Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing and measuring the performance of a network for delivering multimedia is disclosed. A multimedia source is divided into data packets according to a packetizing standard. Each data packet includes a header and a payload containing a portion of the multimedia. N data packets (N>0) are grouped together into a packet bundle. Then, instrumentation is inserted into the header of at least one data packet within the packet bundle. The instrumentation includes information used in determining performance characteristics of the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring network performance. A stream of packets of encoded data, sent by a transmitter across a network, are received. The stream of packets includes (n+1) packets having transmittal timestamps from a clock local to the transmitter, where n is an integer greater than or equal to one. An (n+1)th transmittal timestamp and an nth transmittal timestamp are determined. A value is calculated based on the (n+1)th and the nth transmittal timestamps. The value corresponds to the size of a virtual buffer needed to store the packets during a measurement interval. The value is used to determine a performance measure for the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring network performance. A packet from a stream of multimedia data packets is received from across a network during a measurement interval. The time interval from the start of the measurement interval to receiving the packet is measured. The response of a buffer to the received packet is determined. The level of the buffer just before the packet arrives is calculated, based on the time interval. The level of the buffer just after the packet arrives is calculated, based on the previous level. A performance measure for the network is determined based on at least one of the two levels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring network performance. A packet from a stream of multimedia data packets is received from across a network during a measurement interval. The time interval from the start of the measurement interval to receiving the packet is measured. The response of a buffer to the received packet is determined. The level of the buffer just before the packet arrives is calculated, based on the time interval. The level of the buffer just after the packet arrives is calculated, based on the previous level. A performance measure for the network is determined based on at least one of the two levels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring network performance. A stream of packets of encoded data, sent by a transmitter across a network, are received. The stream of packets includes (n+1) packets having transmittal timestamps from a clock local to the transmitter, where n is an integer greater than or equal to one. An (n+1)th transmittal timestamp and an nth transmittal timestamp are determined. A value is calculated based on the (n+1)th and the nth transmittal timestamps. The value corresponds to the size of a virtual buffer needed to store the packets during a measurement interval. The value is used to determine a performance measure for the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing and measuring the performance of a network for delivering multimedia is disclosed. A multimedia source is divided into data packets according to a packetizing standard. Each data packet includes a header and a payload containing a portion of the multimedia. N data packets (N>0) are grouped together into a packet bundle. Then, instrumentation is inserted into the header of at least one data packet within the packet bundle. The instrumentation includes information used in determining performance characteristics of the network.