Mobile User Tracking Across IuPS Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in mobile computer networks is accurately tracking users across Iu Packet Switched (IuPS) interfaces, particularly due to the connectionless nature of UDP-based RTP traffic, which lacks performance management capabilities, making it difficult to monitor and classify accurately.

Innovation Solution

The system tracks user identification information, such as IMSI, across different Radio Network Controllers (RNCs) and Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Nodes (SGSNs) using the IuPS interface, enabling monitoring of usage, responsiveness, and errors, and recreating user sessions for troubleshooting, through protocols like RANAP and GTP-U, even without initial control information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UDP-based RTP protocol is used for voice and video traffic, then network flexibility and simplicity are improved, but performance management capability and traffic classification accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoidtraffic classification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system that sits between the UDP-based RTP traffic and the network management infrastructure. This intermediary captures and analyzes RTP packets, extracting classification information such as protocol type, source/destination addresses, and traffic patterns to enable accurate traffic classification without modifying the underlying UDP protocol or its connectionless nature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If user tracking is implemented across IuPS interface, then network monitoring capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple tracking functions into a unified monitoring system that processes IuPS interface traffic. By combining user identification extraction, session correlation, and mobility tracking into a single integrated platform, the system achieves comprehensive network monitoring capability while managing complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation of separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system is designed with universal capabilities to handle multiple protocols (RANAP, GTP-U, HTTP, POP3) and multiple tracking objectives (user identification, session management, mobility tracking) through a single platform. This multi-functional approach improves monitoring capability across diverse network scenarios while avoiding the complexity of separate specialized systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If detailed user session data is collected for troubleshooting, then problem diagnosis capability is improved, but data processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproblem diagnosis capabilityVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by collecting and organizing user session data in real-time as it traverses the IuPS interface, rather than attempting to retrieve it after problems occur. The monitoring system proactively captures user identification information, session parameters, and traffic patterns during normal operation, creating a ready-to-analyze data foundation that accelerates troubleshooting when issues arise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual data analysis with automated processing mechanisms that continuously parse, correlate, and store session data using protocol-specific parsers for RANAP, GTP-U, and application layer protocols. This automated mechanical processing substitutes for time-consuming manual investigation, reducing data processing time while maintaining comprehensive diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8644762B1Mobile user tracking and application monitoring across an IuPS interface

Publication Date: 2014.02.04 NETSCOUT SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A specific user is tracked based on the cell site or service area that the user's device connects to. RANAP, GMM, and SM sessions are associated based on P-TMSI, IMSI, or IMEI. The sessions are maintained based on packets transmitted over the IuPS interface between one or more radio network controllers and a serving GPRS support node. Tracking information associated with information includes usage information such as responsiveness errors, device usage and location. Tracking of a user down to the cell site or service area level assists a mobile service provider in troubleshooting connection issues by providing more complete information and enabling recreation of a user's situation.