Protocol to coordinate network end points to measure network latency

A network router that authenticates a received response time request issued from a source as a control protocol message, the message comprising a Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, comprising:

• a default responder port of the router that receives the control protocol message and, in response thereto, initiates, at the destination router, a listening process at a predetermined port on the router arranged to execute a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process;
• a timer that establishes a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• means for receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• means for accessing an Access Control List (ACL), when the NECP message is unencrypted, to determine whether a specified client is authorized, based upon information in the ACL, to utilize the default responder port.

A network router that authenticates a received response time request issued from a source as a control protocol message, the message comprising an encrypted Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, comprising:

• a default responder port of the router that receives the control protocol message and, in response thereto, initiates, at the destination router, a listening process at a predetermined port on the router arranged to execute a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process;
• a decryption key provided to the router for decrypting the NECP message based upon an encryption enabler associated with the destination router;
• a timer that establishes a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• means for receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled.

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for:

• receiving, at a default responder port of a router, a control protocol message, the message comprising a Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, and in response thereto, initiating, at the router, a listening process at a predetermined port thereon, the listening process including enabling a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process at the predetermined port;
• establishing a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• accessing an Access Control List (ACL) when the NECP message is unencrypted to determine whether a specified client is authorized, based upon information in the ACL, to utilize the default responder port.

A computer readable medium containing program instructions for:

• receiving, at a default responder port of a router, a control protocol message, the message comprising an encrypted Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, the NECP message having an MD5 format hashing checksum procedure, and in response thereto, decrypting, at the router, the encrypted NECP message by applying an MD5 format verification procedure to the message, and initiating, at the router, a listening process at a predetermined port thereon, the listening process including enabling a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process at the predetermined port;
• establishing a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled.

Computer readable media, comprising:

• said computer readable media containing instructions for execution in a processor for the practice of the method,
• receiving, at a default responder port of the destination router, a control protocol message sent by the source router, the message comprising a Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, and when the NECP message is unencrypted, accessing an Access Control List (ACL) to determine whether a specified client is authorized, based upon information in the ACL, to utilize the default responder port, and in response to receipt of the CLSD message, initiating, at the destination router, a listening process at a predetermined port thereon, the listening process including enabling a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process at the predetermined port:
• establishing a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled.

Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, comprising:

• said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method,
• receiving, at a default responder port of the destination router, a control protocol message sent by the source router, the message comprising a Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, and when the NECP message is unencrypted, accessing an Access Control List (ACL) to determine whether a specified client is authorized, based upon information in the ACL, to utilize the default responder port, and in response to receipt of the CLSD message, initiating, at the destination router, a listening process at a predetermined port thereon, the listening process including enabling a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process at the predetermined port;
• establishing a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled.

Computer readable media, comprising:

• said computer readable media containing instructions for execution in a processor for the practice of the method,
• receiving, at a default responder port of the destination router, a control protocol message sent by the source router, the message comprising an encrypted Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, the NECP message having an MD5 format hashing checksum procedure, and in response to receipt of the CLSD message, decrypting, at the destination router, the encrypted NECP message by applying an MD5 format verification procedure to the message, and initiating, at the destination router, a listening process at a predetermined port thereon, the listening process including enabling a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process at the predetermined port;
• establishing a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled.

Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, comprising:

• said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method,
• receiving, at a default responder port of the destination router, a control protocol message sent by the source router, the message comprising an encrypted Network Endpoint Connection Protocol (NECP) message encapsulating a Command Length Status Data (CLSD) message therein, the NECP message having an MD5 format hashing checksum procedure, and in response to receipt of the CLSD message, decrypting, at the destination router, the encrypted NECP message by applying an MD5 format verification procedure to the message, and initiating, at the destination router, a listening process at a predetermined port thereon, the listening process including enabling a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) server process at the predetermined port;
• establishing a time limit for receiving a server request at the predetermined port at which time the predetermined port is enabled;
• and
• receiving the server request at the predetermined port when the server request is received while the predetermined port is enabled.