Method and apparatus for depicting throughput on TCP and RLC layer of UMTS system

1. A method of displaying throughput of data across a protocol layer, the method comprising:

for each of a plurality of transmission intervals, displaying a first graphical indication on a first time line of the number of data units received, by a protocol layer from a higher protocol layer; and

displaying a second graphical indication on a second time line of the number of data units output by the protocol layer to a logical channel for each of a plurality of transmission intervals wherein the time covered by the first time line coincides with the time covered by the second time line.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the protocol layer is a radio link control layer.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first graphical indication comprises a block for each transmission interval during which a data unit is received.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second graphical indication comprises a block for each protocol data unit transmitted, wherein when more than one data unit is transmitted in a transmission interval, the blocks for each transmitted protocol data unit is stacked to indicate the transmission of multiple blocks.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising:

displaying an indication of the maximum number of data units that may be transmitted during a transmission interval.

6. A method, as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising:

providing a distinguishing feature to displayed block based on a type of information contained in the data unit represent by said block.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the distinguishing feature comprises color.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 6 , wherein blocks representing status PDUs, ACK, POLL, and RETRANSMISSION are provided with a distinguishing feature.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a third graphical indication on a third time line of the number of data units received, by a protocol layer from a lower protocol layer, for each of a plurality of transmission intervals.

10. A method of displaying throughput of data across a protocol layer, the method comprising:

displaying a first graphical indication of the number of data units received containing signaling information, by a protocol layer over a signaling channel, for each of a plurality of transmission intervals;

displaying a second graphical indication of the number of data units containing signaling information output by the protocol layer over a signalling channel for each of a plurality of transmission intervals;

displaying a third graphical indication of the number of data units received containing data, by a protocol layer over a data channel, for each of a plurality of transmission intervals; and

displaying a fourth graphical indication of the number of data units containing data output by the protocol layer over a data channel for each of a plurality of transmission intervals.

11. A system for displaying throughput of data across a protocol layer, the system comprising:

a probe that monitors communication in a UMTS system;

an analyzer that monitors communication to and from a protocol layer in the UTRAN of the UMTS system; and

a graphical user interface that displays a first graphical indication on a first time line of the number of data units received, by a protocol layer from a higher protocol layer, for each of a plurality of transmission intervals, and displays a second graphical indication on a second time line of the number of data units output by the protocol layer to a logical channel for each of a plurality of transmission intervals wherein the time covered by the first time line coincides with the time covered by the second time line.