System for triggering the control plane in an asynchronous connection-oriented transmission network

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for verifying connection characteristics of a connection-oriented transmission pathway. A receiver of a network device is configured to receive a data stream from a source network device over the pathway. The data stream including a header portion and a data portion. In response to detecting the header portion, a processor of the network device counts a number of units of data received in the data portion and measures a time span over which the data portion is received. Then a transmitter of the network device sends a response data stream, including the count of the number of units received and the measured time span, to the source network device. The source network device determines an actual bandwidth of the connection-oriented transmission pathway using these values.

1 . A network device for verifying connection characteristics of a connection-oriented transmission pathway, the network device comprising: 
 a receiver configured to receive a data stream from a source network device, the data stream transmitted along the connection-oriented transmission pathway, the data stream including a header portion and a data portion;    a processor configured to, in response to detection of the header portion of the data stream, count a number of units of data received in the data portion and further configured to measure a time span over which the data portion is received; and    a transmitter configured to send a response data stream to the source network device, the response data stream including the count of the number of units received and the measured time span, to permit the source network device to determine an actual bandwidth of the connection-oriented transmission pathway.    
   
   
       2 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the data stream is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) data stream.  
   
   
       3 . The network device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor implements a Deamon Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Test Application that controls the receiver and transmitter.  
   
   
       4 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the data stream and the response data stream have substantially identical data portions.  
   
   
       5 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a call setup message and the processor is further configured to, in response to the call setup message, send an acknowledgement message to the source network device to establish the a connection-oriented transmission pathway.  
   
   
       6 . The network device of  claim 5 , wherein the call setup message includes a desired bandwidth parameter, a quality of service parameter, and a type of connection parameter that specify desired characteristics for the connection-oriented transmission pathway.  
   
   
       7 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the source network device is configured to compare the actual bandwidth of the connection-oriented transmission pathway with a desired bandwidth for the connection-oriented transmission pathway.  
   
   
       8 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect a first time that the data stream is received at the network device and to detect a second time when the reply data stream is to be transmitted by the network device, and the processor is further configured to calculate the difference between the first time and the second time, and to include the difference in the response data stream.  
   
   
       9 . The network device of  claim 8 , wherein the the difference is adapted to be used by the source network device, along with a transmit time of the data stream and a receipt time of the response data stream, to calculate an end to end transit delay.  
   
   
       10 . A method for verifying connection characteristics of a connection-oriented transmission pathway, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a data stream from a source network device, the data stream transmitted along the connection-oriented transmission pathway, the data stream including a header portion and a data portion;    detecting the header portion of the data stream and in response counting a number of units of data received in the data portion of the data stream;    measuring a time span over which the data portion is received; and    sending a response data stream to the source network device, the response data stream including the count of the number of units received and the measured time span, to permit the source network device to determine an actual bandwidth of the connection-oriented transmission pathway.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the data stream is an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) data stream.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the steps of detecting and measuring are performed by a processor executing a Deamon Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Test Application.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data stream and the response data stream have substantially identical data portions.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a call setup message; and    in response to the call setup message, sending an acknowledgement message to the source network device to establish the connection-oriented transmission pathway.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the call setup message includes a bandwidth parameter, a quality of service parameter, and a type of connection parameter that specify desired characteristics of the network conneciton.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 comparing the actual bandwidth of the connection-oriented transmission pathway with a desired bandwidth for the connection-oriented transmission pathway.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting a first time when the data stream is received;    detecting a second time when the reply data stream is to be transmitted; and    calculating the difference between the first time and the second time; and    including the difference in the response data stream.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 calculating an end to end transit delay from the difference, a transmit time of the data stream, and a receipt time of the response data stream.    
   
   
       19 . A network device for verifying connection characteristics of a connection-oriented transmission pathway, the network device comprising: 
 means for receiving a data stream from a source network device, the data stream transmitted along the connection-oriented transmission pathway, the data stream including a header portion and a data portion;    means for detecting the header portion of the data stream and in response counting a number of units of data received in the data portion of the data stream;    means for measuring a time span over which the data portion is received; and    means for sending a response data stream to the source network device, the response data stream including the count of the number of units received and the measured time span to permit the source network device to determine a bandwidth of the connection-oriented transmission pathway.    
   
   
       20 . A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for verifying connection characteristics of a connection-oriented transmission pathway, the executable program instructions comprising program instructions configure to: 
 receive a data stream from a source network device, the data stream transmitted along the connection-oriented transmission pathway, the data stream including a header portion and a data portion;    detect the header portion of the data stream and in response counting a number of units of data received in the data portion of the data stream;    measure a time span over which the data portion is received; and    send a response data stream to the source network device, the response data stream including the count of the number of units received and the measured time span, to permit the source network device to determine a bandwidth of the connection-oriented transmission pathway.