System and method for response time measurement in high speed data

Abstract

A high speed data communication network is adapted to monitor and measure response time between a work station and a central host or processor coupled to the data communications network through a media, such as token ring, FDDI, Ethernet, etc. As the workstation communicates with the processor, a flag is set in a packet transmitted to the processor. The packet traverses the network to an application in the processor and a response returns which includes a flag. Each flag is a specific bit pattern. A programmable digital filter recognizes the flags and counts the number of bits on the network between the flags in the forward and reverse direction. By counting the bits on the media, when the flag moves in one direction or another, the total number of bits transmitted on the media between the two intervening flags is determined. The media speed is used as a clock. The number of bits counted divided by the media speed determines the response time with fine resolutions. All of the measurements are done in near real time without the use of clocks or off-line processing of data to determine response time. The measurements can be done for half duplex or full duplex operation of a network. The measurements can be also used in the network to initiate performance changes according to the response time.