초록 ▼

A method for tracing a session or call in a network environment, comprising the step of transmitting a trace invocation from a control plane network element to another control pane network element or a user plane network element. According to a first aspect, a trace report is generated in the S-CSCF

A method for tracing a session or call in a network environment, comprising the step of transmitting a trace invocation from a control plane network element to another control pane network element or a user plane network element. According to a first aspect, a trace report is generated in the S-CSCF of the called party. This overcomes the lack of being able to provide detailed information about the interworking between the User Equipment (UE) and the IMS, in setting up IP multimedia sessions. According to a second aspect trace reports are generated in all the network functions involved in session setup.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method comprising: tracing in a network environment having network elements with separate control and user plane functionality, said tracing comprising transmitting a trace invocation from a control plane network element to a user plane network element or to another c

The invention claimed is: 1. A method comprising: tracing in a network environment having network elements with separate control and user plane functionality, said tracing comprising transmitting a trace invocation from a control plane network element to a user plane network element or to another control plane network element, wherein trace activation or deactivation is performed centrally in a home subscriber database of said second network, wherein said trace activation is performed from said home subscriber database to at least one of a serving call state control function of said second network and a proxy call state control function of said first network, and wherein a SIP 200 OK message comprising said trace invocation is returned from said serving call state control function to said proxy call state control function. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said home subscriber database is a home subscriber server. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said SIP INVITE message is forwarded by involved network elements or functions with unchanged trace information. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said trace information is removed from said SIP INVITE message by the proxy call state control function of the called party. 5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said trace information is checked at said involved network elements or functions for creating trace reports. 6. A method according to claim 3, wherein said SIP INVITE message is forwarded by a serving call state control function of said second network to said proxy call state control function which is arranged in said first network, based on a query of said home subscriber database. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a trace activation information is stored in said serving and proxy call state control functions. 8. A method comprising: tracing in a network environment having network elements with separate control and user plane functionality, said tracing comprising transmitting a trace invocation from a control plane network element to a user plane network element or to another control plane network element wherein said trace invocation is transmitted through a network border between a first and a second network of said network environment, and wherein said trace invocation is inserted in a SIP INVITE message by a serving call state control function of said first network based on a database check as to whether the trace is activated for the calling party. 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein subscriber data including said trace invocation is downloaded to said serving call state control function during registration. 10. A method according to claim 8, wherein an identification information comprises at least one of a trace reference ID, a private ID of the traced subscriber, a public ID of the traced subscriber, a call ID of the session protocol, and an ID of the invoking operator. 11. A method according to claim 8, wherein a trace report is combined with other trace reports received from several network elements. 12. A method comprising: of providing information about events in a communication system having network elements with separate control und user plane functionality; communicating to a first control entity of the communication system instructions to inform a processor entity about at least one event; and based on the received instructions, communicating a request from the first control entity to a second control entity of the communication system, said request containing instructions to inform the processor entity about at least one event associated with the second control entity, wherein the instructions are forwarded from the second control entity to at least one further control entity either in a modified request from the user equipment or in a generated request preceding a request from the user equipment. 13. A communication system comprising: network elements with separate control und user plane functionality; a processor entity; a first control entity; a second control entity; a first communication entity for communicating to the first control entity instructions to inform the processor entity about at least one event; a second communication entity for communication, based on the instructions received at the first control entity, from the first control entity to the second control entity of the communication system a request containing instructions to inform the processor entity about at least one event associated with the second control entity wherein the first and second control entities are for provision of call state control functions; wherein the first control entity comprises a serving call state control function and the second control entity provides a proxy call state control function. 14. A communication system as claimed in claim 13, comprising a storage entity adapted for storing information that associates with the user of the communication system, said user being the subject of the information provision operations. 15. A communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the request is a protocol message, said protocol being for use in provisioning of services for the users of the communication system. 16. A communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first control entity and the second control entity are located in different communication networks. 17. A communication system comprising: network elements with separate control and user plane functionality; a processor entity; a first control entity; a second control entity; a first communication entity for communicating to the first control entity instructions to inform the processor entity about at least one event; a second communication entity for communication, based on the instructions received at the first control entity, from the first control entity to the second control entity of the communication system a request containing instructions to inform the processor entity about at least one event associated with the second control entity; and at least one further control entity, wherein the second control entity is adapted to forward the instructions to said at least one further control entity. 18. A communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein communicating from the first control entity to said at least one second control entity is either in a modified request from the user equipment or in a generated request preceding a request from the user equipment. 19. A communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the modified or generated request comprises a SIP protocol 'SUBSCRIBE' or "MESSAGE' or '200OK' or 'INVITE' request. 20. A communication system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the forwarding is adapted to occur in response to a detected event. 21. A system comprising: providing means for providing information regarding at least one entity associated with a communication system having network elements with separate control und user plane functionality; first communicating means for communicating, from a management entity to a first control entity of the system, instructions to inform the management entity about at least one event; second communicating means for communicating, based on the received instructions, from the first control entity to a second control entity of the system a request to inform the management entity about at least one event associated with the second control entity; processing means for processing, in response to detection of said at least one event reported to said management unit, the received report at the management entity; and forwarding means for forwarding the instructions from the first control entity to at least one further control entity either in a modified request from the user equipment or in a generated request preceding a request from the user equipment.