[DESCRI PTION] [invention Title]

SYSTEM FOR TESTIFYING MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND METHOD THEREOF [Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a mobile network verification system and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a mobile network verification system, in which messages transmitted/received between various systems included in a mobile network are collected and analyzed so as to verify the mobile network and operations of the respective systems, and a method thereof. [Background Art]

In general, signaling used in a network is defined as a rule for transferring a series of signals so as to transfer information on a call between systems included in a network and information used for network management and maintenance. As an example of the signaling, No.7 signaling is common channel signaling (CCS) standardized by the International Telecommunication Union's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). In the No.7 signaling, call connection between subscribers and various communication services are provided, or various control signals are transferred so as to manage a network.

A protocol employing the No.7 signaling includes: a message transfer part (hereinafter, referred to as MTP) of a network service part which controls signal transfer, corrects errors, and secures a signaling network; a signaling connection control part (hereinafter, referred to SCCP) ; an ISDN user part (hereinafter, referred to as ISUP) which is designed separately depending on an application field such as telephone exchange and data exchange; a transaction capability application part (hereinafter, referred to as TCAP) ; and an application part (hereinafter, referred to AP) .

A No. 7 signaling network, which transfers a signal for controlling a network and performs various communication services, includes a signaling point (SP) for sending, receiving, or transferring a signaling message generated by a user, and a signaling link (SL) that is a logical signal transmission channel for connecting associated signaling points. The signaling point includes a signaling end point

(SEP) that sends or receives a message, and a signaling transfer point (STP) that is formed in pair and transfers the message from one signaling link to another signaling link. The signaling end point includes an origination point (OP) that generates a signaling message and a destination point (DP) that is a destination of the signaling message. A group of signaling links is defined as a signaling LinkSet. A path

for transferring a message to the signaling point is defined as a signaling route (SR) . A group of signaling routes, which is a routing path for a signaling destination, is defined as a signaling route set. That is, the No. 7 signaling network includes specification data regarding on the signaling point, the signaling link, the signaling LinkSet, and the signaling route, and transfers a signaling message generated by the originating point through a specific signaling link of a signal LinkSet to be transferred to a destination point, thereby requesting call connection and service.

Meanwhile, a plurality of systems, such as MSC, BSC, HLR, SCP, SMSC, etc, are included in a mobile network. When a new software or hardware package applies to the respective systems, or when a network problem occurs, a network operator verifies the package or tests the network in order to ensure network reliability and stability.

When the network is tested, or a specific package is verified, a conventional method has been used for debugging an internal logic of each system's software, or analyzing a transaction with respect to an adjacent system according to data displayed on an operating terminal by using a system tracing function through a man machine command of the operating terminal.

Moreover, in order to analyze a connection relationship between systems included in the overall network, actual calling may be made so that the connection relationship can be decided according to the result thereof. Generally, in the conventional verification method, verification is manually achieved by operators. Therefore, when packages have to be frequently replaced in a system, verification of the packages becomes a problem in terms of long time consumption and high labor costs. In addition, when a problem occurs while a connection relationship is verified between systems included in the overall network, it is very difficult to decide which system erratically operates in the network. In this case, verification consumes human resources and time significantly. Meanwhile, as mobile value added services (for example, pre-paid subscriber, call forwarding, etc) gradually become various, network operators face a lot of troubles in order to verify the services whenever the services are developed, because there is no appropriate method capable of properly verifying the systems and the overall mobile network according to a scenario for each service.

Therefore, the applicant proposes a method capable of recognizing an organic connection relationship between

systems included in a mobile network, and checking whether the systems and the overall network normally operate. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem] The present invention provides a mobile network verification system capable of collecting and analyzing a message transmitted/received between systems included in a mobile network, and verifying an overall operation of the mobile network. The present invention also provides a mobile network verification system capable of verifying an operation of a section included in a mobile network by forming a transaction flow for a call transmitted/received between the section included in the mobile network. The present invention also provides a mobile network verification system capable of verifying a process of handling a call in a mobile network by forming a transaction flow for all transactions related to the call in all sections of the mobile network. The present invention also provides a mobile network verification method capable of verifying an overall operation of a mobile network by collecting and analyzing a message transmitted/received between systems included in the mobile network.

[Technical Solution]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile network verification system which verifies operations of respective systems included in the mobile network, the verification system comprising: a central controller which controls an overall operation and receives information required for a call simulation; a call generator which automatically generates a call by using a terminal according to an instruction requested from the central controller; an integral call analyzer which collects messages transmitted/received between systems included in a mobile network by using the call generated by the call generator, analyzes the collected messages, and transmits the analyzed information to the central controller; a service controller which provides a service scenario test environment, and checks or modifies a subscriber service profile in association with external systems related to a specific service; and a message collector which collects a No.7 protocol signal transmitted/received between the systems included in the mobile network, converts the collected signal into an TCP/IP signal, multiplexes the converted signal, and transmits the multiplexed signal to the integral call analyzer; wherein the verification system verifies operations of respective systems included in the mobile network.

In the aforementioned aspect of the present invention, the integral call analyzer may detect information on an origination point code, a destination point code, and a transaction ID from the collected messages, and stores the information in a database. Further, the integral call analyzer may use the database so as to analyze transactions for respective nodes, thereby forming a call transaction flow for a specific node. Further, the integral call analyzer may form a call transaction flow in a network for the specific call by detecting a related call transaction of all nodes for a specific call.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method in which a message transmitted/received between nodes included in a mobile network is collected so as to verify the mobile network, the method comprising steps of: (a) checking whether the collected message is a call related message; (b) detecting LinkSet information from the message if the message is the call related message; (c) recognizing a type of a message protocol, and detecting a specific parameter decided depending on the type of the message protocol by using the message; (d) checking whether the message is a message desired to be collected, by using the LinkSet information and the specific parameter; and (e) storing the message in a call

information database classified according to the message protocol if the message is a message desired to be collected, wherein, in the method, transactions are analyzed for a specific call. In the aforementioned aspect of the present invention, the step (c) may comprise: (c-1) recognizing a type of a message protocol; (c-2) detecting a mobile phone number and a transaction ID number from the message if the message protocol is MAP; (c-3) detecting a mobile phone number and a line ID number from the message if the message protocol is ISUP; and (c-4) detecting a mobile phone number and a local reference number from the message if the message protocol is BSAP, wherein, in the method, transactions are analyzed for a specific call. [Advantageous Effects]

According to the present invention, when a software or hardware package of systems included in a mobile network is modified, or when a network problem occurs, operations of respective systems can be verified. In addition, according to the present invention, a call can be generated for an overall mobile network on the basis of end-to-end principle so as to control a service. Then, the result thereof is collected, and thus data obtained from integral call analysis can be provided to an operator.

Therefore, according to the present invention, reliability on a network and each system can be maximized, and efficiency of human and economic resources required for verification can also be maximized. In particular, a system of the present invention applies to an intelligent network service, thereby providing further accurate and effective analysis data. [Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a structure of a mobile network verification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a mobile network employing a mobile network verification system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of a mobile network in order to form a call transaction flow by a mobile network verification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a call transaction flow in a specific section of the mobile network of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of transactions generated in each section of the mobile network

in association with a specific call in the mobile network of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating an operation of an integral call analyzer of a mobile network verification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating the MAP process of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating the ISUP process of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating the BSAP process of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a call transaction flow formed by an integral call analyzer of a mobile network verification system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Best Mode]

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be descried in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a structure of a mobile network verification system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the verification system 10 includes a

central controller 100, a call generator 110, a service controller 120, an integral call analyzer 130, and a message collector 140. Now, the aforementioned elements will be described. First, the central controller 100 controls an overall operation of the verification system 10, receives information required for a call simulation, and instructs the call generator 110 to generate a call according to the received information. That is, when an origination phone number and a destination phone number desired to be found by a user are input to the central controller 100, the verification system 10 traces a call transaction related to a call for the origination and destination phone numbers input by the user from all nodes included in a mobile network. Then, the verification system 10 provides an analysis result thereof.

Further, the central controller 100 provides a user interface of the verification system 10, synchronizes each module of the verification system 10, and performs general control. The call generator 110 automatically generates the call for the origination and destination phone numbers requested from the central controller 100 by using a terminal according to an instruction requested from the central controller 100.

The service controller 120 provides a service scenario test environment. Further, the service controller 120 checks or modifies a subscriber service profile in association with external systems related to a specific service. The external systems associated with the service controller 120 are a service network entity within a network. Examples of the external systems include SCP, HLR, and so on.

The message collector 140 collects messages of a No.7 protocol signal transmitted/received between systems included in the mobile network, and multiplexes the collected message by attaching a collected time and a node information tag. Thereafter, the message collector 140 converts the multiplexed message into a TCP/IP signal, and transmits the TCP/IP signal to the integral call analyzer 130. The message collector 140 may be included in the verification system 10. Alternatively, as an independent unit with respect to the verification system 10, the message collector 140 may be disposed outside the verification system 10, and transmit information to the verification system 10. Meanwhile, in a section for transmitting/receiving signals by using a TCP/IP protocol among system sections constituting the mobile network, the integral call analyzer 130 can collect a message without via the message collector 140.

The integral call analyzer 130 decodes messages transmitted from the message collector 140 or the like, and stores the decoded messages in a call information database. Further, the integral call analyzer 130 analyses the decoded messages for each node section and each call, and transmits information on the analysis result to the central controller 100. The call information database stores and manages a call ID and call transaction information on the call ID. The call transaction information includes an original point code, a destination point code, an origination phone number, a destination phone number, a message type, a transaction ID (TID) , a call starting time, a call ending time, and the number of messages received and transmitted during entire calls. FIG. 2 illustrates an overall structure of a mobile network installed with the verification system 10 having the aforementioned structure. Referring to FIG. 2, the verification system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may apply to a mobile network such as an intelligent network.

As shown in Fig, 2, the mobile network such as the intelligent network includes system nodes such as BTS, BSC, MSC, STP, HLR, SSP, SCP, PDSN, SGSN, IWF, etc. The

verification system 10 collects messages transmitted/received between each node through the data collector 140.

The call generator 110 of the verification system 10 automatically generates a call to be simulated using a terminal under the control of the central controller 100.

The integral call analyzer 130 collects the messages transmitted/received between each node of the mobile network by using the call. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the integral call analyzer 130 performs analysis on each section and each call of the system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of a mobile network. FIG. 4 illustrates a call transaction flow for a system section of the SSP 310 and the SCP 320 of FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, the integral call analyzer 130 of the verification system 10 analyzes transactions received/transmitted between the SSP 310 and the SCP 320 with respect to a specific call, and forms a call transaction flow to be transmitted to the central controller 100.

FIG. 5 illustrates a call transaction flow in which related transactions transmitted/received between nodes representing the system over the mobile network of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, the integral call analyzer 130 of the verification system 10 analyzes all transactions related to a

specific call, and forms a call transaction flow to be transmitted to the central controller 100 .

Now, the operation of the integral call analyzer 130 of the verification system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating an operation of the integral call analyzer 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, a collected message is firstly analyzed (step 600) , and thereafter, it is checked whether the collected message is a call related signaling message (step 610) . If the collected message is the call related signaling message, LinkSet information and mobile ID number (hereinafter, referred to as MIN) are collected, and a specific key value contained in a message is detected (step 620) . The LinkSet information is section information of transaction, and is defined as information on a transmission node and a reception node of transaction. Next, a key value for a specific parameter included in the message is analyzed, and thus a protocol type is recognized (step 630) . If a protocol of the message is a mobile application part (MAP) , the procedure illustrated in FIG. 7 is performed (step 640) . If a protocol of the message

is a ISUP, the procedure illustrated in FIG. 8 is performed

(step 642) . If the protocol of the message is BASP, the procedure illustrated in FIG. 9 is performed (step 644) . The procedures will be described later. After the aforementioned steps 640, 642, and 644 are performed, returning back to step

600, the process of analyzing collected messages is repeated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure performed when a protocol is MAP. Referring to FIG. 7, it is checked whether a LinkSet, a MIN, and a transaction ID (hereinafter, referred to as TID) are accurate information

(step 700) . If they are accurate, the presence of a call ID is checked (step 710) . If the call ID does not exist, the call ID is generated (step 712) . A message is stored in a memory allocated to the call ID (step 720) , and thereafter, it is checked whether the message is a call ending message or a transaction ending message (step 722) . If the message is not the call ending message nor the transaction ending message, the process returns back to a flow indicated by 4 in FIG. 6. When an operation type of the message is checked, and the check result shows that the message is the call ending message or the transaction ending message, transaction information on an associated call ID is determined to be an ending state (step 724). Thereafter, it is checked whether

the message is the call ending message (step 726) . The end of call is determined according to an ISUP RLC (Release Complete) message or a SCCP RLC message. In the MAP protocol, a call starting message is confirmed if an Origination Request' message or an 'Analyzed Information' message exists. The end of transaction is determined according to a message type tag of a transaction portion and a component type tag of a component portion of a TCAP parameter contained in a MAP message. If the result of step 726 shows that the message is not the call ending message, the process returns back to the flow indicated by 4 in FIG. 6

If the message is the call ending message, it is checked whether all transactions contained in the call ID are ended

(step 728) . If all of the transactions contained in the call ID are not ended, the process indicated by 4 in FIG. 6 is performed.

If all of the transactions contained in the call ID are ended, an ending time is determined for a call (step 730) , and the call is ended after the ending time is over (step 740) . Next, information stored in the memory allocated to the call ID is stored in a database, thereby completing the procedure (step 742) .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart performed when a message protocol is ISUP. All steps of FIG. 8 are the same as those of FIG. 7

except for a process (step 800) for checking whether a LinkSet, a MIN, and a circuit ID code (hereinafter, referred to as CIC) are accurate.

In addition, FIG. 9 is a flowchart performed when a message protocol is base station application part (BSAP) . All steps of FIG. 9 are the same as those of FIG. 7 except for a process (step 900) for checking whether a LinkSet, a MIN, and a local reference number (hereinafter, referred to as LRN) are accurate. The mobile network verification system of the present invention forms a call transaction flow by using transaction information on an call ID stored in a database according to the aforementioned processes.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. [industrial Applicability]

A mobile network verification system of the present invention analyzes systems included in a mobile network such as an intelligent network, and provides an analysis result

thereof to an operator. The present invention can be widely used in a mobile network field.