Patent Document ID: 20090225677
Application ID: 12418977
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A system for monitoring packet usage comprising: a local network, wherein the local network is connected to an external network and wherein the local network is subject to policies established by the external network; at least one terminal means connected to the local network; a local monitoring component connected to the at least one terminal means and to the local network, wherein the local monitoring component comprises instructions for: detecting from within the local network packet usage at the at least one terminal means over an increment of time measured from a start time; and reporting the packet usage to a master monitoring component, wherein, the master monitoring component comprises instructions for: grouping packets from within the local network according to selection criteria established within the local network; obtaining from within the local network a count of packets in each packet grouping for the time increment; aggregating from within the local network the packet count of the packet groupings for the time increment to derive a total packet count; establishing from within the local network a control curve, wherein the control curve represents a packet volume over a time period, wherein the time period is measured from the start time and wherein the time period is greater than or equal to the time increment; establishing from within the local network an alarm threshold relative to the control curve; comparing from within the local network the total packet count to the control curve; determining from within the local network whether the total packet count equals or exceeds the alarm threshold; and issuing from within the local network an alarm to at least one terminal means when the total packet count equals or exceeds the alarm threshold.