The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2009
M. David Hanes, Lewisville, NC (US);
James C. Frauenthal, Colts Neck, NJ (US);
Michael P. Obrien, Manasquan, NJ (US);
M. David Hanes, Lewisville, NC (US);
James C. Frauenthal, Colts Neck, NJ (US);
Michael P. Obrien, Manasquan, NJ (US);
Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An example method is provided and includes identifying a change in header information within a packet of a communication flow. The change in header information reflects a predetermined type of header change that signifies a degradation condition for the communication flow. The method also includes changing a header field within an outgoing frame to initiate a trace through a network path. Diagnostic data associated with the communication flow can be collected. In more particular embodiments, the changing of the header field includes changing an Ethernet header field for a layer two frame, or changing an Internet Protocol (IP) header field for a layer three frame. Changing of the header field can also include changing a field within an outgoing layer three header to identify an IP socket associated with the communication flow. The change to the header field can be propagated by network elements along the network path.