Patent ID: 6631119
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for determining the efficiency of data delivery in a packet-switching communication network, the communication network enabling the flow of data to and from a plurality of end user devices that are connected to the network through a plurality of communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:determining a service classification for each packet in a plurality of data packets at an ingress point to the communication network; appending a trailer to each of said data packets, said trailer indicating said service classification of said data packet; counting the number of data packets entering the communication network at said ingress point for each service classification over a specific time interval; transmitting the plurality of data packets over the communication network from the ingress point; receiving the plurality of data packets at an egress point to the communication network; examining said trailers to determine said service classification of each of the plurality of data packets at the egress point; counting the number of data packets exiting the communication network at said egress point for each service classification over the specific time interval; accumulating the number counted at said ingress point and the number counted at said egress point; and comparing the number of data packets for a particular service classification received at said egress point over the specific time interval to the number of data packets transmitted from said ingress point over the specific time interval for the same service classification.