Patent ID: 8213323
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring network performance in order to reveal micro-behavior of network traffic, the method comprising: monitoring traffic through a router; setting at least two distinct time durations over a unidirectional IP link that traverses through the router for monitoring link utilization in the router, wherein the link utilization is a measurement of a use of the unidirectional IP link, wherein the link utilization is monitored simultaneously during each of the at least two distinct time durations, wherein the at least two distinct time durations are based on the size of the network to avoid overloading polled network elements, wherein Global Positioning System time stamps are utilized to monitor a transmission of data through the unidirectional IP link, wherein the router includes a monitoring system that has a processor and a memory, wherein the memory includes timers, statistics calculation tools, and stored statistics, wherein the timers implement different durations of a time scale, and wherein the statistics calculation tool computes link utilization by dividing a collected number of bytes by a capacity of the unidirectional IP link; adjusting the at least two distinct time durations over the unidirectional IP link so that congestion can be detected; setting at least one link utilization threshold for each distinct time duration in the router; monitoring link utilization at the router using a counter; identifying intervals of time durations where the at least one link utilization threshold has been exceeded; and providing a number of intervals of time durations during which the at least one link utilization threshold has been exceeded.