Arrangement for testing packet switching networks
First Claim
1. In a test arrangement for testing communication from a test source to a test destination via a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bidirectional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes, a test method comprisingin response to a receipt of a test packet from said test source, one of said nodes transmitting said test packet to another of said nodes via the one of said links interconnecting said one node and said another node andin response to a failure to receive acknowledgment via said one link from said another node within a predetermined time interval of said one node transmitting said test packet, said one node transmitting information to said test source defining said failure as concerning packet transmission between said one node and said another node via said one link.
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Abstract
A packet network test arrangement where a test packet is transmitted from a test source to a test destination via successive nodes of the packet network. Any node that fails to receive acknowledgement within a predetermined time of transmitting the test packet to a subsequent node responds by transmitting information to the test source concerning the failure and particularly defining the involved nodes. Accordingly, a single test can be used advantageously both to detect faults and to localize such faults between two network nodes. The test arrangement also provides for the loop-around of test packets received at the test destination thus enabling the test source to verify successful packet communications.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a test arrangement for testing communication from a test source to a test destination via a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bidirectional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes, a test method comprising
in response to a receipt of a test packet from said test source, one of said nodes transmitting said test packet to another of said nodes via the one of said links interconnecting said one node and said another node and in response to a failure to receive acknowledgment via said one link from said another node within a predetermined time interval of said one node transmitting said test packet, said one node transmitting information to said test source defining said failure as concerning packet transmission between said one node and said another node via said one link.
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7. A method for testing a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bidirectional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes, said method comprising
transmitting a test packet from a test source to a test destination via said network, upon receiving said test packet from said test source, a first one of said nodes transmitting said test packet to a second one of said nodes via the one of said links interconnecting said first node and said second node, upon receiving said test packet from said first node, said second node acknowledging receipt of said test packet to said first node via said one link, and upon a failure to receive acknowledgment via said one link from said second node within a predetermined time interval of said first node transmitting said test packet, said first node transmitting information to said test source defining said failure as concerning packet transmission between said first node and said second node via said one link.
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18. In a test arrangement for testing communication from a test source to a test destination via a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bidirectional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes, a test method comprising
in response to a receipt of a test packet from said test source, one of said nodes transmitting said test packet to other ones of said nodes via the ones of said links interconnecting said one node and said other ones of said nodes and in response to a failure to receive acknowledgment from each of said other ones of said nodes via the one of said links interconnecting said one node and said each other node within a predetermined time interval of said one node transmitting said test packet, said one node transmitting information to said test source defining said failure as concerning packet transmission between said one node and said each other node.
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21. A method for testing a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bidirectional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes, said method comprising
broadcasting a test packet from a first one of said nodes to other ones of said nodes, any of said nodes receiving said test packet, broadcasting said test packet to other ones of said nodes, any of said nodes receiving said test packet, acknowledging receipt of said test packet to the one of said nodes from which said test packet is received, any of said nodes other than said first node, upon a failure to receive acknowledgment via ones of said links from ones of said nodes to which said any node other than said first node has broadcast said test packet, transmitting information to said first node defining said failure as concerning packet transmission via said ones of said links between said any node other than said first node and said ones of said nodes to which said any node other than said first node has broadcast said test packet.
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22. In a test arrangement for testing communication from a test source to a test destination via a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bidirectional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes, each of said nodes comprising
means responsive to a receipt of a test packet from said test source for transmitting said test packet to said test destination via one of said links and means responsive to a failure to receive via said one link acknowledgment of receipt of said transmitted test packet for transmitting information to said test source defining said failure as concerning packet transmission from said each node via said one link.
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25. In a test arrangement for testing communication of a test packet from a test source to a test destination, a packet switching network interconnecting said source and destination and comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bidirectional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes each of said nodes comprising
means for acknowledging receipt of said test packet to one of said nodes from which said test packet is received, means for transmitting said test packet received from said one node to another one of said nodes via one of said links and means responsive to a failure to receive via said one link acknowledgment of receipt of said test packet from said another node for transmitting information via said network to said test source defining said failure between said each node and said another node via said one link.
Specification