System and Method for Detecting a Delay in a Computer Network

Abstract

Described is a system comprising a computing device, a wireless computing unit and a network management arrangement (“NMA”). The NMA receives a first signal and a second signal from the computing device. The NMA forwards the second signal to the unit and receives a third signal from the unit which is an acknowledgment of receipt of the second signal. The NMA determines a first time value indicative of a difference between a time of receipt of the first signal and a time of receipt of the second signal. The NMA compares the first time value to a first threshold range to generate a first output data. The NMA determines a second time value indicative of a difference between a time of transmission of the second signal and a time of receipt of the third signal. The NMA compares the second time value to a second threshold range to generate second output data. The NMA executes a response procedure as a function of at least one of the first and second output data.

1 . A system, comprising: 
 a computing device; and    a network management arrangement (“NMA”) receiving a first signal and a second signal from the computing device; the NMA forwarding the second signal to a wireless unit and receiving a third signal from the unit as an acknowledgment of receipt of the second signal,    wherein, the NMA determines a first time value indicative of a difference between a time of receipt of the first signal and a time of receipt of the second signal, and    wherein, the NMA compares the first time value to a first threshold range to generate a first output data, and    wherein, the NMA determines a second time value indicative of a difference between a time of transmission of the second signal and a time of receipt of the third signal, and    wherein, the NMA compares the second time value to a second threshold range to generate second output data, and    wherein, the NMA executes a response procedure as a function of at least one of the first and second output data.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing device includes at least one of a server and a database.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit includes at least one of a laser-based scanner, an image-based scanner, an RFID reader, an RFID tag, a cell phone and a PDA.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the NMA includes a switch.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first signal is an acknowledgment, the second signal is a data response, and the third signal is a further acknowledgment.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first threshold range is about 200 ms-300 ms.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second threshold is about 50 ms-100 ms.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first output data is indicative of a delay in at least one of the computing device and a communications link between the NMA and the computing device.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second output data is indicative of a delay in at least one of the unit and a communications link between the NMA and the unit.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the response procedure is an alert transmitted to at least one of the unit and the computing device, the alert including at least one of the first time value and the second time value.  
   
   
       11 . A network management arrangement, comprising: 
 means for receiving a first signal and a second signal from a computing device;    means for forwarding the second signal to a wireless unit;    means for receiving a third signal from the unit as an acknowledgment of receipt of the second signal;    means for determining a first time value indicative of a difference between a time of receipt of the first signal and a time of receipt of the second signal;    means for comparing the first time value to a first threshold range to generate a first output data;    means for determining a second time value indicative of a difference between a time of transmission of the second signal and a time of receipt of the third signal;    means for comparing the second time value to a second threshold range to generate second output data; and    means for executing a response procedure as a function of at least one of the first and second output data.    
   
   
       12 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the computing device includes at least one of a server and a database.  
   
   
       13 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the unit includes at least one of a laser-based scanner, an image-based scanner, an RFID reader, an RFID tag, a cell phone and a PDA.  
   
   
       14 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the network management arrangement includes a switch.  
   
   
       15 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the first signal is an acknowledgment, the second signal is a data response, and the third signal is a further acknowledgment.  
   
   
       16 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the first threshold range is about 200 ms-300 ms.  
   
   
       17 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the second threshold is about 50 ms-100 ms.  
   
   
       18 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the first output data is indicative of a delay in at least one of the computing device and a communications link between the network management arrangement and the computing device.  
   
   
       19 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the second output data is indicative of a delay in at least one of the unit and a communications link between the network management arrangement and the unit.  
   
   
       20 . The network management arrangement according to  claim 11 , wherein the response procedure is an alert transmitted to at least one of the unit and the computing device, the alert including at least one of the first time value and the second time value.