Multi-hop reflector sessions

1. A method for measuring one or more performance parameter relating to a test path of a network, said test path comprising an originator and multiple reflectors comprising:

generating by the originator a test protocol data unit;

transmitting said test protocol data unit along the test path;

generating a unique flow identifier uniquely identifying each reflector in the test path;

relaying by each reflector said test protocol data unit to a subsequent reflector along said test path while inserting a timestamp in said test protocol data unit associated with said unique flow identifier of the reflector;

collecting measurements of said performance parameters at each of said multiple reflectors;

inserting said collected measurements in said test protocol data unit associated with said unique flow identifier corresponding to the reflector in which that measurement was collected; and

analyzing the collected measurements relative to said test protocol data unit to measure said one or more performance parameters of said test path;

wherein each reflector, upon receiving said test protocol data unit, generates and relays a direct reply to said originator.

2. The method of claim 1 , in which said performance parameters include delay.

3. The method of claim 1 , in which said analyzing comprises computing a total two-way delay measurement of said test data protocol unit's transit along said test path from said originator to the last reflector, and back from the last reflector to said originator, based on said timestamps inserted in the test protocol data unit in both the downstream and upstream directions.

4. The method of claim 1 , in which each of said reflectors is configured with the addressing information of the next reflector in said test path, and said addressing information is used to relay the test protocol data unit to said next reflector.

5. The method of claim 3 , in which said one of said multiple reflectors retrieves a reverse address from said test protocol data unit and inserts a reverse address for said subsequent reflector along said test path, said one of said multiple reflectors utilizing said reverse address to return said test protocol data unit in the reverse direction along said test path.

6. The method of claim 1 in which said performance parameters are stored in a test data protocol unit that stores at least three timestamp values, and if said test data protocol unit does not store at least three timestamp values, said test data protocol unit is expanded to store at least three timestamp values.

7. The method of claim 1 , in which said originator pre-fills said test data protocol unit with each reflector's addressing information corresponding to the unique flow identifier and said addressing information is used to relay the test data protocol unit to the next reflector.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting by each of said reflectors said measurements of performance parameters directly back to said originator.

9. A system for measuring one or more performance parameter relating to a test path of a network, said test path comprising an originator and multiple reflectors comprising:

a test protocol data unit generated by the originator and transmitted along the test path;

a unique flow identifier uniquely identifying each reflector in the test path;

a timestamp inserted in said test protocol data unit associated with said unique flow identifier of the reflector when said test protocol data unit is relayed by one reflector to another a subsequent reflector downstream in the test path;

a collection of measurements of said performance parameters at each of said multiple reflectors inserted in said test protocol data unit associated with said unique flow identifier corresponding to the reflector in which that measurement was collected; and

said collected measurements relative to said test protocol data unit analyzed to measure the one or more performance parameter of said test path;

wherein each reflector, upon receiving said test protocol data unit, generates and relays a direct reply to said originator.

10. The system of claim 9 , in which said performance parameters include delay.

11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a total two-way delay measurement of said test data protocol unit's transit computed along said test path from said originator to the last reflector, and back from the last reflector to said originator, based on said timestamps inserted in the test protocol data unit in both the downstream and upstream directions.

12. The system of claim 9 , in which each of said reflectors is configured with the addressing information of the next reflector in said test path, and said addressing information is used to relay the test protocol data unit to said next reflector.

13. The system of claim 9 , in which said one of said multiple reflectors retrieves a reverse address from said test protocol data unit and inserts a reverse address for said subsequent reflector along said test path, said one of said multiple reflectors utilizing said reverse address to return said test protocol data unit in the reverse direction along said test path.

14. The system of claim 9 , in which said performance parameters are stored in a test data protocol unit that stores at least three timestamp values, and if said test data protocol unit does not store at least three timestamp values, said test data protocol unit is expanded to store at least three timestamp values.

15. The system of claim 9 , in which said originator pre-fills said test data protocol unit with each reflector's addressing information corresponding to the unique flow identifier, and said addressing information is used to relay the test data protocol unit to the next reflector.