Patent ID: 7953020

Claim:
A method of measuring a parameter of a packet network, comprising: transmitting a plurality of probe packets in the packet network to at least one instructionless element, each of the plurality of probe packets having a common key distinguishing each of the plurality of probe packets from other data in the packet network, and each of the plurality of probe packets having a common aggregation characteristic, the common aggregation characteristic corresponding to a measurement capability causing the at least one instructionless element to aggregate the plurality of probe packets in at least one aggregation report; wherein the at least one instructionless element does not receive any specific instructions regarding the at least one aggregation report; receiving the at least one aggregation report from the at least one instructionless element regarding the plurality of probe packets; isolating an aggregation report from the at least one aggregation report to determine the parameter of the packet network; and sending a reset packet as the last packet of the plurality of probe packets.