Method, apparatus and computer program product for monitoring data transmission connections

• US 8,032,168 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exfo Oy (11172239 Canada, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nethawk Oyj (11172239 Canada, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ikäheimo, Jorma
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt; Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US11/629,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20070207770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/432.1, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/515, 370/331, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

A method, device and computer program product for monitoring data transmission connections. The method comprises monitoring data transmission connections between a cellular radio network and a subscriber terminal with two analyzers. With the first analyzer, first connection information is collected on a first data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a first cell. With the second analyzer, second connection information is collected on a second data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a second cell. The first connection information is transferred from the first analyzer to the second analyzer. In the second analyzer, the first connection information is used combined with the second connection information for analyzing the second data transmission connection.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring data transmission connections between a cellular radio network and a subscriber terminal with an analyzer, the method comprising:

collecting connection information on a data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a cell;

generating, on the basis of the connection information, connection configuration records that contain information on detected and predetermined data transmission configurations, the connection configuration records containing at least one of the following;

transport formats, logical channel identifiers, mapped radio bearers and Radio Link Control (RLC) modes; and

identifying a protocol configuration automatically by comparing the connection information with the connection configuration records on the basis of a predetermined logic.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating, on the basis of the connection information, call records containing information required for monitoring a given data transmission connection and decoding messages;

generating, on the basis of the connection information, connection records for monitoring a given type of data transmission method and decoding messages; and

linking call records and connection records with each other.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

processing in the call record at least one of the following as connection information;

a Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI), a UTRAN Radio Network Temporary Identifier (U-RNTI), a state of the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection, a subscriber terminal identifier, a subscriber identifier, an uplink scrambling code, an active set, a Radio Access Bearer (RAB), and a ciphering key.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

processing in the call record, with regard to the RAB, at least one of the following;

a layer type, logical channel identifiers, mapped radio bearers, Radio Link Control (RLC) modes, and hyperframe numbers.

5. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

processing in the call record at least one of the following as connection information;

a Controlling Radio Network Controller (CRNC) communication context identifier, a base station communication context identifier, a transaction identifier, DCH channels, and radio links.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

processing in the connection record, with regard to the DCH channel, at least one of the following;

a DCH identifier, an uplink scrambling code, transport formats, mapped radio bearers, logical channel identifiers, RLC modes, a binding identifier, a transport layer address, a path identifier, a channel identifier, a virtual route identifier, a channel identifier, and a line identifier.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

configuring decoding components according to a selected connection configuration record.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the connection configuration records in a file.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

loading the connection configuration records from the file when the analyzer is started.

10. An analyzer for monitoring data transmission connections between a cellular radio network and a subscriber terminal, the analyzer comprising:

a monitoring unit configured to monitor a data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a cell; and

a processing unit configured to;

generate, on the basis of the connection information, connection configuration records that contain information on detected and predetermined data transmission configurations, the connection configuration records containing at least one of the following;

transport formats, logical channel identifiers, mapped radio bearers, and Radio Link Control (RLC) modes; and

identify the protocol configuration automatically by comparing the connection information with the connection configuration records on the basis of a predetermined logic.

11. An analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

generate, on the basis of the connection information, information required for monitoring a given data transmission connection and decoding messages;

generate, on the basis of the connection information, connection records containing information required for monitoring a given type of data transmission connection and for decoding messages; and

link call records and connection records with each other.

12. An analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit is further configured to process at least one of the following as connection information in the call record:

a Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI), a UTRAN Radio Network Temporary Identifier (U-RNTI), a state of the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection, a subscriber terminal identifier, a subscriber identifier, an uplink scrambling code, an active set, a Radio Access Bearer (RAB), and a ciphering key.

13. An analyzer according to claim 12, wherein the processing unit is further configured to process in the call record, with regard to the RAB, at least one of the following in the call record:

a layer type, logical channel identifiers, mapped radio bearers, Radio Link Control (RLC) modes, and hyperframe numbers.

14. An analyzer according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit is further configured to process at least one of the following as connection information in the connection record:

a Controlling Radio Network Controller (CRNC) communication context identifier, a base station communication context identifier, a transaction identifier, DCH channels, and radio links.

15. An analyzer according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit is further configured to process, with regard to the DCH channel, at least one of the following in the connection record:

a DCH identifier, an uplink scrambling code, transport formats, mapped radio bearers, logical channel identifiers, RLC modes, a binding identifier, a transport layer address, a path identifier, a channel identifier, a virtual path identifier, a virtual channel identifier, a channel identifier, and a line identifier.

16. An analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to configure decoding components according to a selected connection configuration record.

17. An analyzer according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further configured to store the connection configuration records in a file.

18. An analyzer according to claim 17, wherein the processing unit is further configured to load the connection configuration records from the file when the analyzer is started.

19. An analyzer for monitoring data transmission connections between a cellular radio network and a subscriber terminal, the analyzer comprising:

monitoring means for monitoring a data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a cell;

first processing means for generating, on the basis of the connection information, connection configuration records that contain information on detected and predetermined data transmission configurations, the connection configuration records containing at least one of the following;

transport formats, logical channel identifiers, mapped radio bearers, and Radio Link Control (RLC) modes; and

second processing means for identifying the protocol configuration automatically by comparing the connection information with the connection configuration records on the basis of a predetermined logic.

20. An analyzer according to claim 19, wherein the first processing means configures decoding components according to a selected connection configuration record.

21. An analyzer according to claim 19, wherein the first processing means stores the connection configuration records in a file.

22. An analyzer according to claim 21, wherein the first processing means loads the connection configuration records from the file when the analyzer is started.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon that causes a computer to monitor data transmission connections between a cellular radio network and a subscriber terminal, the program causing the computer to execute operations comprising:

collecting, by means of an analyzer, connection information on a data transmission connection of the subscriber terminal to a cell;

generating, on the basis of the connection information, connection configuration records that contain information on detected and predetermined data transmission configurations, the connection configuration records containing at least one of the following;

transport formats, logical channel identifiers, mapped radio bearers, and Radio Link Control (RLC) modes; and

identifying a protocol configuration automatically by comparing the connection information with the connection configuration records on the basis of a predetermined logic.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the program further causes the computer to execute an operation comprising:

configuring decoding components according to a selected connection configuration record.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 23, wherein the program further causes the computer to execute an operation comprising:

storing the connection configuration records in a file.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 25, wherein the program further causes the computer to execute an operation comprising:

loading the connection configuration records from the file when the analyzer is started.