METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING NON-INTRUSIVE NETWORK LAYER PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT IN COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A method to measure network layer performance between existing network nodes, the method comprising:
- coupling a first intelligent network interface (INI) to an available access port of a first existing network node providing access to a network, wherein the first INI obtains power and input information only from the access port after being coupled thereto; and
exchanging test messages between the first INI and a second INI coupled to a second existing network node during normal operation of the first and second existing network nodes to measure network layer performance, wherein the test messages originate in the first INI and are routed through the first and second existing network nodes using a first network layer address associated with the first INI and a second network layer address associated with the second INI.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for performing non-intrusive network layer performance measurement in communication networks are disclosed. An example method to measure network layer performance between existing network nodes disclosed herein comprises coupling a first intelligent network interface (INI) to an available access port of a first existing network node providing access to a network, wherein the first INI obtains power and input information only from the access port after being coupled thereto, and exchanging test messages between the first INI and a second INI coupled to a second existing network node during normal operation of the first and second existing network nodes to measure network layer performance, wherein the test messages originate in the first INI and are routed through the first and second existing network nodes using a first network layer address associated with the first INI and a second network layer address associated with the second INI.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method to measure network layer performance between existing network nodes, the method comprising:
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coupling a first intelligent network interface (INI) to an available access port of a first existing network node providing access to a network, wherein the first INI obtains power and input information only from the access port after being coupled thereto; and exchanging test messages between the first INI and a second INI coupled to a second existing network node during normal operation of the first and second existing network nodes to measure network layer performance, wherein the test messages originate in the first INI and are routed through the first and second existing network nodes using a first network layer address associated with the first INI and a second network layer address associated with the second INI. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a first intelligent network interface (INI) coupled to an available access port of a first existing network node included in a network to:
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obtain power and input information only from the access port of the first existing network node after being coupled thereto; send a first test message to a second INI coupled to an available access port of a second existing network node included in the network to measure network layer performance between the first and second existing network nodes; and receive a response to the first test message from the second INI, wherein the first test message originates in the first INI and is routed through the first and second existing network nodes using a first network layer address associated with the first INI and a second network layer address associated with the second INI. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An intelligent network interface (INI) apparatus to measure network layer performance between existing network nodes of a network, the apparatus comprising:
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a network interface configured to couple with an available access port of an existing network node to provide access to the network and to provide power and input information from the available access port after being coupled thereto; and a test message processor configured to autonomously generate a test message to exchange with a destination INI during normal operation of the existing network node using a network layer address associated with the destination INI. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification