Method and apparatus of transaction determination for non-TCP protocols

1. A method of determining transactions for non transmission control protocol (TCP) traffic on a network, wherein the method is performed in one or more processors, comprising:

determining transmission of all sequential packets for non-TCP traffic in the network from a client;

determining transmission of all sequential packets for non-TCP traffic from a server after the transmission of the all sequential packets from the client;

determining a completed transaction after each transmission of the all sequential packets for non-TCP traffic from the client and the server is determined; and

marking a beginning of a new transaction for a subsequently transmitted packet from the client, in response to determining transmission of at least one of the all sequential packets for non-TCP traffic from the server.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring said non-TCP traffic from a location closer to the server than to the client.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring said non-TCP traffic from a location closer to the client than to the server.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising considering that communication has terminated between a client and server after a timeout period of time has passed without server packets or client packets being determined.

5. An apparatus for determining transactions for non-TCP traffic on a network, comprising:

a network interface for connecting to and observing traffic on a network;

a processor;

a storage medium for storing data;

wherein said processor operates said apparatus to:

determine, for non-TCP traffic, transmission of all sequential packets from a client;

determine, for non-TCP traffic, transmission of the all sequential packets from a server after the transmission of the all sequential packets from the client;

determine a completed transaction after each transmission of the all sequential packets from the client and the server is determined; and

mark a beginning of a new transaction for a subsequently transmitted packet from the client in response to a determined transmission of at least one of the all sequential packets from the server.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said apparatus monitors said non-TCP traffic from a location closer to the server than to the client.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said apparatus monitors said non-TCP traffic from a location closer to the client than to the server.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said processor further operates said apparatus to consider that communication has terminated between a client and server after a timeout period of time has passed without server packets or client packets being determined.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a remote user interface enabling a user to remotely interact with the apparatus from location physically remote from a physical location of the apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising providing a remote user interface enabling a user to remotely observe information about determined transactions from a location physically remote from a physical location of the determined transmissions.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising recognizing plural default protocols in said traffic.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising classifying recognized protocols as streaming or non-streaming.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising enabling a user to specify a custom protocol or default protocol on a non-standard port that is to be recognized, analyzed, and classified as streaming or non-streaming.

14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising enabling a user to specify a default protocol on a non-standard port to be recognized.

15. A network test instrument for characterizing timing of non-TCP traffic on a communication network, comprising:

a network interface for connecting to and observing traffic on the network;

a processor;

a storage medium for storing data;

wherein said processor is operable to cause said network test instrument to:

determine, for non-transmission control protocol (TCP) traffic, transmission of all sequential packets from a client;

determine, for non-TCP traffic, transmission of all sequential packets from a server after the transmission of the all sequential packets from the client;

determine a complete transaction after each transmission of the all sequential packets from the client and the server is determined;

mark a beginning of a new transaction for a subsequently transmitted packet from the client in response to a determined transmission of at least one of the all sequential packets from the server; and

wherein said processer operates said network test instrument to further consider that communication has terminated between the client and the server after a timeout period of time has passed without transmission of any packets from the server and client being determined,

and wherein the network test instrument further comprises a remote user interface that enables a user to remotely interact with the network test instrument from a location physically remote from a physical location of the network test instrument.

16. The network test instrument according to claim 15 , wherein said processor further operates said network test instrument to recognize plural default protocols.

17. The network test instrument according to claim 16 , wherein processor further operates said network test instrument to classify recognized protocols as streaming or non-streaming.

18. The network test instrument according to claim 15 , wherein said processor further operates said network test instrument to enable a user to specify a custom protocol or default protocol on a non-standard port that is to be recognized, analyzed, and classified as streaming or non-streaming.

19. The network test instrument according to claim 15 , wherein said processor further operates said network test instrument to enable a user to specify a default protocol on a non-standard port to be recognized.