Patent ID: 7676568

Claim:
In a data communications device configured to perform data communications operations within a network, a method for conveying information between an upstream device of the network and a downstream device of the network, the method comprising: receiving, from the upstream device, an initial content element having routing information and content information; generating a marked content element from the initial content element; and sending, to the downstream device, the marked content element in place of the initial content element based on the routing information, the marked content element having the routing information and the content information of the initial content element, the marked content element further having mark information which: (i) preserves the routing information of the marked content element to enable delivery of the marked element to the downstream device; (ii) preserves the content information of the marked content element to enable correct content processing of the content information by the downstream device; and (iii) defines a characteristic of the network to enable diagnosis of network behavior.