Network probing using overlapping probe packets

• US 6,826,172 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Steven Augart
• Inventors: Augart, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/591,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/386, 370/389, 370/392, 370/393, 370/394, 370/395.2, 370/395.31, 370/395.32, 370/400, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/20 Hop count for routing purposes, e.g. TTL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Provided are apparatuses and techniques for use by a first node on a network in determining the geographic location of a second node on the network. A data packet is received over the network from the second node, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node. Then, multiple probe packets addressed to the network identifier for the second node are sent, each of the probe packets being sent without waiting for a response from any previous probe packet.

Claims

1. A method for use by a first node on a network in determining the geographic location of a second node on the network, said method comprising:

receiving a data packet over the network from the second node, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node; and

sending plural probe packets addressed to the network identifier for the second node, wherein the plural probe packets are sent without waiting for a response from any of said plural probe packets.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

receiving responses to the plural probe packets, each response including a network identifier for a router; and

comparing the network identifier for at least one of the routers to a database that includes a geographic location for each of plural network identifiers in order to identify a geographic location for said at least one of the routers.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of assigning a geographic location for said second node based on the geographic location for said at least one of the routers.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising steps of:

obtaining information that is based on the geographic location for the second node; and

transmitting said information from the first node to the second node.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the data packet is a first communication in requesting a web page from said first node, wherein the web page is transmitted to said second node in response to said communication, and wherein said information that is based on the geographic location for the second node is included in the web page.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plural probe packets are designed to elicit responses from said first node and from only a subset of the routers on a route between said first node and said second node.

7. A method according to claim 6, said subset of routers includes only those routers closest to said second node.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the data packet includes an indication of a number of hops made by the data packet, and wherein the plural probe packets are designed based on said indication.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said indication is a Time-To-Live (TTL) field.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the plural probe packets have TTL fields, and wherein at least two of the plural probe packets have a same value in their TTL fields.

11. A method according to claim 6, further comprising steps of:

determining, based on the responses to the plural probe packets, whether a routing anomaly exists; and

if it is determined that a routing anomaly exists, sending a second set of probe packets.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the second set of probe packets is designed to probe an entire route between said first node and said second node.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein it is determined in said determining step that assymetric routing exists.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said data packet is a SYN packet requesting initiation of a TCP connection, and wherein said plural probe packets are sent without waiting for completion of a handshaking operation required to initiate the TCP connection.

15. An apparatus for use by a first node on a network in determining the geographic location of a second node on the network, said apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a data packet over the network from the second node, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node; and

sending means for sending plural probe packets addressed to the network identifier for the second node, wherein the plural probe packets are sent without waiting for a response from any of said plural probe packets.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for receiving responses to the plural probe packets, each response including a network identifier for a router; and

means for comparing the network identifier for at least one of the routers to a database that includes a geographic location for each of plural network identifiers in order to identify a geographic location for said at least one of the routers.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plural probe packets are designed to elicit responses from said first node and from only a subset of the routers on a route between said first node and said second node.

18. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps for use by a first node on a network in determining the geographic location of a second node on the network, said process steps comprising steps to:

receive a data packet over the network from the second node, the data packet including a network identifier for the second node; and

send plural probe packets addressed to the network identifier for the second node, wherein the plural probe packets are sent without waiting for a response from any of said plural probe packets.

19. A computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the plural probe packets are designed to elicit responses from said first node and from only a subset of the routers on a route between said first node and said second node.

20. A computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein said process steps further comprise steps to:

receive responses to the plural probe packets, each response including a network identifier for a router; and

compare the network identifier for at least one of the routers to a database that includes a geographic location for each of plural network identifiers in order to identify a geographic location for said at least one of the routers.