Distributed Active Probing (DAP)

DAP description

DAP is designed to monitor and measure the end-to-end performance of your mobile data services and mobile data network 24/7.
Commsquare's DAP is a very cost-effective, unattended and distributed active test solution. The DAP probes can be deployed fast, are easy to operate and have a small form factor.
Commsquare's Distributed Active Probing (DAP) solution consists of active test robots (i.e. small devices operating as a test computer with a cellular data modem) and the Commsquare back-end infrastructure, providing web-based reporting on relevant KPIs.

DAP probes have a small form factor and only need power to operate. The control server centrally controls the probes "over the air" and test scripts are remotely configurable. DAP probes upload the KPIs of the tests into the result database server. Users can view results through a web server.

Usage Model
DAP probes are typically deployed at 10's of locations across your network.
By deploying DAP probes in each RNC and SGSN area and by testing different APNs, you will get an insight in which network elements suffer (operational) problems. You can also install a number of DAP probes in the network of your main roaming partners.
You can deploy a DAP probes at the premises of key customers to monitor SLAs; or you can send DAP probes to customer sites for trouble shooting purposes.
The auto-refresh capability of the web pages makes DAP an effective dashboard for your Network
Operations Center.

Benefits of DAP

Fast deployment
Our DAP solution can be made operational rapidly. As a Mobile Operator you just need to decide
about the local of the DAP units, deploy them and provide them with power. Commsquare will
host and run the back-end database and web server for you.

Easy to operate
The DAP probe has been engineered to be easily installed at key locations:

• Only power required
• Over-the-air control (no need for RJ45 connection)
• Automatic start after power-on
• Autonomous, fully unattended solution
• Small form factor
• Remotely control through the web interface

Near real-time results
As soon as the DAP probe has completed another test run, it will upload the results to the central database server. The user can then view the results without delay.

Competition spy
DAP probes can hold SIMs from different networks. DAP can be used to compare performance of your competition 24/7. This is important to get a true picture of mobile data performance . Indeed, drive tests are often only conducted during business hours and periods of poor data performance usually don't coincide with business hours.

Web-based results
Results can be viewed from anywhere, anytime.
Typical questions answered by DAP are:

• Is my network running in an optimal way?
• How does performance evolve during the day (i.e. day profile)?
• What is the effect of mobile data growth on performance?

Remotely control via the web interface
Using the web interface it is possible to change the APN, the name of the probe and to create/
adapt the test sequences to your needs.

Over the air update

The 'over–the-air' update feature facilitates the software remote upgrade of the DAP probes.
In this way the new features can easily be deployed, without any on-site intervention.