Patent ID: 6912203

Claim:
A method of determining a network performance metric in a network, wherein said network comprises a plurality of network elements and each one of said network elements is coupled to at least one other of said network elements by at least one of a plurality of links, comprising: forming a first set of network element pairs, said first set of network element pairs comprising a plurality of pairs of said network elements; ordering a first plurality of network element pairs comprising ones of network element pairs in said first set of network element pairs; forming a second set of network element pairs, wherein said second set of network element pairs comprises ones of said network element pairs in said first set of network element pairs; measuring a measured network performance metric between a first network element pair, wherein said first network element pair comprises a first network element and a second network element of one of said network element pairs in said second set of network element pairs; and computing a computed network performance metric between a second network element pair using said measured network performance metric, wherein said second network element pair comprises a first network element and a second network element of said network element pair in said first set of network element pairs.