Patent ID: 7352705

Claim:
A method of testing a digital network having a plurality of subnetworks, comprising the steps of: determining by one of a plurality of user endpoint devices assigned to one of the plurality of subnetworks upon the one of the plurality of user endpoint devices being idle that the one of the plurality of user endpoint devices should perform the functions of a testing user endpoint device for the one of the plurality of subnetworks; identifying the one of plurality of user endpoint devices to a server as a testing user endpoint device; obtaining the identifies of other testing user endpoint devices in other ones of the plurality of subnetworks from the server; and testing the network by transmission of test packets to other ones of the testing user endpoint devices in the other ones of the plurality of subnetworks; wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of recognizing by the one of the plurality of user endpoint devices that the one of the plurality of user endpoint devices is idle; and negotiating with the other ones of the plurality of user endpoint devices of the one of the plurality of subnetworks to become the testing user endpoint device for the one of the plurality of subnetworks.