Patent ID: 8159943

Claim:
A method of forming protocol data units for measuring performance in relation to a first node of a communications network capable of supporting a congestion-aware connection in accordance with a first congestion control algorithm, the method comprising: generating a plurality of protocol data units, each of the plurality of protocol data units having a data structure definition supporting routing path selection and supporting congestion control in accordance with a bespoke second congestion control algorithm in place of the first congestion control algorithm, the bespoke second congestion control algorithm making congestion measurements statelessly with respect to the first node, based on connection less data communications with the first node; wherein generating the plurality of protocol data units comprises: forming a plurality of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets as the protocol data units; inserting congestion control data supporting the congestion control in accordance with the bespoke second congestion control algorithm into a payload of each of the UDP packets; and inserting a corresponding first timestamp into the payload of each of the UDP packets; and configuring the each of the plurality of protocol data units by setting a source address, a destination address and at least one routing address in the each of the plurality of protocol data units so as to cause the plurality of protocol data units, when sent, to follow a round-trip path via the first node.