EP1258150A1

EP1258150A1 - Data analysis in an intelligent network

Info

Publication number: EP1258150A1
Application number: EP00905055A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Terttu Ruohonen; Timo Lindqvist; Pál KÖPÖSDI
Original assignee: Nokia Oyj; Nokia Inc
Current assignee: Nokia Oyj; Nokia Inc
Priority date: 2000-02-11
Filing date: 2000-02-11
Publication date: 2002-11-20
Also published as: CN1251519C; AU2000226720A1; JP2003522503A; CN1433643A; WO2001060080A1

Abstract

The invention describes a method and system for providing analysis data in a telecommunications network. The invocations of services of an intelligent network (IN) or of CAMEL (customised applications for mobile network enhanced logic), trigger detection points and service keys are registered. This provides helpful information for analysing the network functions and behaviour.

Description

DATA ANALYSIS IN A INTELLIGENT NETWORK

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing analysis data in a communication system, for instance a telecommunications system, in particular a telecommunications system comprising an intelligent network (IN) or Customised Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) architecture .

Background of the Invention

Telecommunications networks are sometimes designed as intelligent network architecture which is service-independent and thus provides a programmable platform the function of which can be rapidly changed using external control programs. The basic structure of intelligent networks (IN) is, for instance, defined by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) , see in particular standard ETS 300 374-1 to ETS 300 374-9. Basically, intelligent networks have one or more centralised authorities called Service Control Points (SCP) or Service Control Functions (SCF) which control distinct calls. This Service Control Function can be addressed by a network exchange such as a Service Switching Point (SSP) when encountering specific situations while handling a call. The exchange provides the SCF with specified call information and waits for call handling instructions sent from SCF. The SCF may for instance provide a new number to which the call must be routed, or may request the interruption of a call set-up, the playing of announcements, etc. The Service Control Function may be addressed at the occurrence of specified Detection Points (DP), in particular Trigger Detection Points (TDP) .

A similar structure is provided in customised applications in mobile network enhanced logic (CAMEL) structures. ETSI is also specifying this intelligent network architecture that is specially accommodated to the GSM system. This architecture is for instance specified in standard EN 301 142-1, -2 of ETS.

Generally, it is difficult to get information on the level of usage (for instance intensity) of intelligent network or CAMEL services .

Summary of the Invention

The present invention aims at providing analysis data in a telecommunications system without significantly increasing the network load or requiring much overhead.

The present invention provides a method as defined m the independent method claim and/or any of the dependent method claims .

In addition, the invention provides a system as defined in the independent system claim and/or any of the dependent system claims .

According to the present invention, analysis data are collected by detecting the occurrence of detection points and services invoked and/or messages transmitted at the detection points. This information may be treated in an appropriate manner, for example by storing it, and thus provides information to an operator with regard to the types of the used services, for instance within service control functions, which are identified by the transmitted service keys, as well as on the extent and success rate of using such service control functions. The structure of the invocations of the intelligent network at different trigger detection points shows important details on the usage of the resources.

Preferably, the detected number of detection points, and the information on the requested services and/or transmitted messages are stored. The messages can contain service keys. The specific events may normally occur during handlings of calls and/or other service requests of the subscribers. Generally speaking, the services are requested by a first entity of the telecommunications system, and the information is forwarded to a second entity. Preferably, the success rate of invocations of services is detected, for instance by detecting the total number of service invocations and the number of service invocation failures. Such a failure of invocation of a service may arise, for instance, in case the Intelligent Network does not contain information on how to handle a specific situation reported by a message sent from a SSP, and therefore merely sends back a failure message instead of an appropriate service. Other possible failures may also occur.

The invention therefore creates measurement reports preferably for the usage of trigger detection points and data items such as service keys which are contained in triggering messages to the service control function (SCF) . The reports may have a predefined format. The operator can monitor the types of invoked services and can analyse the type of services and trigger points used in the services switching function. Thus, it is possible to get information on the usage level (e.g. intensity) of network services such as IN-services or CAMEL services. Further, the proper functionality of the services can be controlled, or any errors, for example systematic errors can be easily recognised. The services may be requested by a subscriber and/or a first entity of the communication system, and the information is forwarded to a second entity thereof.

In one embodiment, the measurements are performed in the service switching point. The measurements can also, or additionally, be performed in the service control point (SCP) . This is of advantage as the measurements performed in SCP end SSP differ from each other. Measurements performed in SCP also give information on problems in other network switches (SSPs) and vice-versa.

When measuring in the SSP, and the subsciber is in the area of this SSP, the calls will be triggered, in the CAMEL architecture, to the SCP of the home network. In a normal IN network, the calls will be triggered to the locally defined SCP.

The SSP can therefore measure how many calls are triggered to SCPs of different networks, and how many of them return messages correctly, and how many return them incorrectly. Thus, one can see, among others, which SCP causes the most problems.

When measuring in the SCP, all triggerings of the subscribers will be in the SCP of the home network (in a CAMEL structure) irrespective of whether or not the subscriber is roaming.

Thus, the SCP can measure how many of the subscribers of the home network make how many IN calls in the home network, and one can detect which SSPs cause problems.

The SSF and/or SCP can thus compile statistics on the invocations of SCFs and the like. Similarly, a SCP can compile statistics on the invocations stemming from different SSPs. Preferably, the compiling of statistics is separate for each

SSP address in the SCPs, and is separate for each SCP addresses The creation of measurement reports for the usage of trigger detection points and service keys in the service switching function or service control function enables monitoring the usage of the different services of an intelligent network (IN) or CAMFL, and their trigger detection points.

Generally, the trigger detection points and service keys (IN service identifiers within the trigger message to the SCF) as used in IN and CAMEL architectures are defined, for instance, in the intelligent network application protocol (INAP) and CAMEL specifications and standards.

Basically, the number of different trigger detection point invocations is counted in the service switching function

(and/or service control function) . Furthermore, the usage of the different service keys sent to the service control function is counted in the SSF. From these data, measurement reports are formed according to a predefined schedule, for instance based on a time schedule. This allows an operator to monitor and analyse which services and trigger points are used in a SSF carrying out the measurement. The reports assist the operators in network planning and in introduction of the new intelligent network services.

Brief Description of the Figures

Fig. 1 schematically shows a basic structure of an intelligent network architecture comprising a service switching point and service control point;

Fig. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a process for creating measurement reports;

Fig. 3 shows a measurement report structured as a histogram; and Fig. 4 illustrates a table-like measurement report.

Detailed Description of preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a basic structure of an intelligent network architecture having at least one service switching point (SSP) 1 which comprises means 2 for call and/or service processing and a service switching function (SSF) 3 for switching the service in case of nedd. The service switching function 3 cooperates with a counter 4 for counting trigger detection points and invoked SCFs and/or service keys. The service switching point 1 is connected to a plurality of telephones 5, 6 in a manner known per se and serves for establishing the necessary connections. Furthermore, the service switching point 1 contains a statistical processing means 9.

The service switching point 1 is connected to a service control point (SCP) 7 which comprises means 8 for processing the service control function (SCF) . The means 2 for call or service processing can contact, via SSF 3, the service control function 8 of SCP 7 during processing of a call or service, for requesting further instructions on how to continue the processing, or just to inform the SCF 8 and SCP 7 on an event. This contact is effected by means of using the service switching function 3 which is associated with the call and service processing functions of means 2. The first contact in a call or service can be made at the trigger detection points (TDP) which are defined in ETSI specifications. This is a basic structure of intelligent networks (IN). In CAMEL architectures, the functions gsmSSF and gsmSCF correspond to the SSF and SCF, respectively. In the following, the use of the terms SSF and SCF is intended to automatically include also gsmSSF and gsmSCF, respectively and vice-versa. At these trigger detection points, a message containing, among other data, a data item called "service key" (IN service identifier) is sent to the SCF 8 (or gsmSCF) . This service key identifies the service logic to be used by the service control function 8 (or gsmSCF) . The service keys identifying the service logic to be used in the SCF are co-ordinated, for example in a conventional intelligent network, between the service switching point 1 and the service control function 8. In a CAMEL architecture, the service key is preferably contained in the subscription data of the subscriber.

Generally, the degree of usage of the different services is a useful information for the operators. Likewise, the structure of types of invocations of the intelligent network or CAMEL architecture at the different trigger detection points shows important details on the usage of the resources. Therefore, according to the invention, this information is made available for the operator by counting the usage of the trigger detection points, i.e. the number of trigger detection points used for requesting a service, and the service keys. This counting is preferably effected as an added function of the service switching function 3 (or gsmSSF) . This added function of SSF (or gsmSSF) counts, in counter 4, all successful and failed trigger detection point invocations as well as all successful and failed usage of the different service keys.

Preferably, the data is organised per service control function address (gsmSCF address) . This allows the operator to get detailed information about which service control function is used, to what extent and with what success rate. This is also a useful information in CAMEL architecture, where a SSF/gsmSSF can contact the SCFs (gsmSCFs) of other networks as well which is due to the roaming possibility in mobile networks and the structure of the CAMEL architecture. The service switching function (SSF or gsmSSF) then sends the number of detected events to the statistics function, i.e to the statistical processing means 9 which creates a report from the received data according to a predefined schedule for statistical processing of the data.

The invention gives more insight to service usage, success ratio and the usage of different service control functions

(SCFs/gsmSCFs) by the service switching function. The operator can therefore analyse the usage and success ratio of the intelligent network services (IN or CAMEL services) in the service switching function. Furthermore, the distribution of the usage of the service control functions can be seen from the reports .

The counter 4 shown in Fig. 1 is controlled by the service switching function 3 and counts the number of usage of the detection points, i.e the number of trigger detection points used for sending messages to the service control point 7. Furthermore, the counter 4 registers, under control of the service switching function 3, the invoked services of the service control function (identified by the service keys) triggered from the service switching function 3 to the service control point 7.

The counter 4 may also be provided in the service control point 7. Preferably, the service control point 7 contains an additional counter similar to counter 4 for counting the number of usage of trigger detection points and messages and/or service keys received from service switching point 1 as well as from other service switching points connected to the service control point 7. The service control point 7 preferably comprises, in this case, an additional statistical processing means similar to means 9 for statistically processing the events counted by its counter.

Tne statistical processing means 9 contained m service s itcmng (control) point 1 (7) receives the contents of counter 4 from the service switching (control) function 3 (8) and effects a statistical processing of the received data. For instance, the statistical processing means 9 evaluates which kind of trigger detection points (conditional or unconditional trigger detection points, see for instance ETS 300 374-1, Annex C) and which kind of service usages (identified by the service keys) are occurring during a specific time interval, with indication of the average of using certain service keys and the like in relation to the total number of handled calls, for instance .

The statistical processing means 9 may also be included in the network management system (NMS) .

Fig. 2 shows one example of a processing according to the invention. In step SI, the occurrence and/or usage of trigger detection points is monitored. If the usage, i.e occurrence of a trigger detection point is detected (step S2), the process proceeds to step S3 wherein the kind of trigger detection point (answer type, for instance "called party unreachable", conditional/unconditional trigger detection point, number and the like) as well as the invoked service control function and/or invoked IN service or transmitted IN service identifier (service key) is detected. Furthermore, the count value for the detected trigger detection point and invoked service control function and/or message is incremented in counter 4.

In addition, the success or failure of the invoked service (as requested by the service key, i.e the invoked service of the service control function) is detected and registered (step S4) . This information may also be stored in counter 4. The contents of counter 4, i.e. the stored count values and the success/failure information derived in step S4 is sent to the statistical processing means 9 for statistical processing (preparing a statistics function), in step S5. Step S5 can be periodically conducted or may be effected every time after updating of the counter 4 contents. Fig. 3 shows an example for selectively registering the number of different trigger detection points occurring during a selected time interval such as an hour, a day or a month and the like. Type 1 of trigger detection points may for example be "Collected Information": the telecommunication switch collected all the information from the calling party which is necessary for processing the call; type 2 may be "Answer": the called subscriber answered the call; type 3 may be "Called Party Busy": the called party is found busy in the terminating telecommunication switch, and so on.

This histogram may be stored in counter 4 and/or in a memory of tne statistical processing means 9.

Fig. 4 shows a different kind of registering a compiled statistic in the form of a matrix. Each row is attributed to one occurrence of invoking the intelligent network or CAMEL services and stores, as indicated by the headnotes of the columns, the kind of trigger detection point, the invoked service control function, the transmitted service key, the time point of occurrence of the SCF invocation, etc. Such a tablelike arrangement of registered events gives very good insight into the behaviour of the overall network. In addition, the table contents can be statistically processed by statistical processing means 9 for deriving for instance average values of occurrence of invocations and the like.

Claims

Cla i ms

1. Method for providing analysis data in a communication system in which services or information on services may be requested or transmitted at detection points indicating the occurrence of specific events, wherein, for collecting the analysis data, the occurrence of the detection points, and information on services and/or messages requested or transmitted at the occurrence of the detection points are detected.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which the detected detection points are trigger detection points, and the services are services controlled by a service control function of an Intelligent Network.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the detected number of detection points, and the information on the requested services and/or transmitted messages are counted, collected and/or stored.

4. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, in which the messages comprise service keys.

5. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, in which the specific events occur during handlings of calls and/or other service requests of the subscribers.

6. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, in which the services are requested by a first entity of the communication system, and the information is forwarded to a second entity.

J

7. Method according to claim 6, in which the first entity is a service switching point and the second entity is a service control point. 0

8. Method according to claim 6, in which the first entity is a service control point and the second entity is a service switching point. 5

9. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, m which the success rate of invocations of services is detected.

0

10. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, in which the number of service invocations is detected.

5 11. Method according to claim 9, in which the number of failures of invocations of a service is detected.

12. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein 0 the communication system comprises at least one service switching point, the number of trigger detection points occurring in the service switching point, and the services of the service control function invoked in the service switching point being counted and stored, respectively.

13. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the communications system comprises at least one service control point, the number of invocations of the service control function of the service control point, and the services of the service control function invoked in the service control point being counted and stored, respectively.

14. System for providing analysis data in a communication system in which services or information on services may be requested or transmitted between a first and a second entity of the communication system at detection points indicating the occurrence of specific events, comprising a detecting means for detecting information on the occurrence of detection points, and on services and/or messages requested or transmitted, resp., at the occurrence of the detection points.

15. System according to claim 14, comprising means for counting, storing, and/or collecting information on the detected number of occurrence of detection points, and on services and/or messages requested or transmitted, resp., at the occurrence of the detection points.

16. System according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the communication system comprises at least one service switching point, the detecting means counting the number of trigger detection points occurring in the service switching point, and detecting and storing information on the services of the service control function invoked in the service switching point .

17. System according to claim 14, 15, or 16, wherein the communication system comprises at least one service control point, the detecting means counting the number of invocations of the service control function of the service control point, and detecting and storing information on the services of the service control function invoked in the service control point at the trigger detection points.

18. System according to claim 14, 15, 16, or 17, wherein the communication system is a telecommunications system.