Patent ID: 7016309

Claim:
A method for calculating packet loss for communication between a first and second node along a communication circuit connecting the nodes, said method comprising: a) transmitting, by the first node, a first known quantity of packets from the said node to the second node at a first known time; b) receiving, at said first node, a first actual count of packets received by said second node from said first known quantity of packets; c) transmitting, by said first node, a second known quantity of packets from said first node to said second node at a second known time; d) receiving, at said first node, a second actual count of packets received by said second node from said second known quantity of packets; e) determining the difference between said first known quantity of packets communicated at said first known time and said second known quantity of packets communicated at said second known time to obtain a value for packets sent; f) determining the difference between said first actual count of packets received and said second actual count of packets received to obtain a value for packets received; and g) determining the difference between said packets sent and said packets received to obtain a value for packet loss between said first known time and second known time.