SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PERFORMANCE MONITORING OF MULTICAST SERVICES WITH MOBILITY SUPPORT

• US 20080239972A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: OMAR, Hassan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1863 comprising mechanisms for improved reliability, e.g. status reports arrangements for detecting or preventing errors by carrying supervisory signal the return channel H04L1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0835 One way packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/087 Jitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

An approach is disclosed for monitoring performance of a network providing multicast and mobility services. A test profile is generated for determining performance of the multicast network. The test profile is uploaded on a mobile host that is configured to communicate over the multicast network, wherein the mobile host is further configured to participate in a test session according to the test profile. Test session information tracked by the mobile host is collected for evaluation of metrics for the performance of the multicast network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a test profile for determining performance of a multicast network;

uploading the test profile on a mobile host that is configured to communicate over the multicast network, wherein the mobile host is further configured to participate in a test session according to the test profile; and

collecting test session information tracked by the mobile host for evaluation of metrics for the performance of the multicast network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the metrics relate to either joining and leaving a multicast group, channel change time, replication efficiency, packet loss, delay, or jitter.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a performance anomaly based on the collected test session information; and

correlating the performance anomaly with one or more mobility and multicast events.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring performance of the multicast network based on the collected test session information; and

performing an audit of the multicast network, according to the monitoring step, to ensure satisfaction of a service level agreement.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a multicast datagram for the test session, wherein an identifier is embedded in the multicast datagram or encapsulate a header of the multicast datagram for tracking purposes.

6. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

attributing an anomaly associated with one of the metrics to a network event.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the metrics are defined for individual segments of the multicast network.

8. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

dynamically modifying the test profile during the test session.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile host is configured to operate over a wireless access network that includes a home agent that is configured to track location of the mobile host in support of mobility services.

10. A system comprising:

a test module configured to generate a test profile for determining performance of a multicast network, wherein a mobile host is configured to load the test profile for participation in a test session according to the test profile; and

a collection module configured to collect test session information tracked by the mobile host for evaluation of metrics for the performance of the multicast network.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the metrics relate to either joining and leaving a multicast group, channel change time, replication efficiency, packet loss, delay, or jitter.

12. A system according to claim 10, further comprising:

a performance evaluation module configured to determine a performance anomaly based on the collected test session information, and to correlate the performance anomaly with one or more mobility and multicast events.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein performance of the multicast network is monitored and audited based on the collected test session information for ensuring satisfaction of a service level agreement.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein a multicast datagram is generated for the test session, the multicast datagram having an embedded identifier or a header that is encapsulated for tracking purposes.

15. A system according to claim 10, the anomaly associated with one of the metrics is attributed to a network event.

16. A system according to claim 10, wherein a portion of the metrics are defined for individual segments of the multicast network.

17. A system according to claim 10, wherein the test module is further configured to dynamically modify the test profile during the test session.

18. A system according to claim 10, wherein the mobile host is configured to operate over a wireless access network that includes a home agent that is configured to track location of the mobile host in support of mobility services.

19. A method comprising:

entering an emulation mode of operation for determining performance of a multicast network;

sending a test profile on a network element configured to support mobility of a mobile node, wherein the network element is further configured to output a report on the performance according to the test profile; and

collecting the report to evaluate the performance.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the metrics relate to either joining and leaving a multicast group, channel change time, replication efficiency, packet loss, delay, or jitter.

21. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

determining a performance anomaly based on the collected report; and

correlating the performance anomaly with one or more mobility and multicast events.

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

monitoring performance of the multicast network based on the collected report; and

performing an audit of the multicast network, according to the monitoring step, to ensure satisfaction of a service level agreement.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein a portion of the metrics are defined for individual segments of the multicast network.

24. A method according to claim 19, the method further comprising:

dynamically modifying the test profile during the test session.

25. A method according to claim 19, wherein the network element is a foreign agent that is configured to communicate with a home agent in support of mobility services.