Patent ID: 7391740
Filing Date: 2008-06-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for determining the responsiveness of a data transmission rate of data packets to packet drops in a distributed communication network, the communication network including a plurality of switching nodes having a set of the plurality of flows respectively traversing therethrough, the method comprising the steps of: assigning to each of the plurality of switching nodes a corresponding drop rate signature for specifying a corresponding instantaneous packet drop rate, said drop rate signature at each of the plurality of switching nodes being orthogonal to said drop rate signature of all other ones of the plurality of switching nodes when each of said plurality of drop rate signatures are compensated for a DC offset; setting a packet drop rate to said corresponding instantaneous packet drop rate; perturbing said data transmission at perturbation intervals by intentionally dropping a number of packets by time varying said corresponding instantaneous packet drop rate; and estimating the responsiveness to packet drops from a perturbed packet transmission rate measured subsequent to said intentional packet dropping.