Method of monitoring performance, performance monitoring system, and network performance monitoring apparatus

1. A method of monitoring performance of a communications network providing a coverage area for a plurality of mobile communications terminals, a number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals respectively supporting a number of measurement applications, the number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals each being capable of self-location determination, the method comprising:

the number of the measurement applications, at the number of plurality of mobile communications terminals, each respectively obtaining rules from a processing resource;

the number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals each determining respective location data identifying a respective location thereof;

the number of the measurement applications each respectively evaluating the rules and performing a measurement at the respective location thereof within the coverage area of the communications network in response to the evaluation of the rules resulting in a need to perform the measurement at the respective location of the mobile communications terminal, the measurement relating to an attribute of a communications service; and

the number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals each communicating the respective location data and the associated measurement to the processing resource via the communications network,

wherein the rules are configured by the processing resource based upon a predetermined threshold to reflect the fact that the processing resource deems a database to contain sufficient measurements in relation to a predetermined communications service at or within a predetermined area where a communications terminal is located, or the database is deemed to contain insufficient measurements in relation to the respective communications terminal location, and

wherein the rules are periodically refreshed.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement relates to an objective criterion associated with provision of the communications service.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measurement relates to any one of:

a call hold time for a voice call;

a call setup time for the voice call;

call blocking associated the voice call;

message integrity for an e-mail message;

a message send time for the e-mail message;

a message delivery time for the e-mail message;

availability of the e-mail service;

an upload peak rate for a data service;

a download peak rate for the data service;

an upload sustained rate for the data service;

a download sustained rate for the data service;

a round-trip time for the data service;

jitter associated with the data service;

availability of the data service;

a stream setup time for streamed media;

a sustained download rate for the streamed media;

jitter associated with the streamed media;

availability of a streamed media service; or

signal strength.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the each of the number of measurement applications is an application for reporting network measurement data to the processing resource.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rules comprise a rule to reduce loading of the processing resource and/or conserve battery charge of the number of the plurality of communications terminals.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the rule comprises a comparison between a threshold associated with the measurement and the measurement.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the threshold relates to:

signal strength, a location of application used, a battery level, or a memory level.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: the processing resource receiving the respective location data and the associated measurement and structurally storing the respective location data and the associated measurement, thereby contributing to a database of locations and measurements associated therewith.

9. A computer program code element embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer program code means to make a computer execute the method according to claim 1 .

10. A performance monitoring system comprising:

a communications network arranged to provide, when in use, a coverage area for a plurality of mobile communications terminals, a number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals respectively supporting, when in use, a number of measurement applications, the number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals each being capable of self-location determination; wherein

the number of the measurement applications is each arranged respectively to obtain rules from a processing resource;

each of the number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals is arranged, when in use, to determine respective location data identifying a respective location thereof;

the number of the measurement applications is each arranged respectively to evaluate, when in use, the rules and to perform a measurement at the respective location thereof within the coverage area of the communications network in response to the evaluation of the rules resulting in a need to perform the measurement at the respective location of the mobile communications terminal, the measurement relating to an attribute of a communications service; and

the each of the number of the plurality of mobile communications terminals is each further arranged to communicate, when in use, the respective location data and the associated measurement to the processing resource via the communications network,

wherein the rules are configured by the processing resource based upon a predetermined threshold to reflect the fact that the processing resource deems a database to contain sufficient measurements in relation to a predetermined communications service at or within a predetermined area where a communications terminal is located, or the database is deemed to contain insufficient measurements in relation to the respective communications terminal location, and

wherein the processing resource periodically refreshes the rules.

11. A network performance monitoring apparatus comprising:

a processing resource arranged to provide rules to a number of measurement applications respectively supported by a number of a plurality of mobile communications terminals, the processing resource also being arranged to receive, when in use, a plurality of location data and a plurality of measurements respectively associated therewith as a result of evaluation of the rules by the number of measurement applications resulting in respective needs to perform the plurality measurements at respective locations of mobile communications terminals, the plurality of measurements relating to an attribute of a communications service supported by a communications network; wherein

the processing resource is further arranged to store structurally, when in use, the respective location data and the associated measurement, thereby contributing to a database of locations and measurements associated therewith,

wherein the rules are configured by the processing resource based upon a predetermined threshold to reflect the fact that the processing resource deems a database to contain sufficient measurements in relation to a predetermined communications service at or within a predetermined area where a communications terminal is located, or the database is deemed to contain insufficient measurements in relation to the respective communications terminal location, and

wherein the processing resource periodically refreshes the rules.