WO2008000132A1

WO2008000132A1 - A system and method for collecting the entire network signaling information and a system for tracing the entire network signaling

Info

Publication number: WO2008000132A1
Application number: PCT/CN2007/001495
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hui Chen
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-06-23
Filing date: 2007-05-08
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Also published as: CN101094427B; CN101094427A

Abstract

The present invention provides an entire network signaling information collection system and corresponding method. The system comprises entire signaling tracing system, soft switch and net element that involve the call. The said entire signaling tracing system starts the entire signaling tracing task before the call testing, sends the signaling tracing task order to the soft switch which involves the call, the soft switch accepts the order and controls the said net element to start the signaling tracing task, the said soft switch and net element recode the signaling tracing result, and send the tracing result to the entire net signaling tracing system, the said entire net signaling tracing system collects the signaling information of all the soft switches and net elements which involve the call in the entire net. The entire signaling information collection system and method of the present invention can realize the collection of entire signaling information all together, reduce the complexity of the operation. The present invention also provides an entire signaling tracing system.

Description

The whole network signaling message collecting system and method and the whole network signaling tracking system The application is submitted to the Chinese Patent Office on June 23, 2006, and the application number is 200610061323.7, and the invention name is "full network signaling message collecting system and method. The priority of the Chinese Patent Application, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a signaling message collection system and method, and more particularly to a network-wide signaling message collection system and method and a network-wide signaling tracking system.

Background technique

Currently, with the evolution of the network, distributed processing is becoming mainstream. In an NGN (Next Generation Network), a call may span multiple network elements. When a call failure occurs, it is often necessary to collect signaling messages through call dialing and packet capture, perform message tracking analysis, and detect faults.

An existing method for collecting signaling messages is as follows: In the call dialing process, a network packet capture tool (such as Ethereal) is used to monitor the network port of the network element, and collect all data packets sent and received by the network element, if needed. Comparing the signaling messages between the network elements, in the process of dialing a call, multiple operators cooperate with each other on the network element side to capture data and manually compare the collected data. Although it is easy to obtain data packets through the network packet capture tool, the operation is also convenient. However, the message tracking analysis has the following disadvantages: the network packet capture tool needs to be temporarily connected to the network segment where the network element is located to collect network data packets; Message filtering, useful and useless information mixed together; can not effectively distinguish between signaling and business data, when the amount of data is large, the possibility of information collection is lost; at the same time, it is difficult to collect the signaling message in the call dialing test. Need more people to cooperate.

Another method for collecting signaling messages is as follows: a device vendor generally provides a dedicated operation and maintenance tool or a separate signaling detection system for a certain network element, and can collect a specified interface or a specified type of signaling message. During the call dialing process, the dedicated operation and maintenance tool or the independent signaling detection system can be used to implement the signaling message collection of the network element. However, although the method can implement message filtering, only the required signaling messages are collected, but when the network-wide signaling message is collected, the following disadvantages exist: only the signaling of a single network element can be collected, and the information in the call dialing test is collected at the same time. Making the news more difficult requires multiplayer cooperation.

Summary of the invention

An embodiment of the present invention provides a unified collection of signaling messages of a whole network, and a low operation of P Complexity network-wide signaling message collection system and method.

Another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a network-wide signaling tracking system.

The technical solution adopted by the embodiment of the present invention is:

An all-network signaling message collection system, where the system includes:

The network-wide signaling tracking system is configured to start a network-wide signaling tracking task before dialing a call, send a signaling tracking task command to the softswitch involved in the call, and collect the call involved in the entire network from the received tracking result. Softswitch and signaling messages of all network elements;

The softswitch accepts the signaling tracking task command, the control network element starts a signaling tracking task, and the softswitch and the network element record the signaling tracking result, and the tracking result is separately uploaded to the network-wide signaling tracking system. .

An all-network signaling message collection method includes the following steps:

Before the call dialing test, the network-wide signaling tracking system starts the network-wide signaling tracking task, and sends a signaling tracking task command to the softswitch involved in the call;

The softswitch accepts the signaling tracking task command, and controls a network element involved in the call to initiate a signaling tracking task;

The softswitch and the network element record the tracking result, and upload the tracking result to the network-wide signaling 3 tracking system respectively;

The network-wide signaling tracking system collects, from the tracking result, a softswitch and a signaling message of all network elements involved in the call in the entire network.

A network-wide signaling tracking system includes:

a task management module, a data acquisition module, a server, a data management module, a protocol analysis module, a timing analysis module, and a result display module,

a task management module, configured to accept a command, create a tracking task, control the softswitch to start a tracking task, and manage the currently running task,

The server is configured to receive the data uploaded by the softswitch and the network element during the running of the task; the data collection module is configured to monitor the server, collect the received data, and submit the collected data to the data management module for unified storage. Maintenance

a data management module, configured to transfer the saved maintenance tracking task data to the protocol parsing module; support historical tracking tasks and data queries; a protocol parsing module, configured to perform protocol parsing on the received data, and transmit the parsed data to the timing analysis module;

a timing analysis module, configured to compare and analyze the received data, and transmit the analyzed data to the result display module;

The result display module is used to display the analysis results.

The beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention are as follows: The embodiment of the present invention uses the network-wide signaling tracking system to start a network-wide signaling tracking task before call dialing, and collects softswitches and signaling of all network elements involved in calls in the entire network. The message is unified, and the operation of the whole network signaling message is unified, and the operation is simple; and the problem that multiple people need to cooperate when collecting the whole network signaling message in the existing signaling message collection method is solved. DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network-wide signaling message collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of a network-wide signaling tracking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a whole network signaling message collection process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

Referring to FIG. 1, the network-wide signaling message collection system of the embodiment of the present invention includes a network-wide signaling tracking system 110, a softswitch 120 and a network element 130 involved in the call.

The entire network signaling tracking system 110: is responsible for initiating the whole network signaling tracking task before the call dialing, collecting the softswitch 120 and all the network element 130 signaling messages involved in the call in the whole network, and realizing the collection of the whole network signaling message. Compare with analysis. As a FTP server, the entire network signaling tracking system sends the task ID, the IP address of the FTP server, the FTP directory, and the authentication information, such as the user name and password, and the collection period to the softswitch when creating the signaling tracking task. The FTP directory is scanned to collect the softswitch and the signaling message file uploaded by the NE. The unified analysis and comparison of all signaling tracking data shows the tracking result.

The softswitch 120: accepts the signaling tracking task command of the network-wide signaling tracking system, determines the gateway where it is located according to the tracking number, and sends a startup signaling tracking command to the gateway; if it cannot be determined immediately, the call is determined when the call is generated. The related gateways and network elements control the network element to start the signaling tracking task by extending the control ten. The softswitch is used as the FTP client. The signaling tracking task command message sent includes the task ID, the IP address of the FTP server, the FTP directory, the authentication information such as the username and password, and the collection period. The signaling tracking result is also recorded. Periodically upload the tracking results to the FTP directory of the FTP server as an FTP file. NE 130: The NE functions as an FTP client. The tracking task is started under the control of the softswitch. The signaling tracking result is recorded. The tracking result is periodically uploaded to the FTP directory of the FTP server.

Referring to FIG. 2, the network-wide signaling tracking system of the embodiment of the present invention includes a task management module 111, a data collection module 112, an FTP server 113, a data management module 114, a protocol parsing module 115, a timing analysis module 116, and a result display module 117. . The function description of each module is as follows:

The task management module 111: is responsible for creating and stopping the tracking task, and managing the currently running tracking task; the data collection module 112: monitoring the data received by the FTP server, and collecting the softswitch and the signaling tracking data reported by the network element through the FTP directory;

FTP server 113: Receive tracking data of softswitch and network element upload;

Data management module 114: save and maintain tracking data of tracking tasks; support historical tracking tasks and data queries;

Protocol parsing module 115: responsible for parsing signaling tracking data of different protocols;

Timing analysis module 116: Compare and analyze all signaling data collected in the tracking task;

The result display module 117: graphically displays the results of the signaling timing analysis in the tracking task.

The following takes a typical tracking task processing flow as an example to illustrate the relationship between modules: the task management module 111 accepts user commands, creates tracking tasks, controls softswitches to start tracking tasks, and manages currently running tasks. During the task running, FTP The server 113 is responsible for receiving the data exchanged by the softswitch and the network element; the data collection module 112 monitors the FTP server and collects the received data; the data collection module 112 passes the collected data to the data management module 114 for unified maintenance; and then the data management module 114 The tracking task data is subjected to real-time analysis and analysis by the protocol parsing module 115 and the timing analysis module 116, and finally the result display module 117 displays the analysis result in real time in a graphical manner.

Referring to FIG. 3, the method for collecting a network-wide signaling message according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

A. Before the call dialing test, the network-wide signaling tracking task is started from the network-wide signaling tracking system, and the signaling tracking task command is sent to the softswitch involved in the call. The command message includes the task ID and the IP address of the FTP server. Address, FTP directory, authentication information such as username and password, and collection period;

B. The softswitch accepts the command, determines the gateway where the user is located according to the tracking number, and sends a startup signaling tracking command to the gateway, or determines the gateway and the network element involved in the call after the call is generated, and controls the network element to start the signaling tracking task. The signaling tracking task command message sent includes the task ID and the FTP server. IP address, FTP directory, authentication information such as username and password, and collection period;

C. Softswitch and network element record tracking results are periodically uploaded to the specified FTP directory of the entire network signaling tracking system by FTP;

D. The entire network signaling tracking system detects and scans the FTP directory in real time, and collects softswitches involved in all calls and signaling message data reported by the network element period;

E. The whole network signaling tracking system analyzes and compares all signaling message data and displays the tracking result. The collection period refers to the period of the softswitch and the network element reporting the FTP file. In the process of reporting, if the FTP connection fails, you need to consider the message cache policy.

First, the cache size: The cache size should be flexibly configured according to the hardware conditions of each device. For devices with a file system, such as a softswitch, the cache can be set to a larger point. For devices that do not have a file system, all messages must be kept in memory, such as an access gateway, and the cache needs to be defined smaller.

Second, report in advance: When the cache is full, and the collection cycle has not yet arrived, the message in the cache needs to be reported in advance to avoid losing information.

3. Message Discard: When the cache is full and the FTP connection is still not connected, the message in the cache needs to be discarded.

FTP connection needs to consider an FTP connection control strategy:

First, the number of connections is limited. In order to reduce the burden on the FTP server, it is necessary to limit the number of clients connected at the same time. This should be based on the actual situation, including: the hardware configuration of the server and the number of devices.

Second, the connection keep alive time. After the client creates a connection, there are two cases to deal with the connection: One is to use it immediately. When the file needs to be reported, a connection is created with the server, and the connection is broken after the report ends. This situation is suitable when the number of devices is greater than the maximum number of server connections, which can prevent a device from occupying the connection for a long time. However, frequent creations and the destruction of connections can have performance impacts on both the server and the client. The other is to keep the connection alive, so that the connection is valid throughout the life of the tracking task, avoiding the overhead of frequently creating and destroying connections. However, this method is applicable when the number of devices is not greater than the maximum number of server connections.

The file names uploaded by the softswitch and the NE are in a fixed format and can distinguish between time, tracking task, NE type and NE name: <Startdate>.<Starttime>-<SenderType>.<SenderName>.<TraceReferenceId>

Startdate: the date of the first record in the FTP file;

Starttime: The time of the first record in the FTP file;

SenderType: The specific type of the NE that reports the FTP file.

SenderName: The device ID of the NE that reports the FTP file.

TraceReferenceld: Signaling trace task id=

The following is an example of a file name: File name:

20051228.211510+080000-SX.123456.12, which indicates the FTP file reported by SoftX3000 with the signaling point value of 123456 on December 28, 2005. The first record in the file is 21:15:10 on December 28, 2005. The local time is 8 hours later than the UTC time. The id of this signaling tracking task is 12. In this way, the file name can be used to know which network element is reported when the message is sent, so that the server can perform preprocessing.

Using FTP to upload signaling message files has the following benefits:

1. FTP is a standard protocol that is easy to promote and has no technical barriers. When devices of other vendors are connected, as long as the device implements the FTP upload mechanism, it can join the existing network-wide signaling tracking system.

2. FTP is suitable for massive data uploading. When it is necessary to upload a large amount of data, it is obviously more efficient to use the FTP processing mechanism than to report the bill through the binary stream;

3. By FTP collection, you can avoid crawling useless messages. There are many messages in the network, and the messages captured by the listening port will contain a lot of useless messages, and a complete set of filtering rules needs to be defined. Let the device upload the message through the FTP file to avoid this problem.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention may also adopt a real-time reporting manner, that is, the softswitch and the network element involved in the call report the signaling message to the entire network signaling tracking system in real time through the Socket interface during the signaling tracking process. The signaling tracking task command message sent at the time does not include the collection period. If the real-time reporting method is adopted, the FTP server of the entire network signaling tracking system is a general server.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents, improvements, etc., which are made within the spirit and principles of the present invention, should be included. It is within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Rights request

A network-wide signaling message collection system, characterized in that: the system comprises:

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the network-wide signaling tracking system comprises: a task management module, configured to accept a command, create a tracking task, control the softswitch to start a tracking task, and manage the current Running task,

The server is configured to receive the data uploaded by the softswitch and the network element during the running of the task; the data collection module is configured to monitor the server, collect the received data, and submit the collected data to the data management module. Save maintenance

a data management module, configured to transfer the saved maintenance tracking task data to the protocol parsing module; support historical tracking tasks and data queries;

a protocol parsing module, configured to perform protocol parsing on the received data, and transmit the parsed data to the timing analysis module;

The result display module is used to display the analysis results.

The system of claim 2, wherein: the server is an FTP server, the network-wide signaling tracking system is used as an FTP server, and the softswitch and the network element are used as an FTP client.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein: the sent signaling tracking task command message includes a task ID, an IP address of the FTP server, authentication information, and an FTP directory.

The system of claim 4, wherein: the sent signaling tracking task command message further includes a collection period.

The system according to claim 5, wherein: the manner in which the softswitch and the network element upload the tracking result to the network-wide signaling tracking system is to periodically track the tracking result according to the collection period. Upload the FTP file to the FTP directory of the FTP server.

The system according to claim 1, wherein the manner in which the softswitch and the network element upload the tracking result to the network-wide signaling tracking system is a real-time reporting manner.

The system according to claim 7, wherein the real-time reporting manner is that the signaling message is reported to the network-wide signaling tracking system in real time during the signaling tracking process.

9. A method for collecting signalling of a whole network signaling message, comprising the steps of:

The softswitch and the network element record the tracking result, and upload the tracking result to the network-wide signaling tracking system;

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: the network element initiated signaling tracking task involved in the softswitch control call comprises the following steps: the softswitch determines a user according to a trace number in the received command. The gateway sends a startup signaling tracking command to the gateway, or determines the gateway and the network element involved in the call after the call is generated, and controls the network element to start the signaling tracking task.

The method according to claim 10, wherein: the network-wide signaling tracking system functions as an FTP server, and the softswitch and the network element serve as an FTP client.

The method according to claim 11, wherein: the sent signaling tracking task command message includes a task ID, an IP address of an FTP server, authentication information, and an FTP directory.

The method according to claim 12, wherein: the sent signaling tracking task command message further includes an acquisition period.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: the process of the softswitch and the network element respectively uploading the tracking result to the network-wide signaling tracking system comprises the following steps:

The softswitch and the network element record the tracking result, periodically on the FTP basis according to the collection period. Pass to the specified FTP directory of the network-wide signaling tracking system.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: the process of collecting signaling message data from the tracking result by the network-wide signaling tracking system comprises the following steps:

The network-wide signaling tracking system detects and scans the FTP directory in real time, and collects softswitches involved in all calls and signaling message data reported by the network element period.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises the step of: discarding the message in the cache when the softswitch and the network element cache are full and the FTP connection is still not connected.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein: the method further comprises the steps of: advancing the message in the cache when the softswitch and the network element cache are full, and the collection period has not expired yet; Reported.

The method according to claim 9, wherein: the softswitch and the network element upload the tracking result to the network-wide signaling tracking system in a manner of real-time reporting.

The method according to claim 18, wherein: the real-time reporting manner is that the signaling message is reported to the network-wide signaling tracking system in real time during the signaling tracking process.

20. A network-wide signaling tracking system, comprising:

a data management module, configured to transfer the saved maintenance tracking data to the protocol parsing module; support historical tracking tasks and data queries;

The result display module is used to display the analysis results.