Patent ID: 7139824
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for performing isolation of dropped packets, said method comprising: receiving a request to isolate a dropped packet in a network, said request including a source node and a destination node; mapping an expected route between the source node and the destination node, said expected route including a probe in an active mode; creating a capture filter profile for said probe, said capture filter profile including instructions to cause said probe to simulate network errors; transmitting a request to said probe to perform data collection in response to said capture filter profile; receiving said data collection request at said probe; programming said probe in response to said capture filter profile; receiving a data log from said probe, said data log created by said data collection; generating exception data including comparing said expected route to said data log, said generating exception data further includes generating output data that includes the number of log entries corresponding to said probe and the number of log entries corresponding to a second probe, wherein said log entries are contained in said data log, and wherein said probe is a source probe and said second probe is a destination probe and tracking a packet from said source node to said destination node using a boolean expression and generating output data that includes the results of said tracking: isolating the dropped packet by identifying a failing network element along the expected route in response to the exception data; capturing packet data for a time period specified by said capture filter profile; writing a packet data identifier to said data log when said packet data matches said capture filter profile; and transmitting said data log to requestor of said data collection.