Method for measuring quality of service in a telecommunications network

• US 6,914,967 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2004
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Network Enhanced Telecom LLP (Network Operator Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Network Enhanced Telecom LLP (Network Operator Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Daniel, Boshant, Gregory, Bača, Trevor, Messer, Kenneth T., York, Mareica, Pattullo, Pete, Reskey, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US10/797,182
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 370/229, 370/233, 370/234, 379/110.01, 379/111, 379/112.01, 379/112.05, 379/112.07, 379/112.08, 379/112.09, 379/133, 379/134, 379/136, 379/137, 379/138, 379/139
• US Class Current: 379/112.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8016 based on quality of service [QoS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7414 QoS

Abstract

A method for assessing the quality of service of telephone calls on a trunk includes identifying and counting telephone call sequences including a plurality of telephone calls placed on the trunk. Each of the telephone calls in the sequence has the same originating telephone number and the same destination telephone number and a start time and a stop time and an elapsed time between the stop time of a telephone call and the start time of the next telephone call in a sequence being less than a predetermined amount. Identifying and counting unanswered reattempted telephone calls or answered reattempted telephone calls. A ratio is calculated between the number of identified unanswered or answered reattempted telephone calls to the number of identified telephone call sequences, such that the ratio provides a measure of the quality of service of telephone calls on the trunk.

Claims

1. A method for assessing the quality of service of telephone calls on a trunk in a telecommunications system, comprising:

identifying telephone call sequences including a plurality of telephone calls placed on the trunk occurring at different times during a sample time period, each of the telephone calls in the sequence having the same originating telephone number and the same destination telephone number, each of the telephone calls in the sequence having a start time and a stop time and an elapsed time between the stop time of a telephone call and the start time of the next telephone call in a sequence, the elapsed time being less than a predetermined amount;

counting the number of identified telephone call sequences;

identifying unanswered reattempted telephone calls including telephone calls placed on the trunk occurring at different times during the sample time period, each of the telephone calls having the same originating telephone number and the same destination telephone number and placed in a sequence wherein the telephone call placed from the originating telephone number is not answered at the destination number;

counting the number of identified unanswered reattempted telephone calls; and

forming a ratio between the number of identified unanswered reattempted telephone calls to the number of identified telephone call sequences, such that the ratio provides a measure of the quality of service of telephone calls on the trunk.

2. The method of claim 1 and further including:

identifying answered reattempted telephone calls including telephone calls placed on the trunk occurring at different times during the sample time period, each of the telephone calls having the same originating telephone number and the same destination telephone number and placed in a sequence wherein the telephone call placed from the originating telephone number is answered at the destination number;

counting the number of identified answered reattempted telephone calls; and

forming a ratio between the number of identified answered reattempted telephone calls to the number of identified telephone call sequences, such that the ratio provides a measure of the quality of service of telephone calls on the trunk.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sample period occurs in realtime.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the ratio is formed after a predetermined number of identified telephone call sequences have been counted.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein corrective action is taken in realtime based upon the value of the ratio.