Methods and apparatus for detecting internet connection problems

A network management entity for managing a broadband and mobile network, the network management entity comprising:

• a broadband segment measurement agent that receives at least one broadband measurement across at least one broadband segment coupled to a user device;
• a mobile segment measurement agent that receives at least one mobile segment measurement across at least one mobile segment coupled to the user device;
• and
• a diagnostic engine coupled to the broadband segment measurement agent and the mobile segment measurement agent, the diagnostic engine receives the at least one broadband segment measurement and the at least one mobile segment measurement and generates a preferred network path for the user device between a mobile network path and a broadband network path.

A method to determine, by a network management entity, a preferred network path for an application on a user device, the method comprising:

• categorizing a user device based on a capability to support mobile connectivity and/or broadband connectivity;
• identifying an application operating on the user device;
• performing a plurality of network measurements across a plurality of network segments in the network, the plurality of network segments coupled to the user device, the plurality of network segments comprising at least one mobile segment and at least one broadband segment;
• and
• analyzing the user device categorization, the application and the plurality of network measurements to identify the preferred network path in the network for the application on the user device.