One-way delay measurement in a packet-switched communication network

A method for transmitting a bidirectional packet flow between a first node and a second node of a packet-switched communication network, wherein each packet of said bidirectional packet flow comprises a marking field, said method comprising:

• a) at respective predefined times, by said first node and said second node starting transmission of a first measurement packet block and second measurement packet block, respectively, each one of said first measurement packet block and second measurement packet block comprising at least one packet of said bidirectional packet flow with marking field set equal to a first marking value and a second marking value, respectively;
• and
• b) by said first node, continuing transmission of said first measurement packet block until said second measurement packet block starts being received from said second node and, in response thereto, ending transmission of said first measurement packet block by transmitting at least one further packet of said bidirectional packet flow with marking field set equal to a third marking value.

A packet-switched communication network comprising a first node and a second node exchanging a bidirectional packet flow, wherein each packet of said bidirectional packet flow comprises a marking field, wherein:

• a) said first node and said second node are configured to, at respective predefined times, start transmission of a first measurement packet block and second measurement packet block, respectively, each one of said first measurement packet block and second measurement packet block comprising at least one packet of said bidirectional packet flow with marking field set equal to a first marking value and a second marking value, respectively;
• and
• b) said first node is further configured to continue transmission of said first measurement packet block until said second measurement packet block starts being received from said second node and, in response thereto, end transmission of said first measurement packet block by transmitting at least one further packet of said bidirectional packet flow with marking field set equal to a third marking value.