Central traffic correlation system

1. A system for correlating signaling traffic for service sessions in a packet service network, the system comprising:

a central traffic correlation system (CTCS) configured to receive a correlation request for a first service session from a client device, transmit a collection request for the first service session to a first traffic collection system (TCS) and a second traffic collection system (TCS), receive a first collection response from the first TCS indicating first data for the first service session, receive a second collection response from the second TCS indicating second data for the first service session, and transfer a correlation response to the client device indicating the first and second data;

the first TCS configured to monitor and store first signaling traffic for a first network region, receive the collection request from the CTCS, process the collection request to retrieve the first data for the first service session from the first signaling traffic, and transmit the first collection response indicating the first data to the CTCS; and

the CTCS further configured to process the correlation request to select the first TCS and the second TCS and generate the collection request, and process the first data and the second data to generate the correlation response.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second TCS is configured to monitor and store second signaling traffic for a second network region, receive the collection request from the CTCS, process the collection request to retrieve the second data for the first service session from the second signaling traffic, and transmit the second collection response indicating the second data to the CTCS.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signaling traffic comprises Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messaging for the first service session.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the second signaling traffic comprises Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messaging for the first service session.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first service session comprises a push-to-talk session.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the collection request indicates a group having a plurality of users.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first TCS is configured to process the collection request to retrieve the first data for the first service session from the first signaling traffic based on the group.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the first TCS is configured to process the collection request to retrieve the first data for the first service session from the first signaling traffic based on at least a one of the plurality of users.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first data comprises partial message information for the first session and wherein the second data comprises partial message information for the first session and wherein the first data and the second data in combination comprise full message information for the first session.

10. A method of operating a system for correlating signaling traffic for service sessions in a packet service network, the method comprising:

in a central traffic correlation system (CTCS), receiving a correlation request for a first service session from a client device;

in the CTCS, processing the correlation request to select a first traffic collection system (TCS) and a second TCS;

in the CTCS, generating and transmitting a collection request for the first service session to the first TCS and the second TCS;

in the first TCS, monitoring and storing first signaling traffic for a first network region, receiving the collection request from the CTCS, processing the collection request to retrieve the first data for the first service session from the first signaling traffic, and transmitting the first collection response indicating the first data to the CTCS;

in the CTCS, receiving a first collection response from the first TCS indicating first data for the first service session;

in the CTCS, receiving a second collection response from the second TCS indicating second data for the first service session;

in the CTCS, processing the first data and the second data to generate a correlation response; and

in the CTCS, transferring the correlation response to the client device indicating the first and second data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second TCS is configured to monitor and store second signaling traffic for a second network region, receive the collection request from the CTCS, process the collection request to retrieve the second data for the first service session from the second signaling traffic, and transmit the second collection response indicating the second data to the CTCS.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the first signaling traffic comprises Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messaging for the first service session.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the second signaling traffic comprises Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messaging for the first service session.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the first service session comprises a push-to-talk session.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the collection request indicates a group having a plurality of users.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first TCS is configured to process the collection request to retrieve the first data for the first service session from the first signaling traffic based on the group.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the first TCS is configured to process the collection request to retrieve the first data for the first service session from the first signaling traffic based on at least a one of the plurality of users.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the first data comprises partial message information for the first session and wherein the second data comprises partial message information for the first session and wherein the first data and the second data in combination comprise full message information for the first session.