BigPatents India

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for characterising each segment of the network path between a source host and destination host. The invention comprises collecting data by sending and receiving specific predetermined ordered groups of packets that can vary in size, number and protocol, the packets being sent from the source host and addressed to the destination node. These groups of packets include strategically arranged marker packets and load packets. The load packets typically expire at a predetermined node and the marker packets complete their journey to the destination. After expiry of the load packets, the marker packets provide a means for capturing information enabling the characterisation of each segment up to the expiry of these load packets. Further analysis of the collected information enables adjustement of the characteristics of the groups of packets resulting in an optimisation of the sampling and characterisation of the network path.