System and method for a testing vector and associated performance map

• US 9,210,050 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bugenhagen, Michael K., Morrill, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woolcock, Madhu
• Application Number:
  US12/651,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,164 Days
• Field of Search: 714/32, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for testing line state. Traffic through a communications path is determined. A test vector is generated. Attributes of the test vector simulate the traffic. The test vector is communicated to one or more end devices. Performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector is measured. A performance map utilizing the attributes and the performance information is generated.

Claims

1. A method for testing line state comprising:

monitoring traffic through a communications path;

controlling generating of a test vector with a reflector predictor function, the reflector/predictor function having a first mode that has a vector control input fed by live traffic statistical values to resemble live packet flows monitored though the communications path and a second mode that includes a set of preset vectors that are triggered automatically to predict performance, wherein attributes of the test vector simulate configurations of the monitored traffic and include at least frame size;

initiating communication of the test vector to one or more end devices;

dynamically reconfiguring the attributes of the test vector during the communication of the test vector to simulate real-time changes in the monitored traffic in response to detecting the real-time changes in the monitored traffic;

measuring resulting test vector performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector; and

generating a dynamically updatable performance map utilizing the attributes of the test vector and the performance information, wherein the performance map is a multi-dimensional array of test results based at least in part on the attributes of the test vector and the performance information of the test vector, and wherein the performance map is queried by an application before initiating a process or communication, wherein the application selects a class of service marking for the process or communication in real time based on the performance information within the class of service reported hi the performance map.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the test vector is utilized in a one-way or a two-way test, and wherein the test vector is dynamically reconfigured to include attributes of the monitored traffic that is determined to have errors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein cycles of test vectors are communicated separated by a first time period, and wherein each of the attributes are separated by a second time period during the communication of the test vector.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second time period varies between the attributes of the test vector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the attributes are separated by a number of frames.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a plurality of test vectors, wherein attributes of each of the plurality of test vectors are different.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

modifying one or more of the attributes of the plurality of test vectors in response to determining performance information for each of the one or more attributes is acceptable.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the attributes further include at least quality of service levels, bursting rates, and protocol types.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically reconfiguring the frame size of the test vector to duplicate frames sizes of the monitored traffic.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

matching the frame size of the attributes utilizing remote network monitoring (RMON) for the monitored traffic.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance map is generated to include a class of service, protocol type, port, quality of service marking, inter-frame gap, bits per second, and frame label types.

12. A network test device for testing a communications path, the network test device comprising:

a monitor interface configured to monitor traffic through a communications path, wherein the communications path includes a physical connection between the network test device and one or more end devices;

a test engine in communication with the monitor interface, the test engine is executed by a processor to generate a test vector, the test vector being controlled by a reflector/predictor function, the reflector/predictor function having a first mode that has a vector control input fed by live traffic statistical values to resemble live packet flows monitored though the communications path and a second mode that includes a set of preset vectors that are triggered automatically to predict performance, wherein attributes of the test vector simulate configurations of the monitored traffic measured by the monitor interface and include at least frame size, the test engine is further executed to initiate communication of the test vector to the one or more and devices, dynamically reconfigure the attributes of the test vector to simulate real-time changes in the monitored traffic during the communication of the test vector in response to detecting the real-time changes in the monitored traffic, measure resulting test vector performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector, and generate a dynamically updatable performance map utilizing the attributes of the test vector and the performance information, wherein the performance map is a multi-dimensional array of test results based at least in part on the attributes of the test vector and the performance information of the test vector, and wherein the performance map is queried by an application before initiating a process or communication, wherein the application selects a class of service marking for the process or communication in real time based on the performance information within the class of service reported in the performance map.

13. The network test device according to claim 12, further comprising:

alarm logic in communication with the test engine, the alarm logic being configured to send alarms to one or more recipients in response to determining the performance information exceeds one or more thresholds.

14. The network test device according to claim 12, wherein the test engine sends a loopback command to the one or more end devices for the test engine to determine additional performance information through a loop in addition to the performance map.

15. The network test device according to claim 12, wherein the application is in communication with the test engine, the application being configured to initiate the test vector across one or more communications paths in order to determine a communications path for communication, wherein the application configures the test vector based on types of communication utilized by the application and wherein the attributes further include at least quality of service levels, bursting rates, and protocol types.

16. A test device comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions are executed by the processor to;

monitor traffic through a communications path,

control generation of a test vector with a reflector/predictor function, the reflector/predictor function having a first mode that has a vector control input fed by live traffic statistical values to resemble live packet flows monitored though the communications path and a second mode that includes a set of preset vectors that are triggered automatically to predict performance, wherein attributes of the test vector simulate configurations of the monitored traffic and include at least frame size,

initiating communication of the test vector to one or more end devices,

dynamically reconfigure the attributes of the test vector during the communication of the test vector to simulate real-time changes in the monitored traffic in response to detecting the real-time changes in the monitored traffic;

measure resulting test vector performance information for each of the attributes of the test vector, and

generate a dynamically updatable performance map utilizing the attributes of the test vector and the performance information, wherein the performance map is a multi-dimensional array of test results based at least in part on the attributes of the test vector and the performance information of the test vector, and wherein the performance map is queried by an application before initiating a process or communication, wherein the application selects a class of service marking for the process or communication in real time based on the performance information within the class of service reported in the performance map.

17. The test device according to claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

send alarms to one or more recipients in response to determining the performance information exceeds one or more thresholds.

18. The test device according to claim 16, wherein cycles of test vectors are communicated separated by a first time period, wherein the attributes are separated by a second time period during the communication of the test vector, and wherein the second time period varies between the attributes of the test vector.

19. The test device according to claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are further executed to:

send a plurality of test vectors, wherein the attributes of each of the plurality of test vectors are different, the attributes of the plurality of test vectors being modified in response to determining performance information for each of one or more attributes is acceptable.

20. The test device according to claim 16, wherein set of instructions are further executed to:

match frame sizes for the attributes utilizing remote network monitoring (RMON) in response to the monitored traffic, wherein the attributes further include at least quality of service levels, bursting rates, and protocol types.