Method and apparatus for performing service level analysis of communications network performance metrics
US6058102A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5649
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data transmission system includes probes connected between end user sites and a data switching network. Each probe is connected to the switching network via an access channel wherein transmission circuits establish paths between the sites through the access channel and switching network. The probes capture and retransmit data traveling between the sites over respective transmission circuits, and can thereby insert service level analysis (SLA) messages into the data traffic in order to actively communicate network performance information to other probes. For each transmission circuit, the probes periodically collect measurements related to one or more network performance metrics, including: round-trip delay (RTD), data delivery ratio (DDR) and network availability. During each SLA measurement cycle, a sequence of SLA messages is exchanged over each transmission circuit, which messages contain data used to determine RTD and DDR. Optionally, the SLA message contents and protocol are designed to allow the SLA messages to be encapsulated in a single, standard data unit of any conventional data transmission protocol, such as an ATM cell. Consequently, the messaging system can be used w…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.