Method and apparatus for a keep alive probe service

Abstract

An approach is provided for determining an optimal keep-alive time period. A request is received from a probe platform for measuring one or more probe values that relate to a keep-alive timer value associated with a network. The device receiving the request then determines to measure whether the one or more probe values comprise one or more successful probe values, one or more unsuccessful probe values, or a combination thereof. The keep-alive timer is then determined based, at least in part, on a statistical analysis of the one or more probe values.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request to measure one or more probe values that relate to a keep-alive timer value associated with a network; and   determining to measure whether the one or more probe values comprise one or more successful probe values, one or more unsuccessful probe values, or a combination thereof,   wherein the keep-alive timer is determined based, at least in part, on a statistical analysis of the one or more probe values.   
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining one or more other keep-alive timer values for measurement from the one or more probe values,   wherein the one or more successful probe values include the one or more other keep-alive timer values that maintain a network connection, and wherein the one or more unsuccessful probe values include the one or more other keep-alive timer values that lead to a dropping of the network connection.   
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the statistical analysis is performed on the probe values in combination with one or more other probe values collected from one or more other devices in the network. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing, at least in part, a generation of another request for the keep-alive timer value; and   determining to use the keep-alive timer value to maintain one or more network connections.   
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 determining whether to initiate the another request based, at least in part, on a type of the one or more network connections.   
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining location information associated with a device measuring the one or more probe values; and   causing, at least in part, an association of the location information with one or more results of measuring the one or more probe values.   
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the keep-alive timer is further determined based, at least in part, on the location information. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
 receive a request to measure one or more probe values that relate to a keep-alive timer value associated with a network; and 
 determine to measure whether the one or more probe values comprise one or more successful probe values, one or more unsuccessful probe values, or a combination thereof, 
 wherein the keep-alive timer is determined based, at least in part, on a statistical analysis of the one or more probe values. 
   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determining one or more other keep-alive timer values for measurement from the one or more probe values,   wherein the one or more successful probe values include the one or more other keep-alive timer values that maintain a network connection, and wherein the one or more unsuccessful probe values include the one or more other keep-alive timer values that lead to a dropping of the network connection.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the statistical analysis is performed on the probe values in combination with one or more other probe values collected from one or more other devices in the network. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 causing, at least in part, a generation of another request for the keep-alive timer value; and   determining to use the keep-alive timer value to maintain one or more network connections.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determining whether to initiate the another request based, at least in part, on a type of the one or more network connections.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 determining location information associated with a device measuring the one or more probe values; and   causing, at least in part, an association of the location information with one or more results of measuring the one or more probe values.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the keep-alive timer is further determined based, at least in part, on the location information. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform at least the following:
 receiving a request to measure one or more probe values that relate to a keep-alive timer value associated with a network; and   determining to measure whether the one or more probe values comprise one or more successful probe values, one or more unsuccessful probe values, or a combination thereof,   wherein the keep-alive timer is determined based, at least in part, on a statistical analysis of the one or more probe values.   
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determining one or more other keep-alive timer values for measurement from the one or more probe values,   wherein the one or more successful probe values include the one or more other keep-alive timer values that maintain a network connection, and wherein the one or more unsuccessful probe values include the one or more other keep-alive timer values that lead to a dropping of the network connection.   
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the statistical analysis is performed on the probe values in combination with one or more other probe values collected from one or more other devices in the network. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 causing, at least in part, a generation of another request for the keep-alive timer value; and   determining to use the keep-alive timer value to maintain one or more network connections.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determining whether to initiate the another request based, at least in part, on a type of the one or more network connections.   
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:
 determining location information associated with a device measuring the one or more probe values; and   causing, at least in part, an association of the location information with one or more results of measuring the one or more probe values,   wherein the keep-alive timer is further determined based, at least in part, on the location information.