Patent ID: 7561670
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to: transmit a first signal from a first point of a communication network to a second point of the communication network, wherein the first point of the communication network and the second point of the communication network are remotely located from one another; record a first time at which the first signal is transmitted from the first point of the communication network to the second point of the communication network using a first clock, wherein an operation of the first clock is based on a first reference signal generated by a first oscillator located at the first point of the communication network; obtain a first measurement of at least one performance characteristic associated with the first signal at the first point of the communication network; associate the first measurement with the first time; record a second time at which the first signal is received at the second point of the communication network, wherein the second time is recorded using a second clock, wherein an operation of the second clock is based on a second reference signal generated by a second oscillator located at the second point of the communication network, wherein the first reference signal and the second reference signal are substantially similar, and wherein each of the first and second oscillators has an original input reference having a drift that is less than 1.6×10 obtain a second measurement of the performance characteristic of the first signal as received at the second point of the communication network; associate the second measurement with the second time; compare the first measurement and the second measurement of the performance characteristic as a function of the first and second times; and determine at least one end-to-end performance characteristic of the communication network based on the comparison of the first and second measurements.