Distributed method for periodical routing verification test scheduling

• US 5,638,357 A
• Filed: 08/25/1995
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Holm, Richard, Glitho, Roch
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau T.
• Application Number:
  US08/519,658
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 370/13, 370/14, 370/15, 370/16, 370/17, 370/54, 370/60, 370/60.1, 370/94.1, 370/94.3, 370/110.1, 370/68.1, 379/5, 379/10, 379/14, 379/16, 379/230, 395/183.01, 395/182.01, 395/182.02
• US Class Current: 370/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for scheduling verification tests to audit routing information in a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bi-directional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes. The method begins with the steps of selecting a test time duration period for scheduling the verification tests of the routing information in the network and selecting a number of nodes to be tested. The method determines for each node to be tested in the network: (i) a number of sub-tests to be run via the bi-directional links to all destination nodes associated with the test node, (ii) generates a time gap interval based on the quotient of the scheduled test time duration period by the number of sub-tests to be conducted, (iii) generates a random number greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to the time gap interval for each sub-test to be run, and (iv) schedules the verification sub-tests in succession during the time test duration period by staggering starting of the first sub-test from the commencement of the time test duration period, and all succeeding sub-tests from the completion of the previous sub-test, by a respective time interval which is a function of the time gap interval and the random number for that sub-test. The method of the present invention has the advantage in that it randomly disperses the running of the verification sub-test in the network over a test time frame. As a result, traffic loading induced on the network by the verification tests is dispersed and risk of overloading the network is reduced.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling verification tests to audit routing information in a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a test time duration period for scheduling the verification tests of the routing information in the network; and

b) determining for each node to be tested in the network;

(i) a number of sub-tests to be run to all destination nodes associated with the test node; and

(ii) randomly scheduling the sub-tests during the time test duration period by staggering starting of each sub-test by a randomly chosen time interval.

2. The method claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a test time duration period for scheduling the verification tests is selected from off peak demand hours.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the off peak demand hours are selected between 1:

00 a.m. and 4;

00 a.m.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the verification test is selected from the group consisting of a message transfer part routing verification test and a signaling connection control part routing verification test in an SS7 signaling system.

5. A method for scheduling verification tests to audit routing information in a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bi-directional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of the nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a test time duration period for scheduling the verification tests of the routing information in the network;

b) selecting a number of nodes to be tested; and

c) determining for each node to be tested in the network;

(i) a number of sub-tests to be run via the bi-directional links to all destination nodes associated with the test node;

(ii) generating a time gap interval based on the quotient of the scheduled test time duration period by the number of sub-tests to be conducted;

(iii) generating a random number greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to the time gap interval for each sub-test to be run; and

(iv) scheduling the verification sub-tests in succession during the time test duration period by staggering starting of the first sub-test from the commencement of the time test duration period, and all succeeding sub-tests from the completion of the previous sub-test, by a respective time interval which is a function of the time gap interval and the random number for that sub-test.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of selecting a test time duration period for scheduling the verification tests is selected from off peak demand hours.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the off peak demand hours are between 1:

00 a.m. and 4;

00 a.m.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the verification test is selected from the group consisting of a message transfer part routing verification test and a signaling connection control part routing verification test in an SS7 signaling system.