Method and apparatus for determining network delays
First Claim
1. A method of determining delays in a network carrying messages between entities connected to the network, said messages including first messages and second messages of respective predetermined categories, the first and second messages each producing a respective time-dependent loading of the network and said second messages being caused by the first messages whereby said loadings vary in a similar manner with time but with the loading produced by the second messages being offset from that produced by the first messages;
- the method comprising the steps of;
(a) deriving network load measures for said first and second messages at a predetermined location in said network, each said load measure being derived by counting at said location the number of messages of the category concerned occurring in a predetermined time interval; and
(b) utilising said load measures to determine an offset between the network loadings produced by the first and second messages, this offset providing a network-delay measurement at said predetermined location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for determining delays in a network (10) carrying messages, such as an SS7 signalling network or a TCP/IP network. The method involves monitoring the network (10) at a predetermined location to detect first messages (REQ) and second messages (ACK) of respective predetermined categories (X, Y), the first and second messages each producing a respective time-dependent loading of the network and the second messages being caused by the first messages whereby the loadings vary in a similar manner with time but with the loading produced by the second messages being offset from that produced by the first messages. Load measures (LX,LY) are then derived for the first and second messages (REQ, ACK), each load measure being derived by counting the number of messages of the category concerned that are detected in a predetermined time interval. These load measures (LX,LY) are thereafter used to determine the offset between the network loadings produced by the first and second messages, this offset providing a network-delay measurement.
73 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of determining delays in a network carrying messages between entities connected to the network, said messages including first messages and second messages of respective predetermined categories, the first and second messages each producing a respective time-dependent loading of the network and said second messages being caused by the first messages whereby said loadings vary in a similar manner with time but with the loading produced by the second messages being offset from that produced by the first messages;
- the method comprising the steps of;
(a) deriving network load measures for said first and second messages at a predetermined location in said network, each said load measure being derived by counting at said location the number of messages of the category concerned occurring in a predetermined time interval; and (b) utilising said load measures to determine an offset between the network loadings produced by the first and second messages, this offset providing a network-delay measurement at said predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- the method comprising the steps of;
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12. Apparatus for determining delays in a network carrying messages between entities connected to the network, said messages including first messages and second messages of respective predetermined categories, the first and second messages each producing a respective time-dependent loading of the network and said second messages being caused by the first messages whereby said loadings vary in a similar manner with time but with the loading produced by the second messages being offset from that produced by the first messages;
- the apparatus comprising;
load measuring means for deriving load measures for said first and second messages at a predetermined location in said network, each said load measure being derived by counting the number of messages of the category concerned occurring in a predetermined time interval; and offset determining means for utilising said load measures to determine an offset between the network loadings produced by the first and second messages, this offset providing a network-delay measurement at said predetermined location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
- the apparatus comprising;
Specification