Systems and methods to assess performance of communication networks

A method for estimating bandwidth and controlling packet rate using at least two queues, the method comprising:

• receiving data packets from a source;
• categorizing the data packets into traffic class queues;
• at a local bandwidth estimation module, dequeuing the data packets and marking the data packets as high priority packets or low priority packets;
• at a local modem, processing the data packets by dequeuing the high priority data packets and the low priority data packets, the high priority data packets being dequeued at a higher ratio than the low priority data packets, wherein the modem transmits the processed packets to a remote location through a communications channel;
• at a remote modem, receiving the processed data packets and forwarding the processed data packets to a remote bandwidth estimation module;
• at the remote bandwidth estimation module, receiving the processed data packets and periodically transmitting feedback information back to a local bandwidth estimation module via high priority and low priority queues through the remote modem, communications channel and local modem, wherein the feedback information includes timing and a number of data packets received;
• and
• at the local bandwidth estimation module, receiving the feedback information, determining data packet loss and jitter based on the feedback information, and increasing, decreasing or making no changes to packet rate for packets to be sent to the remote modem based on the packet loss and jitter.