METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR FLEXIBLE USER TRACING IN MOBILE NETWORKS

• US 20120089876A1
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rácz, András, Borsos, Tamás, Kovács, László
• Granted Patent: US 8,787,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

In existing mobile networks, users may be traced to troubleshoot problematic user connections, monitor generic network performance, and to perform root cause analysis to identify network problems. However, the existing tracing methods provide incomplete trace information. To address this and other issues, early tracing recording is enabled in which an involved trace entity starts recording the trace data when any initial activity related to the user equipment is detected. The trace entity can continue the trace if a trace trigger is later confirmed or may discard the trace data if the trigger is not confirmed.

Claims

1. A method performed by a trace entity for early trace recording in a mobile network, the method comprising:

invoking trace data collection upon detection of an activity related to a user equipment (UE);

determining at a predetermined point in time whether tracing has been activated for the user equipment;

continuing the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has been activated; and

stopping the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has not been activated,

wherein the trace entity is a network entity of the mobile network or the user equipment that can perform tracing, and

wherein the step of invoking the trace data collection is performed prior to the step of determining whether the tracing has been activated.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the trace entity is the network entity,

wherein the detected activity that invokes the trace data collection at the network entity is a UE message initiated by the user equipment to the mobile network, or is a NE message related to the user equipment from a downstream network entity, and

wherein the NE message is a message sent from the downstream network entity in response to the downstream network entity receiving the UE message, or is a message sent from the downstream network entity in response to the downstream network entity receiving another NE message related to the user equipment from a further downstream network entity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the UE message is a random access message or an initial RRC message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of invoking the trace data collection is performed prior to the network entity sending the NE message to an upstream network entity.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the step of determining whether tracing has been activated comprises determining that the tracing has been activated at the network entity when a trigger propagation message that includes a trace trigger related to the user equipment is received from the upstream network entity, and

wherein the step of continuing the trace data collection comprises associating the trace data collected thus far at the network entity with trace identifiers included in the trigger propagation message.

6. The method of claim 2,

wherein the step of determining whether the tracing has been activated for the user equipment at the network entity comprises:

receiving a trace configuration from an operation &

maintenance (OAM) entity; and

determining that the tracing has been activated when it is confirmed that tracing requirements set forth in the tracing configuration is met by the user equipment, and

wherein the step of continuing the trace data collection comprises associating the trace data collected thus far at the network entity with trace identifiers.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the trace entity is the user equipment, and

wherein the step of invoking the trace data collection is performed prior to the user equipment initiating a UE message to the mobile network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the UE message is a random access message or an initial RRC message.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein the step of determining whether tracing has been activated comprises determining that the tracing has been activated when a trigger propagation message that includes a trace trigger related to the user equipment is received from the mobile network, and

wherein the step of continuing the trace data collection comprises associating the trace data collected thus far at the user equipment with trace identifiers or with measurement identifiers included in the trigger propagation message.

10. The method of claim 2,

wherein the trace entity is a mobility management entity (MME),

wherein the downstream network entity is a base station and the NE message that invokes the trace data collection at the mobility management entity is an initial UE message sent from the base station in response to the base station receiving an RRC connection request from the user equipment, the initial UE message including an identity of the user equipment, and

wherein the step of invoking the trace data collection is performed prior to the mobility management entity requesting credentials of the user equipment from a home subscriber system (HSS).

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the step of determining whether the tracing has been activated for the user equipment at the mobility management entity comprises:

receiving a trace configuration from the home subscriber system;

determining that the tracing has been activated when it is confirmed that tracing requirements set forth in the tracing configuration is met by the user equipment, and

wherein the step of continuing the trace data collection comprises associating the trace data collected thus far at the mobility management entity with trace identifiers.

12. The method of claim 2,

wherein the trace entity is a base station,

wherein UE message that invokes the trace data collection at the base station is a random access message from the user equipment, and

wherein the step of invoking the trace data collection is performed prior to the base station sending an initial UE message to a mobility management entity in response to the base station receiving an RRC connection request from the user equipment.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the step of determining whether the tracing has been activated for the user equipment at the base station comprises:

receiving a UE context setup message from a mobility management entity; and

determining that the tracing has been activated for the user equipment when a trace trigger for the user equipment is included in the UE context setup message, and

wherein the step of continuing the trace data collection comprises associating the trace data collected thus far at the base station with trace identifiers included in the UE context setup message.

14. The method of claim 2,

wherein the trace entity is a serving GPRS support node (SGSN),

wherein the downstream network entity is a radio network controller and the NE message that invokes the trace data collection at the SGSN is an Initial Direct Transfer message sent from the radio network controller in response to the radio network controller receiving an RRC connection request from the user equipment,

wherein the step of invoking the trace data collection is performed prior to the SGSN requesting credentials of the user equipment from a home subscriber system (HSS).

15. The method of claim 14,

wherein the step of determining whether the tracing has been activated for the user equipment at the SGSN comprises:

receiving a trace configuration from the home subscriber system; and

determining that the tracing has been activated when it is confirmed that tracing requirements set forth in the tracing configuration is met by the user equipment, and

wherein the step of continuing the trace data collection comprises associating the trace data collected thus far at the SGSN with trace identifiers.

16. The method of claim 2,

wherein the trace entity is a radio network controller,

wherein UE message that invokes the trace data collection at the radio network controller is an RRC connection request from the user equipment, and

wherein the step of invoking the trace data collection is performed prior to the radio network controller sending an Initial Direct Transfer message to an SGSN.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein the step of determining whether the tracing has been activated for the user equipment at the radio network controller comprises:

receiving a CN Invoke Trace message from the SGSN; and

determining that the tracing has been activated for the user equipment when a trace trigger for the user equipment is included in the CN Invoke Trace message, and

wherein the step of continuing the trace data collection comprises associating the trace data collected thus far at the radio network controller with trace identifiers included in the CN Invoke Trace message.

18. A trace entity arranged to perform early trace recording in a mobile network, the trace entity comprising:

a message transceiving unit arranged to transmit and receive messages from nodes in the mobile network;

a trace data collection unit arranged to perform trace data collection upon detection of an activity related to a user equipment; and

a trace activation unit arranged to determine, at a predetermined point in time, whether tracing has been activated for the user equipment,

wherein the trace data collection unit is arranged to continue the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has been activated, and to stop the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has not been activated,

wherein the trace data collection unit is arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to the trace activation unit determining whether the tracing has been activated.

19. The trace entity of claim 18,

wherein the trace entity is the network entity,

wherein the detected activity that invokes the trace data collection unit is a UE message initiated by the user equipment to the mobile network, or is a NE message related to the user equipment from a downstream network entity, and

wherein the NE message is a message sent from the downstream network entity in response to the downstream network entity receiving the UE message, or is a message sent from the downstream network entity in response to the downstream network entity receiving another NE message related to the user equipment from a further downstream network entity.

20. The trace entity of claim 19, wherein the UE message is a random access message or an initial RRC message.

21. The trace entity of claim 20, wherein the trace data collection unit is arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to the message transceiving unit sending the NE message to an upstream network entity.

22. The trace entity of claim 21,

wherein the trace activation unit is arranged to determine that the tracing has been activated when a trigger propagation message that includes a trace trigger related to the user equipment is received by the message transceiving unit from the upstream network entity, and

wherein the a trace data collection unit is arranged to associate the trace data it has collected thus far with trace identifiers included in the trigger propagation message.

23. The trace entity of claim 19,

wherein the message transceiving unit is arranged to receive a trace configuration from an operation 86 maintenance entity,

wherein the trace activation unit is arranged determine that the tracing has been activated for the user equipment when it is confirmed that tracing requirements set forth in the tracing configuration is met by the user equipment, and

wherein the a trace data collection unit is arranged to associate the trace data it has collected thus far with trace identifiers.

24. The trace entity of claim 18,

wherein the trace entity is the user equipment, and

wherein the trace data collection unit is arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to the message transceiving unit initiating E message to the mobile network.

25. The trace entity of claim 24, wherein the UE message is a random access message or an initial RRC message.

26. The trace entity of claim 25,

wherein the trace activation unit is arranged to determine that the tracing has been activated when a trigger propagation message that includes a trace trigger related to the user equipment is received by the message transceiving unit from the mobile network, and

wherein the trace data collection unit is arranged to associate the trace data it has collected thus far with trace identifiers included in the trigger propagation message or with measurement identifiers included in the trigger propagation message.

27. A mobile network comprising one or more trace entities arranged to perform early trace recording, wherein at least one trace entity is arranged to

invoke trace data collection upon detection of an activity related to a user equipment;

determine at a predetermined point in time whether tracing has been activated for the user equipment;

continue the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has been activated; and

stop the trace data collection when it is determined that the tracing has not been activated,

wherein the at least one trace entity is arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to determining whether the tracing has been activated.

28. The mobile network of claim 27,

wherein the at least one trace entity is the network entity,

wherein the detected activity that invokes the trace data collection at the network entity is a UE message initiated by the user equipment to the mobile network, or is a NE message related to the user equipment from a downstream network entity, and

wherein the NE message is a message sent from the downstream network entity in response to the downstream network entity receiving the UE message, or is a message sent from the downstream network entity in response to the downstream network entity receiving another NE message related to the user equipment from a further downstream network entity.

29. The mobile network of claim 28, wherein the UE message is a random access message or an initial RRC message.

30. The mobile network of claim 29, wherein the network entity is arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to sending the NE message to an upstream network entity.

31. The mobile network of claim 30, wherein the network entity is arranged to

determine that the tracing has been activated when a trigger propagation message that includes a trace trigger related to the user equipment is received from the upstream network entity, and

associate the trace data collected thus far at the network entity with trace identifiers included in the trigger propagation message.

32. The mobile network of claim 28, wherein the network entity is arranged to

receive a trace configuration from an operation &

maintenance (OAM) entity,

determine that the tracing has been activated when it is confirmed that tracing requirements set forth in the tracing configuration is met by the user equipment, and

associate the trace data collected thus far at the network entity with trace identifiers.

33. The mobile network of claim 27, wherein the at least one trace entity is the user equipment arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to initiating a UE message to the mobile network.

34. The mobile network of claim 33, wherein the UE message is a random access message or an initial RRC message.

35. The mobile network of claim 34, wherein the user equipment is arranged to

determine that the tracing has been activated when a trigger propagation message that includes a trace trigger related to the user equipment is received from the mobile network, and

associate the trace data collected thus far at the user equipment with trace identifiers or with measurement identifiers included in the trigger propagation message.

36. The mobile network of claim 28,

wherein the network entity is a mobility management entity,

wherein the downstream network entity is a base station and the NE message that invokes the trace data collection at the mobility management entity is an initial UE message sent from the base station in response to the base station receiving an RRC connection request from the user equipment, the initial UE message including an identity of the user equipment, and

wherein the mobility management entity invokes the trace data collection prior to requesting credentials of the user equipment from a home subscriber system (HSS).

37. The mobile network of claim 36, wherein the mobility management entity is arranged to

receive a trace configuration from the home subscriber system,

determine that the tracing has been activated when it is confirmed that tracing requirements set forth in the tracing configuration is met by the user equipment, and

associate the trace data collected thus far at the mobility management entity with trace identifiers.

38. The mobile network of claim 28,

wherein the trace entity is a base station,

wherein UE message that invokes the trace data collection at the base station is a random access message from the user equipment, and

wherein the base station is arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to sending an initial UE message to a mobility management entity in response to the base station receiving an RRC connection request from the user equipment.

39. The mobile network of claim 38, wherein the base station is arranged to

receive a UE context setup message from the mobility management entity,

determine that the tracing has been activated when a trace trigger for the user equipment is included in the UE context setup message, and

associate the trace data collected thus with trace identifiers included in the UE context setup message.

40. The mobile network of claim 28,

wherein the network node is a serving GPRS support node (SGSN),

wherein the downstream network entity is a radio network controller and the NE message that invokes the trace data collection at the SGSN is an Initial Direct Transfer message sent from the radio network controller in response to the radio network controller receiving an RRC connection request from the user equipment, and

wherein the SGSN is arranged to invoke the trace data collection prior to requesting credentials of the user equipment from a home subscriber system.

41. The mobile network of claim 40, wherein the SGSN is arranged to

receive a trace configuration from the home subscriber system,

determine that the tracing has been activated when it is confirmed that tracing requirements set forth in the tracing configuration is met by the user equipment, and

associate the trace data collected thus far at the SGSN with trace identifiers.

42. The mobile network of claim 28,

wherein the trace entity is a radio network controller,

wherein UE message that invokes the trace data collection at the radio network controller is an RRC connection request from the user equipment, and

wherein the trace data collection is invoked at the radio network controller to the radio network controller sending an Initial Direct Transfer message to an SGSN.

43. The mobile network of claim 42, wherein the radio network controller is arranged to

receive a CN Invoke Trace message from the SGSN,

determine that the tracing has been activated for the user equipment when a trace trigger for the user equipment is included in the CN Invoke Trace message, and

associate the trace data collected thus far at the radio network controller with trace identifiers included in the CN Invoke Trace message.