Patent ID: 8116213
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions including instructions for: receiving a request to: trace a route, in a network including a plurality of network devices, between a source device and a target device, and identify protocols, of a particular type, that are associated with the route; sending, from the source device, at least one test packet with a first time-to-live, toward the target device, to collect: an identity of one or more of the network devices in the route, and protocol information indicative of a protocol implemented in a path, of the route, between two of the plurality of network devices; receiving, from the network, at least one reply packet when the first time-to-live has expired, wherein a payload of the at least one reply packet includes: a first list of the one or more network devices and the protocol implemented in a first path en route toward the target device, and a second list of the one or more network devices and the protocol implemented in a second path en route to the source device, wherein the first list differs from the second list; examining the payload of the at least one reply packet to: determine at least a portion of the route, including the first path and the second path, and identify the protocol implemented in the first and second paths of the route; outputting a description of the at least a portion of the route and respective identities of the protocols corresponding to the first and second paths of the route; and sending another test packet with a second time-to-live toward the target device, wherein the second time-to-live that is greater than the first time-to-live.