associated with the proxy node address. The access node address in the first source address field is replaced with the proxy node address associated with the uplink static mapping entry.

Abstract: A method for handling transmission of error indication messages in a communication network is provided. A destination computer associated with a destination address receives a user data packet from a source computer associated with a source address. A determination is made as to whether a destination identifier included in the user data packet is known. If it is determined that the destination identifier is known, then the user data packet is transmitted to a destination associated with the destination identifier. Else, the transmission of the first error indication message is delayed and the transmission of subsequent error indication messages is paced if subsequent user data packets received from the source computer include the unknown destination identifier.

Abstract: Presented are methods and apparatus for processing test traffic encapsulated within bidirectional subscriber connections on intermediate nodes. Test packet requests are generated by a test traffic controller and received at a node by an enhanced decapsulator, a decapsulator or at an ingress port. A tunnel header is extracted from the test packet requests and a determination is made as to whether the test packet request destination is for the receiving node or for another node. If the test packet request is for another node the test packet request is forwarded toward the destination node. If the test packet request is for the receiving node then a test packet reply is generated and the test packet reply is sent toward the test traffic controller.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for determining the forward and reverse available capacity or tight link capacity of an IP path from a single endpoint includes the steps of: transmitting, from a source IP endpoint node toward a destination IP endpoint node, a forward packet train including a first plurality of IP test packets over the forward IP path; and receiving, at the source IP endpoint node, a corresponding reverse packet train from the destination IP endpoint node, the reverse packet train including a second plurality of IP test packets over the reverse IP path each of which correspond to a respective one of the first plurality of IP test packets. For those IP path capacity measurements embodiments which are TWAMP-based, no changes are needed to the TWAMP control protocol, e.g., since exemplary embodiments make use of padding octets to transfer additional information which can be used for available IP path capacity and tight IP link capacity calculations.

Abstract: Included is an access network comprising at least one access node, a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server coupled to the access node, a network attached storage (NAS) coupled to the access node, a network element manager (NEM) coupled to the access node, and a common provisioning system (CPS) coupled to the access node, wherein the access node is configured for initial network connectivity and initial startup configuration in a substantially automated manner. Also included is a touchless installation method comprising initiating network connectivity for a base transceiver station (BTS) without manual operations, and initiating start-up configuration for the BTS without manual operations.

Abstract: A wireless communications network comprises a wireless network controller coupled to a packet gateway. An indication of congestion of network resources is communicated between the wireless network controller and the packet gateway. In response to the indication of congestion of network resources, one of the wireless network controller and packet gateways adjusts packet data flow between the wireless network controller and the packet gateway.