INSTRUMENT FOR TEST AND MEASUREMENT OF ATM NETWORK VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS

摘要

A test instrument for monitoring operation of ATM communication networks is capable of identifying individual cells passing through a node to which the instrument is connected as belonging to a particular virtual connection, and transmitting test cells replacing the identified cells, transmitting modified identified cells, or augmenting cells transmitted over the identified virtual connection with operations, administration, and maintainance cells. Specific test cells can be detected by a second test instrument connected to a node elsewhere in the network for accurately monitoring specific network operating characteristics. Cell delay, cell delay variation, cell error rates, and the like may all be monitored by the test instrument according to the invention.