Methods, systems, and computer program products for distributed packet traffic performance analysis in a communication network
Network packet traffic in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is analyzed by associating a micro network access agent with a single network element in the LTE network and performing packet traffic analysis for packet traffic processed by the single network element using the micro network access agent.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a first network element in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, packet traffic,
the first network element including a first micro network access agent;
determining, by the first network element and using the first micro network access agent, packet traffic analysis information for the packet traffic,
the packet traffic analysis information including information associated with a handover efficiency of the first network element and at least one of:
traffic capacity information associated with the first network element,
voice quality information associated with the first network element, or
video quality information associated with the first network element;
identifying, by the first network element, using the first micro network access agent, and based on the packet traffic analysis information, one or more specific packets associated with the packet traffic analysis information; and
transmitting, by the first network element and based on identifying the one or more specific packets, a signal to a second micro network access agent included in a second network element in the LTE network,
the signal instructing the second network element, using the second micro network access agent, to perform an analysis of the one or more specific packets in order to identify one or more potential issues with a service provided by the LTE network.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying, by the first network element and based on the packet traffic analysis information, the one or more potential issues with the service provided by the LTE network.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting a packet analysis alert to a network management system for the LTE network,
the network management system instructing, based on the packet analysis alert, the second network element to perform an analysis of the one or more specific packets.
4. The method of claim 1 , where the first network element or the second network element comprises one of:
an eNode B element,
a Mobility Management Entity (MME) element,
a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) element,
a Serving Gateway (SGW) element, or
a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) element.
5. The method of claim 1 , where the packet traffic analysis information is based on a performance metric associated with the first network element,
the performance metric including information associated with handover efficiency and at least one of:
traffic capacity,
voice quality, or
video quality.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a packet analysis alert from a third micro network access agent associated with a third network element; and
transmitting the signal to the second micro network access agent based on receiving the packet analysis alert.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the packet traffic analysis information to a service management system associated with the LTE network,
the service management system being to at least one of:
generate access reports, associated with the LTE network, based on the packet traffic analysis information,
configure the LTE network based on the packet traffic analysis information,
generate bills, associated with the LTE network, based on the packet traffic analysis information, or
provision services in the LTE network based on the packet traffic analysis information.
8. A first network element comprising:
a memory to store instructions; and
a processor to execute the instructions to:
receive packet traffic via a first micro network access agent associated with the first network element,
the first network element being provided in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network;
determine, using the first micro network access agent, packet traffic analysis information for the packet traffic,
the packet traffic analysis information including information associated with a handover efficiency of the first network element and at least one of:
traffic capacity information associated with the first network element,
voice quality information associated with the first network element, or
video quality information associated with the first network element;
identify, using the first micro network access agent and based on the packet traffic analysis information, one or more specific packets associated with the packet traffic analysis information; and
transmit, based on identifying the one or more specific packets, a signal to a second micro network access agent included in a second network element in the LTE network,
the signal instructing the second network element, using the second micro network access agent, to perform an analysis of the one or more specific packets in order to identify one or more potential issues with a service provided by the LTE network.
9. The first network element of claim 8 , where the processor is further to:
identify, based on the packet traffic analysis information, the one or more potential issues with the service provided by the LTE network.
10. The first network element of claim 8 , where the processor is further to:
transmit a packet analysis alert to a network management system for the LTE network,
the network management system instructing, based on the packet analysis alert, the second network element to perform an analysis of the one or more specific packets.
11. The first network element of claim 8 , where the first network element or the second network element comprises one of:
an eNode B element,
a Mobility Management Entity (MME) element,
a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) element,
a Serving Gateway (SGW) element, or
a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) element.
12. The first network element of claim 8 , where the packet traffic analysis information is based on a performance metric associated with the first network element,
the performance metric including information associated with handover efficiency and at least one of:
traffic capacity,
voice quality, or
video quality.
13. The first network element of claim 8 , where the processor is further to:
receive a packet analysis alert from a third micro network access agent associated with a third network element; and
transmit the signal to the second micro network access agent based on receiving the packet analysis alert.
14. The first network element of claim 8 , where the processor is further to:
transmit the packet traffic analysis information to a service management system associated with the LTE network,
the service management system being to at least one of:
generate access reports, associated with the LTE network, based on the packet traffic analysis information,
configure the LTE network based on the packet traffic analysis information,
generate bills, associated with the LTE network, based on the packet traffic analysis information, or
provision services in the LTE network based on the packet traffic analysis information.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
one or more instructions which, when executed by a processor of a first network element, cause the processor to:
receive packet traffic via a first micro network access agent associated with the first network element,
the first network element being provided in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network;
determine, using the first micro network access agent, packet traffic analysis information for the packet traffic,
the packet traffic analysis information including information associated with a handover efficiency of the first network element and at least one of:
traffic capacity information associated with the first network element,
voice quality information associated with the first network element, or
video quality information associated with the first network element;
identify, using the first micro network access agent and based on the packet traffic analysis information, one or more specific packets associated with the packet traffic analysis information; and
transmit, based on identifying the one or more specific packets, a signal to a second micro network access agent included in a second network element in the LTE network,
the signal instructing the second network element, using the second micro network access agent, to perform an analysis of the one or more specific packets in order to identify one or more potential issues with a service provided by the LTE network.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the instructions further comprise:
one or more instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
identify, based on the packet traffic analysis information, the one or more potential issues with the service provided by the LTE network.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the instructions further comprise:
one or more instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
transmit a packet analysis alert to a network management system for the LTE network,
the network management system instructing, based on the packet analysis alert, the second network element to perform an analysis of the one or more specific packets.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the packet traffic analysis information is based on a performance metric associated with the first network element,
the performance metric including information associated with handover efficiency and at least one of:
traffic capacity,
voice quality, or
video quality.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the instructions further comprise:
one or more instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive a packet analysis alert from a third micro network access agent associated with a third network element; and
transmit the signal to the second micro network access agent based on receiving the packet analysis alert.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , where the instructions further comprise:
one or more instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
transmit the packet traffic analysis information to a service management system associated with the LTE network,
the service management system being to at least one of:
generate access reports, associated with the LTE network, based on the packet traffic analysis information,
configure the LTE network based on the packet traffic analysis information,
generate bills, associated with the LTE network, based on the packet traffic analysis information, or
provision services in the LTE network based on the packet traffic analysis information.