Patent ID: 7733769

Claim:
A method for identifying a media path in a packet switched network, comprising: receiving media path packets at an intermediate node located in the media path in-between a source of the media path packets and a destination for the media path packets, the media path packets configured as conventional media path reservation packets used for reserving resources along the media path and further configured to travel along the same media path as packets containing media; identifying the media path packets configured as media path probe packets at the intermediate node; sending a media path report distinct and separately from the media path probe packets directly from the intermediate node to a logging node located outside of the media path, the media path report identifying information about the media path; automatically sending the media path report independently from any initiation from the logging node whenever one of the media path probe packets is received by the intermediate node and sending the media path report separately from other media path reports produced and sent from other nodes forming the media path; monitoring the media path probe packet for a resource reservation indicator; forwarding the media path probe packet toward a destination endpoint without conducting a resource reservation protocol when no resource reservation indicator is identified; and conducting the resource reservation protocol before forwarding the media path probe packet toward a destination endpoint when the resource reservation indicator is identified.