Patent ID: 8483069
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of tracing Ethernet frame delay between network devices of a network, the method comprising: with an originating Maintenance Entity Group (MEG) End Point (MEP) network device, outputting a delay trace message Ethernet frame to a target MEP network device, wherein the delay trace message Ethernet frame indicates an address of the originating MEP and a delay trace message initiation time; with the originating MEP network device, receiving a first delay trace response Ethernet frame from a MEG intermediate point (MIP) network device positioned along a network path from the originating MEP network device to the target MEP network device, wherein the first delay trace response Ethernet frame is generated in response to the delay trace message Ethernet frame; wherein the first delay trace response Ethernet frame includes a network address of the MIP network device, the delay trace message initiation time, a delay trace message reception time corresponding to a time that the delay trace message Ethernet frame is received by the MIP network device, and a first delay trace response time corresponding to a first time that the first delay trace response Ethernet frame is output toward the originating MEP network device; and with the originating MEP network device, receiving a second delay trace response Ethernet frame from the target MEP network device, wherein the second delay trace response Ethernet frame is generated in response to the delay trace message Ethernet frame, wherein the second delay trace response Ethernet frame includes a network address of the target MEP network device, the delay trace message initiation time, a delay trace message reception time corresponding to a time that the delay trace message Ethernet frame is received by the target MEP network device, and a second delay trace response time corresponding to a second time that the second delay trace response Ethernet frame is output toward the originating MEP network device.