Mechanism for facilitating dynamic and segment-based monitoring of cellular network performance in an on-demand services environment

• US 9,154,985 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Schilling, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/745,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 370/338, 370/252, 370/402
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating dynamic and segment-based monitoring of cellular network performance. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes dividing a cellular network path of a cellular network into a plurality of network segments, and monitoring performance of the cellular network at a first network segment of the plurality of network segments. The first network segment is associated with a first segment point includes a first computing device. The method may further includes generating first metrics based on first monitoring data relating to the first network segment, and forwarding the first metrics to a second segment point coupled with the first segment point over the first network segment. The second segment point includes a second computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of analyzing performance of a cellular network that includes at least first, second and third network segments forming a cellular network path, the method including:

generating first metrics based on network performance monitored using a first computing device at a first segment point on the first network segment;

forwarding the first metrics in a network package to a second computing device at a second segment point on the second network segment;

generating second metrics on network performance monitored using the second computing device;

adding the second metrics to the network package and forwarding the network package to a third computing device at a third segment point on the third network segment;

generating third metrics on network performance monitored using the third computing device;

adding the third metrics to the network package and forwarding the network package to a database server to be stored and/or analyzed.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first computing device is a user mobile device, the second segment point is collocated with a cellular base station, and the third segment point is collocated with a cellular gateway.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further including the database server storing the network package and analyzing a plurality of network packages to generate statistics relating to at least one of dropped calls, data speed, operating system performance and Input/Output (I/O) source performance.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further including the database server storing the network package and interprets on a plurality of network packages to a human readable version.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further including segmenting the cellular network path to define the first, second and third network segments and coupling the first, second and third computing devices to the first, second and third segment points.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third computing devices each comprise one or more of a server computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a handheld computer, an e-reader, a tablet computer, a notebook, a desktop computer, a cluster-based computer, a set-top box, and a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based navigation system.

7. A system for analyzing performance of a cellular network that includes at least first, second and third network segments forming a cellular network path, the system comprising:

at least one computing device having a memory to store instructions, and a processing device to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions cause the processing device to;

generate first metrics based on network performance monitored using a first computing device at a first segment point on the first network segment;

forward the first metrics in a network package to a second computing device at a second segment point on the second network segment;

generate second metrics on network performance monitored using the second computing device;

add the second metrics to the network package and forward the network package to a third computing device at a third segment point on the third network segment;

generate third metrics on network performance monitored using the third computing device;

add the third metrics to the network package and forward the network package to a database server to be stored and/or analyzed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first computing device is a user mobile device, the second segment point is collocated with a cellular base station, and the third segment point is collocated with a cellular gateway.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the database server further includes program instructions to store the network package and analyzing a plurality of network packages to generate statistics relating to at least one of dropped calls, data speed, operating system performance and Input/Output (I/O) source performance.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the database server further includes program instructions to store the network package and interprets on a plurality of network packages to a human readable version.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first, second and third computing devices each comprise one or more of a server computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a handheld computer, an e-reader, a tablet computer, a notebook, a desktop computer, a cluster-based computer, a set-top box, and a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based navigation system.

12. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for analyzing performance of a cellular network that includes at least first, second and third network segments forming a cellular network path which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

generate first metrics based on network performance monitored using a first computing device at a first segment point on the first network segment;

forward the first metrics in a network package to a second computing device at a second segment point on the second network segment;

generate second metrics on network performance monitored using the second computing device;

add the second metrics to the network package and forward the network package to a third computing device at a third segment point on the third network segment;

generate third metrics on network performance monitored using the third computing device;

add the third metrics to the network package and forward the network package to a database server to be stored and/or analyzed.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first computing device is a user mobile device, the second segment point is collocated with a cellular base station, and the third segment point is collocated with a cellular gateway.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, further including program instructions that, when loaded on the database server, cause the database server to store the network package and analyzing a plurality of network packages to generate statistics relating to at least one of dropped calls, data speed, operating system performance and Input/Output (I/O) source performance.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, further including program instructions that, when loaded on the database server, cause the database server to store the network package and interprets on a plurality of network packages to a human readable version.