Abstract: A method for performing a performance measurement in a communication network. Each measurement point in the network identifies packets of a multipoint packet flow and selects therefrom a number of samples, based on the value of a sampling signature calculated by applying a hash function to a bit mask in each identified packet. For each sample, a performance parameter and the packet's content are provided to a management server. The management server identifies a cluster of measurement points such that each identified packet of the multipoint packet flow received by a cluster's input measurement point is also received at a cluster's output measurement point. Amongst the performance parameters provided by the cluster's measurement points, the performance parameters relating to samples belonging to a certain packet sub-flow are identified, based on the packet's content. Then, a performance measurement is performed on the packet sub-flow.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method for enabling a performance measurement in a packet-switched communication network. A first node and a second node exchange packets comprising a marking value, which they alternately switch between two alternative marking values. The second node in particular switches the marking value applicable to the packets addressed to the other node depending on the marking value comprised in packets received therefrom. The first node writes a sampling value in one packet addressed to the second node for each marking period. Upon reception of each packet comprising the sampling value, the second node copies the sampling value in a packet addressed to the first node. One or more measurement points may be provided between the two nodes, which provide performance parameters for the packets comprising the sampling value in both directions. Such performance parameters may be used for providing round trip time measurements.

Abstract: A method for enabling a performance measurement on packet flow transmitted through a communication network. A marking value is periodically switched in the packets with a marking period Tm. The packet flow is then divided into blocks of duration Ts (synchronization period). Each synchronization period comprises an integer number of marking periods. Two or more measurement points on the path of the packet flow may provide a performance parameter for each marking period and associate thereto a synchronization information generated based on their local clocks and relating to the synchronization period containing the marking period to which the performance parameter relates; and a sequence information indicating the marking period's position within the synchronization period. A management server may identify performance parameters provided by different measurement points and relating to a same marking period based on the synchronization information and the sequence information.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for processing packets transmitted in a packet-switched communication network includes a sampling module that identifies amongst the received packets a plurality of samples distributed in a statistically uniform way amongst at least two non-overlapping sample sequences. Each sample sequence is then subjected to at least one identification rule, thereby identifying in the sample sequence at least one sub-sequence of samples fulfilling the at least one identification rule. The identification rule comprises a condition on the value of at least one identification field of the packets. Then, at least one parameter indicative of a behavior of the at least one sub-sequence of samples is provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a bandwidth over a communication link connecting first and second client network elements. The first element is configured to send to the second element data traffic including at least a best effort traffic flow of packets. The method includes: at the first element, marking a number of best effort packets with a control code, the control code taking values within a predetermined ordered control sequence of values, and sending the marked packets to the second element through the link; at the second element, checking the control code of each marked best effort packet and, in case of detection of a missing value of the control code, sending to the first element a packet containing a feedback code indicative of an adjustment of the bandwidth; and, at the first element, upon reception of the feedback code, adjusting the bandwidth.

Abstract: A method for performing a performance measurement in a communication network. Each measurement point in the network identifies packets of a multipoint packet flow and selects therefrom a number of samples, based on the value of a sampling signature calculated by applying a hash function to a bit mask in each identified packet. For each sample, a performance parameter and the packet's content are provided to a management server. The management server identifies a cluster of measurement points such that each identified packet of the multipoint packet flow received by a cluster's input measurement point is also received at a cluster's output measurement point. Amongst the performance parameters provided by the cluster's measurement points, the performance parameters relating to samples belonging to a certain packet sub-flow are identified, based on the packet's content. Then, a performance measurement is performed on the packet sub-flow.

Abstract: A method for enabling a performance measurement on packet flow transmitted through a communication network. A marking value is periodically switched in the packets with a marking period Tm. The packet flow is then divided into blocks of duration Ts (synchronization period). Each synchronization period comprises an integer number of marking periods. Two or more measurement points on the path of the packet flow may provide a performance parameter for each marking period and associate thereto a synchronization information generated based on their local clocks and relating to the synchronization period containing the marking period to which the performance parameter relates; and a sequence information indicating the marking period's position within the synchronization period. A management server may identify performance parameters provided by different measurement points and relating to a same marking period based on the synchronization information and the sequence information.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method for enabling a performance measurement in a packet-switched communication network. A first node and a second node exchange packets comprising a marking value, which they alternately switch between two alternative marking values. The second node in particular switches the marking value applicable to the packets addressed to the other node depending on the marking value comprised in packets received therefrom. The first node writes a sampling value in one packet addressed to the second node for each marking period. Upon reception of each packet comprising the sampling value, the second node copies the sampling value in a packet addressed to the first node. One or more measurement points may be provided between the two nodes, which provide performance parameters for the packets comprising the sampling value in both directions. Such performance parameters may be used for providing round trip time measurements.

Abstract: A method for performing a performance measurement on a packet flow is based on division of the packet flow to be measured in alternating blocks. A couple of connections are provided, originated by respective originating network points (physical or logical interface or port) and terminated by respective terminating network points (physical or logical interface or port). Division of the packet flow to be measured is implemented by periodically switching transmission of the packets between the two originating network points. At each network point originating or terminating a connection, a measurement point is implemented which provides performance parameters (counter and/or timestamp) relating to the packets to be transmitted by or which have been received from the related connection. The performance measurement on the packet flow is then performed based on the performance parameters provided by the measurement points.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a network apparatus of a communication network. The system includes a network management center including a management-on-board manager MoB-M and a management-on-board agent MoB-A executed at the network apparatus. During its execution, the agent MoB-A performs at least part of a management task on the network apparatus. Besides, during its execution the agent MoB-A retrieves at least one instruction from the manager MoB-M, and executes it for completing the management task. This way, the manager MoB-M may dynamically adapt the behavior of the agent MoB-A to unforeseen events or changes occurring in the network, without the need to rewrite the whole agent logic.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring the performance of a mobile communication system. The apparatus includes two measurement mobile interfaces and a measurement probe. The probe is connected to the backhauling interface of a base station of the system. Then, one measurement mobile interface transmits packets to the other measurement mobile interface via the base station. These packets are received at the base station, forwarded to the packet gateway of the system, sent back to the same base station, and finally received at the destination measurement mobile interface. Since the measurement probe belongs to the same apparatus as the mobile interfaces, it may detect the packets as transmitted/received at the backhauling interface. The probe then generates performance parameters relating to the packets as transmitted/received by the mobile interfaces and/or as detected at the backhauling interface. The system performance is then measured based on such parameters.

Abstract: In a method for measurement of a round-trip performance in a packet-switched communication network, a measurement device cooperating with the communication network generates a flow of test packets formatted according to the network protocol supported by the network and comprising the address of the measurement device as destination address. The test packets are then transmitted within a tunnel set up in the network and the measurement device generates one or more transmission parameters. At the end of the tunnel, the test packets are extracted therefrom and sent back to the measurement device by the forwarding function of the network protocol supported by the network. Upon receipt of the test packets, it generates one or more reception parameters, which are then combined with the transmission parameters to provide the round-trip performance measurement.

Abstract: A method for performing a performance measurement on a packet flow is based on division of the packet flow to be measured in alternating blocks. A couple of connections are provided, originated by respective originating network points (physical or logical interface or port) and terminated by respective terminating network points (physical or logical interface or port). Division of the packet flow to be measured is implemented by periodically switching transmission of the packets between the two originating network points. At each network point originating or terminating a connection, a measurement point is implemented which provides performance parameters (counter and/or timestamp) relating to the packets to be transmitted by or which have been received from the related connection. The performance measurement on the packet flow is then performed based on the performance parameters provided by the measurement points.

Abstract: A method for controlling a bandwidth over a communication link connecting first and second client network elements. The first element is configured to send to the second element data traffic including at least a best effort traffic flow of packets. The method includes: at the first element, marking a number of best effort packets with a control code, the control code taking values within a predetermined ordered control sequence of values, and sending the marked packets to the second element through the link; at the second element, checking the control code of each marked best effort packet and, in case of detection of a missing value of the control code, sending to the first element a packet containing a feedback code indicative of an adjustment of the bandwidth; and, at the first element, upon reception of the feedback code, adjusting the bandwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring the performance of a mobile communication system. The apparatus includes two measurement mobile interfaces and a measurement probe. The probe is connected to the backhauling interface of a base station of the system. Then, one measurement mobile interface transmits packets to the other measurement mobile interface via the base station. These packets are received at the base station, forwarded to the packet gateway of the system, sent back to the same base station, and finally received at the destination measurement mobile interface. Since the measurement probe belongs to the same apparatus as the mobile interfaces, it may detect the packets as transmitted/received at the backhauling interface. The probe then generates performance parameters relating to the packets as transmitted/received by the mobile interfaces and/or as detected at the backhauling interface. The system performance is then measured based on such parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a network apparatus of a communication network. The system includes a network management center including a management-on-board manager MoB-M and a management-on-board agent MoB-A executed at the network apparatus. During its execution, the agent MoB-A performs at least part of a management task on the network apparatus. Besides, during its execution the agent MoB-A retrieves at least one instruction from the manager MoB-M, and executes it for completing the management task. This way, the manager MoB-M may dynamically adapt the behavior of the agent MoB-A to unforeseen events or changes occurring in the network, without the need to rewrite the whole agent logic.