Apparatus and method for correlation and display of signaling and network events

1 . A test and measurement system comprising:

a first measurement system that monitors communication in a signaling protocol;

a second measurement system that monitors communication in a network protocol;

a correlation system that correlates the output of the first measurement system with the output of the second measurement system; and

a graphical user interface that generates a display comparing at least one aspect of the output of the first measurement system with at least one aspect of the second measurement system based on the output of the correlation system.

2 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the correlation system correlates the output of the first measurement system with the second measurement system based on time.

3 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface generates a chart having a first line representing at least one aspect of the output of the first measurement system and a second line representing at least one aspect of the second measurement system.

4 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first line represents a single measurement from the first measurement system and a second line represents a single measurement from the second measurement system.

5 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first line represents an aggregate of measurements from the first measurement system and a second line represents an aggregate of measurements from the second measurement system.

6 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first measurement system comprises:

at least one probe connected to a network transmitting data using a signaling protocol; and

a signaling analyzer that receives data from the at least one probe and outputs measurements to the correlation system.

7 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second measurement system comprises:

at least one probe connected to a packet switched network; and

a network analyzer that receives data from the at least one probe and outputs measurements to the correlation system.

8 . A test and measurement system comprising:

first measurement means monitoring communication in a signaling protocol and outputting measurements;

second measurement means monitoring communication in a network protocol and outputting measurements;

correlation means correlating measurements from the first measurement means with measurements from the second measurement means; and

display means generating a display comparing measurements from the first measurement means with measurements from the second measurement system based on the output of the correlation system.

9 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the correlation means correlates the output of the first measurement means with the second measurement means based on time.

10 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the means generates a chart having a first line representing an aspect of the measurements from the first measurement means and a second line representing an aspect of the measurements from the second measurement means.

11 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the first line represents a single measurement type from the first measurement means and a second line represents a single measurement type from the second measurement means.

12 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the first line represents an aggregate of measurements from the first measurement means and a second line represents an aggregate of measurements from the second measurement means.

13 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the first measurement means comprises:

at least one probe connected to a network transmitting data using a signaling protocol; and

a signaling analyzer that receives data from the at least one probe and outputs measurements to the correlation means.

14 . A test and measurement system, as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the second measurement means comprises:

at least one probe connected to a packet switched network; and

a network analyzer that receives data from the at least one probe and outputs measurements to the correlation means.

15 . A method of display comprising:

generating first measurements related to communication utilizing a signaling protocol;

generating second measurements related to communication over a packet switched network;

correlating the first measurements with the second measurements; and

displaying a chart comparing the first measurements with the second measurements.

16 . A method of display, as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the step of correlating comprises forming a pair of values for each of a plurality of time intervals wherein one value in the pair represents the first measurements occurring during a time interval and the other value in the pair represents the second measurements occurring during the same time interval.

17 . A method of display, as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the step of displaying comprises plotting the pair of values on a graph for each of the plurality of time intervals.

18 . A method of display, as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the pair of values are formed by aggregating several measurement types from the first and second measurements.

19 . A method of display, as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the pair of values are formed by selecting a single measurement type from the first and second measurements.