Patent ID: 8514723
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A monitoring system for monitoring transport of data through interconnected nodes for processing data packets in a communication system, wherein said data packets conform to a layered transmission protocol, the monitoring system comprising: a marking node configured to: a) select a data packet having a first number of protocol layers according to a marking rule and marking the selected packet by placing in the lowest protocol layer of the first number of protocol layers a monitoring indicator for identifying that said selected packet is to be used for said monitoring; and b) output said marked data packet; at least one packet processing node configured to: a) receive said marked data packet; b) form a data packet based on said received marked data packet such that said formed data packet comprises a second number of protocol layers that is different from said first number of protocol layers, where the lowest protocol layer of the second number of protocol layers is at a different and lower protocol layer of the lowest protocol layer of the first number of protocol layers, and such that said indicator added by said marking node is moved or copied from the lowest protocol layer of the first number of protocol layers to the lowest protocol layer of the second number of protocol layers of said formed data packet; and c) output said formed data packet; and a monitoring node configured to monitor said transport of data on the basis of the indicators in data packets that have passed through the at least one packet processing node.