Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for determining the forward and reverse available capacity or tight link capacity of an IP path from a single endpoint includes the steps of: transmitting, from a source IP endpoint node toward a destination IP endpoint node, a forward packet train including a first plurality of IP test packets over the forward IP path; and receiving, at the source IP endpoint node, a corresponding reverse packet train from the destination IP endpoint node, the reverse packet train including a second plurality of IP test packets over the reverse IP path each of which correspond to a respective one of the first plurality of IP test packets. For those IP path capacity measurements embodiments which are TWAMP-based, no changes are needed to the TWAMP control protocol, e.g., since exemplary embodiments make use of padding octets to transfer additional information which can be used for available IP path capacity and tight IP link capacity calculations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices (11, 12, 14) for transmitting a sequence of data packets in a network. To this end, a send rate with which the sequence is to be transmitted is selected. Then, a first set of data packets of the sequence is transmitted and the transmission is associated with a time stamp. Finally a last data packet of the sequence is transmitted after a predetermined time interval has elapsed from the time stamp associated with the first set of data packets, where said predetermined time interval is the time required for transmitting the sequence of data packets with the selected send rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and arrangements to measure network performance. The method comprises the following steps: —Transmitting via a communication network (IP) payload packets (21-24) from a sending node (GGSN/A) to a receiving node (GGSN/B). —Generating at the sending node (GGSN/A) a send specification (s21-s24, sid21-sid24) for each of at least one selected packet (21-24) of the transmitted payload packets (21-24). —Generating at the receiving node (GGSN/B), a receive specification (r21-r22, rid21-rid22, siz21-siz22) for each of at least one selected packet (21-22) of the transmitted payload packets (21-24). —Bringing together generated send specifications (s21-s24, sid21-sid24) and generated receive specifications (r21-r22, rid21-rid22, siz21-siz22). —Estimating network performance by utilizing corresponding specifications (s11-s12, r11-r12, siz21-siz22) of the brought together specifications.

Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for adapting the rate at which the packets are transmitted. In one embodiment, the method includes: (a) receiving a packet; (b) determining whether the packet is high priority packet or a low priority packet; and (c) determining whether a transmission rate value, which defines the maximum rate or maximum average rate at which the node should transmit the low priority packets, should be adjusted, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on whether at least some number of high priority packets and/or bits was received since a point in time; and (d) adjusting the transmission rate value if it is determined in step (c) that the transmission rate value should be adjusted.

Abstract: A network node is arranged to provide an end user of a network terminal in a network with an access link to an external network including at least one external network interface, a control unit, and at least one internal network interface, the network node being arranged to be connected between the network and the external network. The network node is characterized in that the control unit is arranged to deactivate and re-activate the at least one internal network interface towards the network terminal in the network in order to trigger a dynamic host configuration protocol request from the network terminal such that a new Internet Protocol configuration can be established for the network terminal. A method for use in a network node and a computer program product are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for providing an end user of a network terminal in a local network with an access link to an external network. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a network node further includes a control unit arranged to transmit a local hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) response including detailed information to at least one network terminal in said local network using an earlier original HTTP request towards said external network made by said at least one network terminal in the local network.

Abstract: A method of measuring network performance is disclosed. A payload packet is transmitted from a sending node to a receiving node via a communication network. A reference packet is transmitted to the receiving node in connection with sending of the payload packet. Receive information related to the payload packet and to the reference packet is generated, at the receiving node. Send information related to the payload packet and to the reference packet is received, by the receiving node. Network performance is estimated by utilizing the send and receive information.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the presence of a rate limiting mechanism arranged between a sending and a receiving data communication node in a data transfer path of a communication network is presented. The method includes determining time difference values for probe packets in a train of probe packets sent from the sending node and received in the receiving node after having traversed the data transfer path during real-time operation of the data transfer path. The method further includes determining the presence of a rate limiting mechanism in the data transfer path upon detecting that an increase in the time difference value between received probe packets in the train of probe packets exceeds a threshold criterion. Other methods and devices for determining the absence of a rate limiting mechanism and corresponding computer program products are further disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network node arranged to provide an end user of a network terminal in a local network with an access link to an external network, said network node is arranged to be connected between said local network and said external network. The network node is characterized in that it comprises a control unit arranged to in response to receiving a first triggering information, switch said network node from a normal operational mode into a captive mode, in which said control unit is further arranged to intercept any request from said network terminals to said external network, resolve said request to the IP address of the network node in the local network such that gateway information to the end user of said network terminals is provided. The invention also relates to a method for use in a network node and a computer program product.

Abstract: A probing method, arrangement, and system for estimating a condition, such as available bandwidth, of a data path in a communication network including multiple nodes are described. A probe-packet sender node transmits probe packets with a sent inter-packet separation and a time-to-live towards an intermediate node. Control message packets are generated by the intermediate node when the time-to-live expires. The probe-packet sender node receives the control message packets and calculates a received inter-packet separation. An estimate of the data path condition can be generated based on the sent inter-packet separation and the received inter-packet separation.

Abstract: A method for queuing data packets is described. Upon receipt of a data packet, e.g., at an egress buffer of a node, a position within an output queue at which to place the data packet is determined. The queue position for the data packet can be determined based on various criteria, e.g., the type of the data packet and a time associated with its subsequent transmission, and timing aspects associated with the data packets which are already stored in the queue.

Abstract: Link information is obtained about new or changes links in a communications system having a plurality of domains. The link information concerning a link between a first and a second domain comprises at least four pieces of information, domain identity of the first domain, domain identity of the second domain, link end identifier for a first end of the link, and link end identifier for a second end of the link. The link information is cascaded through the communications system by providing the link information stepwise from one domain to an adjacent domain. This is achieved by spreading the obtained link information to adjacent domains and by distributing link information received from adjacent domains to further adjacent domains. Preferably, the link information is compiled and access to the compiled link information is provided for creation of a system link map.

Abstract: A system and method for determining end-to-end available bandwidth of a path in a packet-switched communication network. A multi-rate packet chirp injector injects probe traffic packets at different probing rates, u, into the network utilizing a probe chirp. A receiver samples time separation of the probe traffic packets to generate time-separation samples, which are used to calculate relative inter-packet separation strain, ?, samples at different probing rates. An Expectation-Maximization, EM, analyzer utilizes an EM algorithm to identify useful strain ? samples and to estimate parameters of a line l2 representing a direct linear relationship between the probing rate and the inter-packet separation strain ? at probing rates greater than a break point. A filter such as, for example, a Kalman filter then determines the available bandwidth of the network path based on the estimated parameters of the line l2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for estimating available bandwidth of sub-path of a data path. The solution is based on the sending of probe packet trains comprising inner and outer packets from a start node to an end node using different TTL values for the outer and inner packets of these probe trains. By comparing measurements using different TTL values of the inner packets, it is also possible to determine which link are the local tight link and what available bandwidth it has.

Abstract: A method of enabling traffic flow classification on a node, which may be used for controlling the traffic flows on the same node or on another node of a communication network. A first mapping process is configured to manage an operation for linking an application process to a class, and a second mapping process is configured to manage an operation for linking an application process to a unique signature. A third mapping process is configured to manage a record of accumulated linking information, such that a traffic flows associated with an application process may be identified and such that a classification of the respective traffic flow can be recognised. The accumulated classification information may then be used for controlling purposes.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for determining the forward and reverse available capacity or tight link capacity of an IP path from a single endpoint includes the steps of: transmitting, from a source IP endpoint node toward a destination IP endpoint node, a forward packet train including a first plurality of IP test packets over the forward IP path; and receiving, at the source IP endpoint node, a corresponding reverse packet train from the destination IP endpoint node, the reverse packet train including a second plurality of IP test packets over the reverse IP path each of which correspond to a respective one of the first plurality of IP test packets. For those IP path capacity measurements embodiments which are TWAMP-based, no changes are needed to the TWAMP control protocol, e.g., since exemplary embodiments make use of padding octets to transfer additional information which can be used for available IP path capacity and tight IP link capacity calculations.

Abstract: A method of identifying traffic flows is provided in a traffic generating node, where each traffic flow is being associated with an application process running on the traffic generating node. The method is configured to perform a mapping operation, such that an application process is being linked to a signature that uniquely identifies a traffic flow and an associated socket, and such that the obtained linked information is maintained in a list. The mapping operation is configured to be executed in response to recognising a change to a socket associated with the application process at the traffic generating node. Based on accumulated mapping information, one or more processing element located at the traffic generating node, or at another node, may classify and/or control traffic flows associated with any of the application processes of the traffic generating node.

Abstract: A method of measuring network performance is disclosed. A payload packet is transmitted from a sending node to a receiving node via a communication network. A reference packet is transmitted to the receiving node in connection with sending of the payload packet. Receive information related to the payload packet and to the reference packet is generated, at the receiving node. Send information related to the payload packet and to the reference packet is received, by the receiving node. Network performance is estimated by utilizing the send and receive information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a visualization platform (9) arranged to provide at least one virtual operating system instance (9A, . . . , 9N) to at least one remote network (3) over a packet-based communication network (5). The visualization platform is characterized in that it comprises at least one first termination point (4b) of a virtual private network VPN tunnel (10) which enables the establishment of at least one VPN tunnel between said at least one first termination point and at least one second termination point (4a) in said at least one remote network over said packet-based communication network; and in that it is arranged to map said at least one virtual operating system instance to said at least one first termination point of said at least one VPN tunnel. The invention also relates to a method for virtualization and a computer program product.

Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for adapting the rate at which the packets are transmitted. In one embodiment, the method includes: (a) receiving a packet; (b) determining whether the packet is high priority packet or a low priority packet; and (c) determining whether a transmission rate value, which defines the maximum rate or maximum average rate at which the node should transmit the low priority packets, should be adjusted, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on whether at least some number of high priority packets and/or bits was received since a point in time; and (d) adjusting the transmission rate value if it is determined in step (c) that the transmission rate value should be adjusted.