US 5,867,483 AGranted

Method and apparatus for measurement of peak throughput in packetized data networks

AssigneeVisual Networks, Inc.

InventorsJames D. Ennis, Jr., John E. Hasselkus, Robert J. Norberg, Robert Troutman, Matthew A. Tucker

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Abstract

A system for measuring peak throughput in packetized data networks includes a remote monitoring probe and console. The probe is connected to a packetized data network to monitor network activity, while the console is in communication with the probe via a communications medium. The probe maintains a plurality of counters associated with different ranges of utilization percentage for access channel and individual circuit bandwidth. For each sampling interval, the probe measures the access channel and individual circuit bandwidth utilization and increments the appropriate counters associated with the percentage ranges encompassing the measured bandwidth utilizations. The console polls the probe for the percentage counter data to selectively display the access channel or individual circuit bandwidth utilization in the form of a bar graph and pie chart. The access channel and/or individual circuit bandwidth may ultimately be adjusted based on the displayed data. Alternatively, the system may analyze the data and determine conservative, moderate and aggressive recommendations for bandwidth adjustment. In addition, the system can generate reports containing the access channel or individual circuit bandwidth utilization for a user-specified time period, and the recommendations for bandwidth adjustment.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An apparatus for measuring peak utilization of a data transmission system as a percentage of data transfer capacity of the system wherein said system includes a plurality of sites and a switching network with each of said plurality of sites coupled to said switching network via a respective access channel to facilitate communication between sites over individual transmission circuits, said apparatus comprising:

a probe connected to the data transmission system for measuring utilization of an access channel and individual transmission circuits associated with that channel, and generating capacity information relating to the utilization percentage of the data transfer capacity of said access channel and each of its individual transmission circuits during successive predetermined sampling intervals, said probe including:
a plurality of counters for maintaining said capacity information in the form of count totals, wherein each said counter is associated with a range of utilization percentages for at least one of said access channel and individual circuits and indicates a count of said sampling intervals during which the utilization percentage of said at least one of said access channel and individual circuits is in the range associated with that counter;
and
incrementing means, responsive to access channel and individual circuit utilization measurements in each sampling interval, for incrementing each counter for each sampling interval during which the utilization percentage of said at least one of said access channel and individual circuits is in the percentage range associated with that counter;
and
console means coupled to said probe for receiving said capacity information in the form of said count totals from said plurality of counters and processing said capacity information to selectively display data transfer capacity utilization for the access channel and individual circuits over a predetermined time interval.

3 more elements

A method for measuring peak utilization of a data transmission system as a percentage of data transfer capacity of the system wherein said system includes a plurality of sites and a switching network with each of said plurality of sites coupled to said switching network via a respective access channel to facilitate communication between sites over individual transmission circuits, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring utilization of an access channel and individual transmission circuits associated with that channel, and generating capacity information in the form of count totals maintained bv a plurality of counters and relating to the utilization percentage of the data transfer capacity of said access channel and each of its individual circuits during successive predetermined sampling intervals by assigning each said counter a range of utilization percentages for at least one of said access channel and individual circuits to indicate a count of said sampling intervals during which the utilization percentage of said at least one of said access channel and individual circuits is in the range assigned to that counter, and incrementing each counter for each sampling interval during which the utilization percentage of said at least one of said access channel and individual circuits is in the percentage range assigned to that counter;
and
(b) processing said capacity information in the form of said count totals from said plurality of counters to selectively display data transfer capacity utilization for the access channel and individual circuits over a predetermined time interval.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/746,416Filed 12 Nov 1996
Granted: 2 Feb 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04L 41/22
Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks: comprising specially…
H04L 41/0896
Configuration management of networks or network elements: bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities
H04L 41/142
Network analysis or design: using statistical or mathematical methods
H04L 41/24
Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks: using dedicated network…