US 9,960,982 B2Granted

Multi-hop reflector sessions

AssigneeAccedian Networks Inc.

InventorHenrik Nydell

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Abstract

A method for measuring and reporting performance parameters in a network having at least one originator for generating test protocol data units, and multiple reflectors for relaying the test protocol data units along successive segments of a test path in the network. The method generates the test protocol data units at the originator and transmits the test protocol data unit along a test path that includes multiple reflectors. Each reflector relays the test protocol data unit to the next reflector along the test path. Measurements of performance parameters are collected from the multiple reflectors in the test protocol data unit by inserting timestamps into the test protocol data unit at the originator and each of the reflectors to identify the departure and arrival times for each test protocol data unit at the originator and each of the reflectors in both the downstream and upstream directions along the test path.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for measuring a performance parameter relating to a test path of a network, said test path comprising an originator and multiple reflectors comprising:

generating by the originator a test protocol data unit without explicit setup of the performance measurement session, said test protocol data unit comprising a plurality of data structures, said plurality of data structures corresponding to a subset of said multiple reflectors and configured to store performance parameters for each of said multiple reflectors, wherein said performance parameters correspond to a standard and at least one of said performance parameters is selected from the group consisting of:
duplication of packets, and
reordering of packets;
transmitting said test protocol data unit along the test path;
generating a unique flow identifier uniquely identifying each reflector in the test path;
confirming by one of said multiple reflectors that said test protocol data unit does not contain a corresponding data structure for said one of said multiple reflectors and creating an additional data structure in said test protocol data unit, said additional data structure being configured to store said performance parameters for said one of said multiple reflectors;
relaying by each reflector said test protocol data unit to the subsequent reflector along said test path while inserting a timestamp in one of said plurality of data structures said test protocol data unit associated with said unique flow identifier of the reflector;
collecting measurements of said performance parameters at each of said multiple reflectors;
inserting said collected measurements of said performance parameters in said plurality of data structures and said additional data structure, with each collected measurement of said performance parameters associated with said unique flow identifier corresponding to the reflector in which that measurement was collected;
and
correlating the collected measurements relative to said test protocol data unit to measure the performance of said test path wherein the measurements collected by each reflector in said test path are included in the same test protocol data unit.

8 more elements

A method for measuring one or more performance parameters relating to a network, said network comprising at an originator and a plurality of reflectors, said plurality of reflectors including a first reflector and a second reflector, said method comprising:

generating by said originator a test protocol data unit, said test protocol data unit comprising a first data structure corresponding to said first reflector, an address of said first reflector, and a unique flow identifier and wherein the first data structure is configured to store performance parameters for said first reflector, said performance parameters corresponding to a standard and at least one of said performance parameters selected from the group consisting of:
duplication of packets, and
reordering of packets;
transmitting said test protocol data unit towards said first reflector;
intercepting said test protocol data unit by said second reflector, said second reflector inserting a second data structure in said test protocol data unit and inserting a second timestamp and a reverse address in said second data structure, said second data structure being associated with said unique flow identifier and configured to store said performance parameters for said second reflector, said second reflector relaying said test protocol data unit to said first reflector;
receiving said test protocol data unit by said first reflector, said first reflector inserting a first timestamp in said first data structure, said first data structure being associated with said unique flow identifier
said first reflector utilizing said reverse address to return said test protocol data unit to said second reflector, said second reflector then returning said test protocol data unit to said originator, said originator utilizing said first data structure and said second data structure to measure said performance parameters of said network.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/557,102Filed 24 Jul 2012
Published: US 2014/0029441 A130 Jan 2014
Granted: 1 May 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04L 43/0864
Delays: round trip delays
H04L 43/50
Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks: testing arrangements
H04L 43/106
Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route: using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
H04L 43/12
Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks: network monitoring probes