Patent ID: 8244862

Claim:
A method of operating a networked computer connected to a first network through a second network to determine a source of network performance degradation, the method comprising: tracking, during an interval of time, network performance information for communications on a plurality of paths, wherein each path is between the networked computer and a device on the first network; obtaining network communication information from at least one other networked computer on the second network; attempting to identify a source of the performance degradation by: determining whether a source of the performance degradation is network cross traffic by ascertaining whether the network communication information indicates that traffic on the second network is above a first threshold; determining whether a source of the performance degradation is access to the first network by ascertaining whether the network communication information does not indicate that traffic on the second network is above the first threshold and the network performance information indicates a performance degradation with communications associated with a number above a second threshold of the plurality of paths; and/or determining whether a source of the performance degradation is a device that is an endpoint of a path of the plurality of paths by ascertaining whether the network communication information does not indicate traffic on the second network above the first threshold and the network performance information indicates a performance degradation with a number of the plurality of paths that is below a third threshold; and if a source of the performance degradation is identified, providing an indication of the identified source.