For example, within a communication network environment a possibility for retrieval of historical data indicative of events occurring within the communication network environment and obtained from one or more data sources within the communication network environment is provided. Selection criteria is specified at a first device to be applied to the historical data for a query to be performed on the historical data kept in a historical data repository associated with a second device. At least one processing instruction is specified at the first device. The processing instruction determines the generation of a report based on the defined query. The selection criteria and the processing instruction is transmitted to the second device, and the report generated at the second device based on the transmitted selection criteria and processing instruction is received.