Patent ID: 8073944
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a point of loss for data records to be communicated between a source and a destination on a communication network, the method comprising the steps of: determining a topology of the communication network between the source and the destination, the topology including a plurality of connecting nodes; determining for respective ones of the connecting nodes a count of data records from the source directed to the destination passing into the respective ones of the connecting nodes during a determined period of time, and a count of data records from the source directed to the destination passing out of the respective ones of the connecting nodes during the determined period of time; and identifying at least one of the connecting nodes as the point of loss based on the determined topology and a comparison of a determined count of data records passing into the at least one of the connecting nodes with a determined count of data records passing out of the at least one of the connecting nodes; wherein a plurality of network appliances configured to obtain a count of data records passing between a pair of connecting nodes during a time period are positioned between respective ones of the connecting nodes, and wherein determining for respective ones of the connecting nodes a count of data records from the source directed to the destination passing into the respective ones of the connecting nodes and a count of data records from the source directed to the destination passing out of the respective ones of the connecting nodes further comprises: identifying at least one of the network appliances on the topology; and obtaining the count of data records obtained by the identified at least one network appliance during the determined period of time.