Method and Node For Measuring Processing Power in a Node in a Communications Network

Abstract

The embodiments herein relate to a method in a first network node ( 105 ) for measuring processing power in a second network node ( 103 ) in a communications network ( 100 ). The first network node ( 105 ) obtains a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message. Based on the obtained signaling load value, the first network node ( 105 ) measures the processing power of the second network node ( 103 ).

1 . A method in a first network node ( 105 ) for measuring processing power in a second network node ( 103 ) in a communications network ( 100 ), the method comprising:
 obtaining ( 205 ,  504 ) a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message; and   measuring ( 208 ,  511 ) the processing power of the second network node ( 103 ) based on the obtained signaling load value.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first network node ( 105 ) is comprised in the second network node ( 103 ), and wherein the method further comprises:
 detecting ( 202 ,  204   a ,  501 ) receipt of the message from a fourth network node ( 101 ); and   executing ( 203 ,  502 ) the procedure triggered by the received message.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first network node ( 105 ) is comprised in a third network node ( 107 ), and wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving ( 204   b ,  503 ) information about the message from the second network node ( 103 ); and which message is sent from a fourth network node ( 101 ) to the second network node ( 107 ).   
     
     
         4 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 3 , further comprising:
 adding ( 206 ,  505 ) the obtained signaling load value to a first total signaling load value; and   
       wherein the measuring ( 208 ,  511 ) the processing power in the second network node ( 103 ) is further based on the total signaling load value. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the first total signaling load value is at least one of per fourth network node ( 101 ), per procedure executed in the second network node ( 103 ) and per time interval. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 5 , further comprising:
 determining ( 207 ,  506 ) a maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node ( 103 ) by increasing a number of received messages until a maximum capacity of processing power of the second network node ( 103 ) is reached; and   
       wherein the measuring ( 208 ,  511 ) the processing power of the second network node ( 103 ) is further based on the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining ( 209 ,  507 ) a resource value associated with the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node ( 103 ).   
     
     
         8 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 7 , further comprising:
 determining ( 206 ,  508 ) a second total signaling load value per fourth network node ( 101 ) and per time period; and   establishing ( 206 ,  509 ) a category of fourth network node ( 101 ) based on the second total signaling load value; and   
       wherein the category of fourth network node ( 101 ) enables network planning and dimensioning of the communications network ( 100 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 8 , further comprising:
 sending ( 210 ,  510 ) information about the first total signaling value and the second total signaling load value to a third network node ( 107 ).   
     
     
         10 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 9 , wherein the signaling load value associated with the procedure is preconfigured in the first network node ( 105 ). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 10 , wherein the received message fulfils a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 11 , wherein the signaling load value is further associated with consumption of an amount of processing power when the procedure is executed in the second network node ( 103 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 12 , wherein information about the message, conditions and parameters associated with the procedure and information about the signaling load value associated with the procedure is stored in a table in the first network node ( 105 ), and wherein the signaling load value is obtained from the table. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to any of the  claims 1 - 13 , wherein the second network node ( 103 ) is a Mobility Management Entity, referred to as MME, a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as SGSN, a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as GGSN, a Serving Gateway, referred to as S-GW, a Packet Data Network Gateway, referred to as P-GW, a Machine Type Communication Interworking Function node, referred to as MTC IWF, wherein the third network node ( 107 ) is a monitoring node ( 107 ) and wherein the fourth network node ( 101 ) is a user equipment ( 101 ) or a fourth network node configured to communicate with the second network node ( 103 ). 
     
     
         15 . A first network node ( 105 ) for measuring processing power in a second network node ( 103 ) in a communications network ( 100 ), the first network node ( 105 ) comprising:
 an obtaining unit ( 601 ) configured to obtain a signaling load value associated with a procedure, which procedure is triggered by a message; and   a measuring unit ( 603 ) configured to measure the processing power of the second network node ( 103 ) in the communications network ( 100 ) based on the obtained signaling load value.   
     
     
         16 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein the first network node ( 105 ) is comprised in the second network node ( 103 ), and wherein the first network node ( 105 ) further comprises:
 a detecting unit ( 605 ) configured to detect receipt of the message from a fourth network node ( 101 ); and   a processing unit ( 607 ) configured to execute the procedure triggered by the message.   
     
     
         17 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein the first network node ( 105 ) is comprised in a third network node ( 107 ), and wherein the first network node ( 105 ) further comprises:
 a receiving unit ( 610 ) configured to receive information about the message from the second network node ( 103 ); and which message is sent from a fourth network node ( 101 ) to the second network node ( 103 ).   
     
     
         18 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 17 , wherein the processing unit ( 607 ) is further configured to add the obtained signaling load value to a first total signaling load value; and 
       wherein the measuring unit ( 603 ) is further configured to measure the processing power in the second network node ( 103 ) further based on the total signaling load value. 
     
     
         19 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to  claim 18 , wherein the first total signaling load value is at least one of per fourth network node ( 101 ), per procedure executed in the second network node ( 103 ) and per time interval. 
     
     
         20 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 19 , wherein the processing unit ( 607 ) is further configured to determine a maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node ( 103 ) by increasing a number of received messages until a maximum capacity of processing power of the second network node ( 103 ) is reached; and wherein the measuring unit ( 603 ) is further configured to measure the processing power of the second network node ( 103 ) further based on the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value. 
     
     
         21 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to  claim 20 , wherein the processing unit ( 607 ) is further configured to determine a resource value associated with the determined maximum capacity of signaling load value of the second network node ( 103 ). 
     
     
         22 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 21 , wherein the processing unit ( 607 ) is further configured to:
 determine a second total signaling load value per fourth network node ( 101 ) and per time period; and to   establish a category of fourth network node ( 101 ) based on the second total signaling load value; and   
       wherein the category of fourth network node ( 101 ) enables network planning and dimensioning of the communications network ( 100 ). 
     
     
         23 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 22 , further comprising:
 a sending unit ( 612 ) configured to send information about the first total signaling value and the second total signaling load value to a third network node ( 107 ).   
     
     
         24 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 23 , wherein the signaling load value associated with the procedure is preconfigured in the first network node ( 105 ). 
     
     
         25 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 24 , wherein the received message fulfils a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         26 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 25 , wherein the signaling load value is further associated with consumption of an amount of processing power when the procedure is executed in the second network node ( 103 ). 
     
     
         27 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 26 , wherein information about the message, conditions and parameters associated with the procedure and information about the signaling load value associated with the procedure is stored in a table in the first network node ( 105 ), and wherein the obtaining unit ( 601 ) is further configured to obtain the signaling load value from the table. 
     
     
         28 . The first network node ( 105 ) according to any of the  claims 15 - 27 , wherein the second network node ( 103 ) is a Mobility Management Entity, referred to as MME, a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as SGSN, a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node, referred to as GGSN, a Serving Gateway, referred to as S-GW, a Packet Data Network Gateway, referred to as P-GW, a Machine Type Communication Interworking Function node, referred to as MTC IWF, wherein the third network node ( 107 ) is a monitoring node ( 107 ), and wherein the fourth network node ( 101 ) is a user equipment ( 101 ) or a fourth network node configured to communicate with the second network node ( 103 ).