Method and apparatus for providing network experience testing

1 . A method comprising:

determining network identification information for an access network of a user responsive to receipt of a request from a user device to detect the access network of the user;

determining network parameters for the access network;

performing one or more additional network tests specific to categories of services or applications to obtain a qualitative assessment of capabilities of the access network relative to different categories of services or applications; and

providing a graphical display of the qualitative assessment on the user device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining network parameters comprises calling an application programming interface (API) to execute one or more of a ping test, jitter test, and download speed test.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the one or more additional network tests comprises performing a download of a predetermined file to the user device and an upload of the predetermined file from the user device.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined file comprises a file of a fixed size, and wherein the fixed size comprises about one megabyte.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the one or more additional network tests comprises performing download of a test web page having images that are retrieved from multiple different servers.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the one or more additional network tests comprises performing a series of burst-type data exchanges with the user device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the one or more additional network tests comprises each of performing a download of a predetermined file to the user device and an upload of the predetermined file from the user device, performing download of a test web page having images that are retrieved from multiple different servers, and performing a series of burst-type data exchanges with the user device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the graphical display of the qualitative assessment comprises generating an intuitive experience indicator based on a score associated with each respective one of the different categories of services or applications.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the intuitive experience indicator comprises at least two intuitively determinable indications of experiential quality.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein one of the at least two intuitively determinable indications corresponds to a general quality of user experience and the other corresponds to a numerical value indicating a level of degree corresponding to the general quality of the user experience.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a quantitative assessment of a combination of all tested parameters, wherein providing the graphical display comprises providing the graphical display to include both the qualitative assessment and the quantitative assessment.

12 . An experience tester comprising a test module configured to:

determine network identification information for an access network of a user responsive to receipt of a request from a user device to detect the access network of the user;

determine network parameters for the access network;

perform one or more additional network tests specific to categories of services or applications to obtain a qualitative assessment of the access network relative to different categories of services or applications; and

provide a graphical display of the qualitative assessment on the user device.

13 . The experience tester of claim 12 , wherein the test module is configured to determine network parameters by calling an application programming interface (API) to execute one or more of a ping test, jitter test, and download speed test.

14 . The experience tester of claim 12 , wherein the test module is configured to perform the one or more additional network tests by performing a download of a predetermined file to the user device and an upload of the predetermined file from the user device.

15 . The experience tester of claim 12 , wherein the test module is configured to perform the one or more additional network tests by performing download of a test web page having images that are retrieved from multiple different servers.

16 . The experience tester of claim 12 , wherein the test module is configured to perform the one or more additional network tests by performing a series of burst-type data exchanges with the user device.

17 . The experience tester of claim 12 , wherein the test module is configured to perform the one or more additional network tests by performing each of a download of a predetermined file to the user device and an upload of the predetermined file from the user device, a download of a test web page having images that are retrieved from multiple different servers, and a series of burst-type data exchanges with the user device.

18 . The experience tester of claim 12 , wherein the test module is configured to provide the graphical display of the qualitative assessment by generating an intuitive experience indicator based on a score associated with each respective one of the different categories of services or applications.

19 . The experience tester of claim 18 , wherein the intuitive experience indicator comprises at least two intuitively determinable indications of experiential quality, and

wherein one of the at least two intuitively determinable indications corresponds to a general quality of user experience and the other corresponds to a numerical value indicating a level of degree corresponding to the general quality of the user experience.

20 . A method comprising:

requesting, from a web service or application, execution of an experience test on an access network associated with a user launching the web service or application;

receiving results of the experience test indicating a qualitative assessment of the access network relative to different categories of services or applications; and

providing, based on a category of the web service or application and the results of the experience test, an indication to the user regarding quality of experience likely to be encountered by the user.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising selecting a mode of operation of the web service or application based on the qualitative assessment.