System and method for measuring the efficiency of data delivery in a communication network

A system for determining the efficiency of data delivery in a packet-switching communication network, the communication network enabling the flow of data to and from a plurality of end user devices that are connected to the network through a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

• means for determining a service classification for each packet in a plurality of data packets at an ingress point to the communication network;
• means for appending a trailer to each of said data packets, said trailer indicating said service classification of said data packet;
• means for counting the number of data packets entering the communication network at said ingress point for each service classification over a specific time interval;
• means for transmitting the plurality of data packets over the communication network from the ingress point;
• means for receiving the plurality of data packets at an egress point to the communication network;
• means for examining said trailers to determine said service classification of each of the plurality of data packets at the egress point;
• means for counting the number of data packets exiting the communication network at said egress point for each service classification over the specific time interval;
• means for accumulating the number counted at said ingress point and the number counted at said egress point;
• and
• means for comparing the number of data packets for a particular service classification received at said egress point over the specific time interval to the number of data packets transmitted from said ingress point over the specific time interval for the same service classification.

A computer readable medium having a program for determining the efficiency of data delivery in a packet-switching communication network, the communication network enabling the flow of data to and from a plurality of end user devices that are connected to the network through a plurality of communication devices, the program comprising logic configured to perform the steps of:

• determining a service classification for each packet in a plurality of data packets at an ingress point to the communication network;
• appending a trailer to each of said data packets, said trailer indicating said service classification of said data packet;
• counting the number of data packets entering the communication network at said ingress point for each service classification over a specific time interval;
• transmitting the plurality of data packets over the communication network from the ingress point;
• receiving the plurality of data packets at an egress point to the communication network;
• examining said trailers to determine said service classification of each of the plurality of data packets at the egress point;
• counting the number of data packets exiting the communication network at said egress point for each service classification over the specific time interval;
• accumulating the number counted at said ingress point and the number counted at said egress point;
• and
• comparing the number of data packets for a particular service classification received at said egress point over the specific time interval to the number of data packets transmitted from said ingress point over the specific time interval for the same service classification.