Method and apparatus for measurement, analysis, and optimization of content delivery
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for measurement, analysis, and optimization of content delivery over a communications network is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus detects data packets en route over a communications network. The detected data packets are read by the apparatus, combined into application messages, and further combined into user centric events. The events are analyzed to identify metrics and statistics relating to the delivery of content over a communications network and the experience of the end user. The metrics and statistics are saved in a data storage area. When the metrics exceed a configurable threshold, the apparatus provides real-time notification of content delivery problems or end user experience problems. Alternatively, the system can take action to proactively prevent anticipated content delivery problems or end user experience problems.
1. An apparatus for measuring, analyzing, and optimizing the delivery of content over a communications network having an information server communicatively coupled with a network appliance, the apparatus comprising:
a network interface communicatively coupling the apparatus to the network;
a packet detector configured to read a data packet from the network;
a data analyzer configured to receive and combine a plurality of data packets into a datagram comprising content and additional information, combine a plurality of datagrams into an application message comprising content and additional information, identify an application related to the application message, and combine a plurality of application messages into a data object comprising a plurality of data elements;
a root analyzer configured to determine the data object type and route the data object to a sub-analyzer; and
a sub-analyzer configured to parse the data object into data elements and store the data elements in a data storage area.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the packet detector is further configured to passively read data packets from the network.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the additional information with the application message comprises a client network address and server network address combination.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein application messages with the same client network address and server network address combination are identified as related.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the client network address comprises an internet protocol address and a port number and wherein the server network address comprises an internet protocol address and a port number.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data object comprises a data element corresponding to an initial content request time and a data element corresponding to a completed content delivery time, the sub-analyzer further configured to determine a response time for delivery of the requested content.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the response time comprises a server response time.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the response time comprises a user-experienced response time.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the user-experienced response time comprises a server component and a network component.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data elements stored in the data storage area are periodically aggregated.
11. A computer implemented method for aggregating data traversing a data communication network, the method comprising:
detecting a data packet on the communications network;
combining a plurality of data packets into an application message;
identifying a plurality of related application messages;
combining the plurality of related application messages into a data object comprising a plurality of data elements;
storing the data object in a data storage area; and
periodically aggregating like data objects in said data storage area.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the detecting step comprises passively detecting the data packet on the communications network.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying a plurality of related application messages further comprises determining a client network address and a server network address for each application message.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein identifying a plurality of related application messages further comprises identifying application with the same client network address and server network address as related.
15. A computer readable medium having stored thereon one or more sequences of instructions for causing one or more microprocessors to perform the steps for aggregating data traversing a data communication network, the steps comprising:
detecting a data packet on the communications network;
combining a plurality of data packets into an application message;
identifying a plurality of related application messages;
combining the plurality of related application messages into a data object comprising a plurality of data elements;
storing the data object in a data storage area; and
periodically aggregating like data objects in said data storage area.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the step for detecting a data packet comprises passively detecting the data packet on the communications network.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step for identifying a plurality of related application messages comprises determining a client network address and a server network address for each application message.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step for identifying a plurality of related application messages further comprises identifying application with the same client network address and server network address as related.