Application service level mediation and method of using the same

摘要

A method and apparatus for using an application layer demarcation point are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises monitoring end-to-end performance of a network application at an application demarcation point in a network, and mediating between provider infrastructure and customer infrastructure based on results of monitoring.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
monitoring, at a network device located at a demarcation point in a network, performance of a network application relative to a first network latency condition between a first transmission control protocol (TCP) host on a first side and the demarcation point and a second network latency condition between a second TCP host on a second side and the demarcation point;
wherein the first network latency condition is determined by:
recording the arrival time, at the demarcation point, of packets transmitted by the second TCP host to the first TCP host;recording the arrival time, at the demarcation point, of respective acknowledgement packets corresponding to the packets transmitted by the second TCP host; andcomputing the difference between the arrival times of the packets and corresponding acknowledgement packets;wherein the second network latency condition is determined by:
recording the arrival time, at the demarcation point, of packets transmitted by the first TCP host to the second TCP host;recording the arrival time, at the demarcation point, of respective acknowledgement packets corresponding to the packets transmitted by the first TCP host;computing the difference between the arrival times of the packets and corresponding acknowledgement packets; and ignoring duplicate data packets and acknowledgement packets transmitted by the first and second hosts.