Analysis of network performance

• US 20060050649A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Attune Networks Limited
• Inventors: Cidon, Israel, Sidi, Moshe, Harel, Yair, Botton-Dascal, Shlomit, Rachlevski-Reich, Benny
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A method for testing of a communication network, using a plurality of traffic agents coupled to communicate via the network. The method includes transmitting a sequence of data packets via the network from a first one of the traffic agents to a second one of the traffic agents and recording arrival characteristics of the packets in the sequence, responsive to receiving the packets at the second traffic agent. The arrival characteristics of different packets in the sequence are compared so as to determine a measure of variability in transmission of the packets via the network.

Claims

1. A method for testing of a communication network, using a plurality of traffic agents coupled to communicate via the network, the method comprising:

transmitting a sequence of data packets via the network from a first one of the traffic agents to a second one of the traffic agents;

creating a record of the packets in the sequence that were not received at the second traffic agent; and

assessing a relative irregularity in the occurrence of packet loss, based on the record.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein assessing the relative irregularity of packet loss comprises detecting bursts of lost packets.

3. A method for testing of a communication network, using a plurality of traffic agents coupled to communicate via the network, the method comprising:

transmitting a sequence of data packets via the network from a first one of the traffic agents to a second one of the traffic agents;

determining an order of arrival of the packets at the second traffic agent; and

comparing the order of arrival to an order in which the packets were transmitted.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein comparing the order of arrival comprises finding a measure of discrepancy between the order of arrival and the order in which the packets were transmitted.

5. A method for testing of a communication network, using a plurality of traffic agents coupled to communicate via the network, the method comprising:

transmitting a first sequence of data packets via the network from a first one of the traffic agents to a second one of the traffic agents;

transmitting a second sequence of data packets via the network from the second one of the traffic agents, responsive to receiving the data packets in the first sequence, to a third one of the traffic agents;

recording arrival characteristics of the packets in the second sequence, responsive at the third traffic agent; and

comparing the arrival characteristics of different packets in the sequence so as to determine a measure of variability network in transmission of the packets via the network.

6. Apparatus for testing of a communication network, comprising:

a first traffic agent, coupled to transmit a sequence of data packets via the network; and

a second traffic agent, coupled to receive the data packets transmitted by the first traffic agent and to record, responsive to receiving the data packets, an indication of the packets in the sequence that were lost in transmission,

wherein a relative irregularity in the occurrence of packet loss is assessed based on the indication.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, and comprising a testing center, coupled to the network, which is adapted to receive the indication of the packets that were lost in transmission and to assess the relative irregularity in the occurrence of packet loss.

8. Apparatus for testing of a communication network, comprising:

a first traffic agent, coupled to transmit a sequence of data packets via the network; and

a second traffic agent, coupled to receive the data packets transmitted by the first traffic agent and to record, responsive to receiving the data packets, an order of arrival of the packets at the second traffic agent,

wherein a measure of discrepancy is determined between the order of arrival and an order in which the packets were transmitted.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, and comprising a testing center, coupled to the network, which is adapted to receive the recorded order of arrival of the packets and to determine the measure of the discrepancy.

10. Apparatus for testing of a communication network, comprising:

a first traffic agent, coupled to transmit a first sequence of data packets via the network;

a second traffic agent, coupled to receive the data packets transmitted by the first traffic agent and to transmit, responsive to receiving the data packets in the first sequence, a second sequence of data packets via the network to a third traffic agent; and

a third traffic agent, coupled to receive the data packets transmitted by the second traffic agent and to record, responsive to receiving the data packets, arrival characteristics of the packets in the second sequence,

wherein the arrival characteristics of different packets are compared so as to determine a measure of variability in transmission of the packets via the network.

11. A computer software product for testing of a communication network, the product comprising a computer-readable medium containing program instructions, which instructions, when executed by first and second computers coupled to communicate via the network, cause the first computer to transmit a sequence of data packets via the network to the second computer, and further cause the second computer to receive the data packets and to record arrival characteristics of the received packets, wherein the arrival characteristics of different packets in the sequence are compared so as to determine a measure of variability in transmission of the packets via the network, wherein the measure of variability is a measure relating to a quality selected from a group of qualities consisting of changes in packet transmission delay, loss of transmitted packets and an order in which transmitted packets are received.

12. A product according to claim 11, wherein the program instructions, when executed by a third computer, cause the third computer to act as a testing center, which receives the arrival characteristics from the first and second computers and determines the measure of variability.