Amdocs (israel) Ltd.

Xacct Technologies, Ltd.

Ori Kushnir

Tal Givoly

Limor Schweitzer

Damian Black

A method and apparatus for reconstructing sessions on a network is described. The method allows for monitoring of quality of service at an application level as well as for understanding application specific events. This allows the method to be used to generate service detail records for usage based on application type for use in billing. It also allows the qualitative and quantitative analysis of quality of service based on application specific parameters. For example, for web applications, quality of service can be measured by the time from requesting a link till the close of the session by delivery of the whole page. Similarly, for voice over IP calls, application events like adding participants and removing participants can be detected and billed accordingly. Also, the quality of service can be measured. For example, the actual latency can be compared to a predetermined latency amount set by a provider for voice over IP calls. Additionally, service detail records can be generated based on application specific events instead of generic flows, so usage billing can be performed based on factors such as a price per minute per leg, etc, with application specific events generated each time a leg is added or dropped. Further, because the periodicity of the output can be controlled on a per application basis, output for voice over IP calls can be generated more often than for other applications. Additionally, embodiments of the invention can reconstruct sessions that are flowing across multiple network devices.

Method and apparatus for session reconstruction

A system, method and computer program product are provided for policy-based billing for a network session. Initially, a plurality of packets is received by a plurality of analyzers. Thereafter, the packets are aggregated. Next, the plurality of packets is analyzed to identify a plurality of flows and an session associated with the flows. At least one application associated with the session is also identified. The session is then reconstructed utilizing the identified application. A user associated with the session is then identified along with a policy. The user is then billed for the session in accordance with the policy.

System, method and computer program product for policy-based billing in a network architecture

A method and apparatus for reconstructing a session using a first analyzer coupled to a second analyzer is provided. Session reconstruction is performed on packets received at the first analyzer. Moreover, responsive to unsuccessful session reconstruction on the first analyzer, one or more messages are sent to the second analyzer. The one or more messages from the first analyzer to the second analyzer comprise packets received by the first analyzer which are unrecognized, and the second analyzer recognizes the unrecognized packets to successfully reconstruct the session.

A method, computer program product, and apparatus for reconstructing sessions on a network are described. The method allows for monitoring of quality of service at an application level as well as for understanding application specific events. This allows the method to be used to generate service detail records for usage based on application type for use in billing. It also allows the qualitative and quantitative analysis of quality of service based on application specific parameters. For example, for voice over IP calls, application events like adding participants and removing participants can be detected and billed accordingly. Also, the quality of service can be measured. For example, the actual latency can be compared to a predetermined latency amount set by a provider for voice over IP calls. Additionally, service detail records can be generated based on application specific events instead of generic flows, so usage billing can be performed based on factors such as a price per minute per leg, etc, with application specific events generated each time a leg is added or dropped.

Method and apparatus for session reconstruction and accounting involving VoIP calls

A system, method and computer program product are provided for gathering statistics associated with a network session. Initially, a plurality of packets is received at a plurality of analyzers. Such packets are analyzed to identify a plurality of flows. Further identified are a session associated with the plurality of flows and at least one application associated with the session. The session is then reconstructed utilizing the identified application for analysis purposes. A plurality of statistics associated with the session is then gathered based on the analysis.

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Ori Kushnir