Patent ID: 7689686

Claim:
A method comprising: computing a first probe estimate from a first probe sequence transmitted over a network from a first device to a second device; computing a second probe estimate from a second probe sequence transmitted over the network from the first device to the second device, the first probe sequence providing a different load to the network than the second probe sequence; estimating a sustainable capacity of the network based on the first probe estimate and the second probe estimate; and wherein the estimating operation comprises computing an algorithm substantially of the form: SusCap est = δ ⁢ ⁢ m ⁢ D ^ 2 - D min D ^ 2 - D ^ 1 wherein SusCap est represents the sustainable capacity value, δm represents a load difference between the second probe sequence and the first probe sequence {circumflex over (D)} 2 represents the second robe estimate, {circumflex over (D)} 1 represents the first probe estimate, and D min represents a minimum delay time of individual round-trip delay times associated with the first load probe and the second load probe sequence.