Patent ID: 7688741
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for testing of a communication network, comprising: providing a first traffic agent having a first traffic agent clock; providing of a local clock by a testing center; specifying a test start time at which the testing is to begin; sending a start message to the first traffic agent, the start message containing the test start time and a time of sending the start message according to the local clock; receiving, by the first traffic agent, the start message; measuring, by the first traffic agent, a time of the receiving according to the first traffic agent clock; scheduling, by the first traffic agent, a start of the testing to be the test start time plus the time of receiving of the start message according to the first traffic agent clock minus the time of sending the start message according to the local clock; starting the testing, by the first traffic agent, according to the scheduling; transmitting a first sequence of data packets via the network from the first traffic agent to a second traffic agents; transmitting a second sequence of data packets via the network from the second traffic agents, responsive to receiving the data packets in the first sequence, to a third traffic agent having a third traffic agent clock; recording arrival times of the packets in the second sequence according to the third traffic agent clock, responsive to receiving the data packets at the third traffic agent; and comparing the arrival times of different packets so as to determine a measure of variability in transmission of the packets via the network.