System and method for determining segment and link bandwidth capacities

A method for determining bandwidth capacity of a test segment in a time synchronized network, the method comprising:

• sending a packet burst from a source node to a destination node via a link, the link including at least the test segment;
• and
• receiving the packet burst at destination node, the packet burst comprising a plurality of packets, wherein a first time stamp TSfirst of the first packet of the packet burst, a last time stamp TSlast of the last packet of the packet burst and a byte count measurement measuring the bytes Bytestotal in the packet burst are made at the destination node, the bandwidth capacity of the test segment in bit per second being calculated using an expression,
• 12 Rate ⁡ ( bps ) = Bytes total * 8 TS last - TS first .

A method for determining bandwidth capacity of a test segment in a non-time synchronized network, the method comprising:

• sending a packet stream from a source node to a destination node via a link, the link including at least the test segment, the packet stream having a length Lsingle that ensures at least two measurements for byte count measurement can be made at the destination node;
• receiving the packet stream at destination node, the packet stream comprising a plurality of packets;
• taking at least two measurements MTfirst, MTsecond at the destination node while the packet stream is being received, the two measurements MTfirst, MTsecond being separated by a measurement period T;
• and
• making a byte count measurement measuring the bytes Bytestotal in the packet stream between the measurements MTfirst, MTsecond at the destination node, the bandwidth capacity of the test segment in bit per second being calculated using an expression,
• 14 Rate ⁡ ( bps ) = Bytes total * 8 MT second - MT first .

A computer readable medium for use in conjunction with a network system including a plurality of nodes for determining segment bandwidth capacity, the computer readable medium including computer readable instructions encoded thereon for:

• sending a plurality of packet profiles from a plurality of source nodes to a plurality of destination nodes via links, each link connecting a source node with a destination node, each link including the test segment;
• manipulating start times for sending the plurality packet profiles, or a portion thereof, from the plurality of source nodes, or a portion thereof, so that the plurality of packet profiles flow through the test segment essentially simultaneously;
• and
• receiving the plurality of packet profiles at the plurality of destination nodes, wherein each of the packet profiles comprises a plurality of packets, and byte count measurements and time stamps are made at the plurality of destination nodes.

A computer readable medium for use in conjunction with a time synchronized network system including a plurality of nodes for determining segment bandwidth capacity, the computer readable medium including computer readable instructions encoded thereon for:

• sending a packet burst from a source node to a destination node via a link, the link including at least the test segment;
• and
• receiving the packet burst at destination node, the packet burst comprising a plurality of packets, wherein a first time stamp TSfirst of the first packet of the packet burst, a last time stamp TSlast of the last packet of the packet burst and a byte count measurement measuring the bytes Bytestotal in the packet burst are made at the destination node, the bandwidth capacity of the test segment in bit per second being calculated using an expression,
• 21 Rate ⁡ ( bps ) = B ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ t ⁢ ⁢ e ⁢ ⁢ s t ⁢ ⁢ o ⁢ ⁢ t ⁢ ⁢ a ⁢ ⁢ l * 8 T ⁢ ⁢ S l ⁢ ⁢ a ⁢ ⁢ s ⁢ ⁢ t - T ⁢ ⁢ S first .

A computer readable medium for use in conjunction with a non-time synchronized network system including a plurality of nodes for determining segment bandwidth capacity, the computer readable medium including computer readable instructions encoded thereon for:

• sending a packet stream from a source node to a destination node via a link, the link including at least the test segment, the packet stream having a length Lsingle that ensures at least two measurements for byte count measurement can be made at the destination node,
• receiving the packet stream at destination node, the packet stream comprising a plurality of packets;
• taking at least two measurements MTfirst, MTsecond at the destination node while the packet stream is being received, the two measurements MTfirst, MTsecond being separated by a measurement period T;
• and
• making a byte count measurement measuring the bytes Bytestotal in the packet stream between the measurements MTfirst, MTsecond at the destination node, the bandwidth capacity of the test segment in bit per second being calculated using an expression,
• 23 Rate ⁡ ( bps ) = B ⁢ ⁢ y ⁢ ⁢ t ⁢ ⁢ e ⁢ ⁢ s t ⁢ ⁢ o ⁢ ⁢ t ⁢ ⁢ a ⁢ ⁢ l * 8 M ⁢ ⁢ T second - M ⁢ ⁢ T first .