Method and apparatus for network problem segment isolation

A computer program product for enabling a computer system to characterize network segment quality for a segment transmitting messages from a first endpoint to a second endpoint on a network, the network having first and second segments connected to the first and second endpoints respectively and to each other at a juncture, the computer program product including a computer program comprising:

• instructions for receiving messages transmitted between the first and second endpoints at the juncture, the messages including a first set of quality metrics for message transmission from the first to second endpoint for both the first and second segments and including a second set of quality metrics for message transmission from the first endpoint to the juncture;
• instructions for subtracting the second set of quality metrics from the corresponding quality metrics of the first set of quality metrics to calculate a third set of quality metrics representing the quality metrics of the second segment;
• and
• instructions for comparing the third set of quality metrics to a first set of segment qualities to characterize the quality of the second segment.

Apparatus for characterizing network segment quality for a segment transmitting messages from a first endpoint to a second endpoint on a network, the network having first and second segments connected to the first and second endpoints respectively and to each other at a juncture, the apparatus comprising

• means for receiving messages transmitted between the first and second endpoints at the juncture, the messages including a first set of quality metrics for message transmission from the first to second endpoint for both the first and second segments and including a second set of quality metrics for message transmission from the first endpoint to the juncture;
• means for subtracting the second set of quality metrics from the corresponding quality metrics of the first set of quality metrics to calculate a third set of quality metrics representing the quality metrics of the second segment;
• and
• means for comparing the third set of quality metrics to a first set of segment qualities to characterize the quality of the second segment.