IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,562,955
Granted Patent B1
US 12,562,955 · App. 18/811,103 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Integrated active network performance monitoring across vantage points

Inventors: Ryan Michael Mack (Guilford, CT); Filippo Ardito (Mont-sur-Rollem, CH); Nikhil Benjamin Pulimood (New York, NY)
Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
H04L41/0631H04L41/5009H04L67/51
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,562,955
App. No.
18/811,103
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

In one implementation, a device identifies a node in a network that is not running a particular type of network metric monitoring agent. The device requests network metrics from the node collected using a network metric monitoring approach that differs from that of the particular type of network metric monitoring agent. The device obtaining, by the device, the network metrics collected by the node. The device combines the network metrics collected by the node with results from an agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent, to identify a root cause of a performance degradation in the network.

Claims (36)

1 . A method, comprising:

identifying, by a device, a node in a network that is not running a particular type of network metric monitoring agent;

requesting, by the device, network metrics from the node collected using a network metric monitoring approach that differs from that of the particular type of network metric monitoring agent;

obtaining, by the device, the network metrics collected by the node; and

combining, by the device, the network metrics collected by the node with results from an agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent, to identify a root cause of a performance degradation in the network.

2 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the node is identified using a simple network management protocol (SNMP) discovery operation within a particular Internet Protocol address range.

3 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the device requests and obtains the network metrics from the node via the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent.

4 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the network metric monitoring approach is Internet Protocol Service Level Agreement (IP SLA) monitoring.

5 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent is executed by a second node in the network.

6 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the results from the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent comprise path trace results.

7 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the device is a supervisory device for a plurality of agents of the particular type of network monitoring agent deployed in the network.

8 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the network metrics collected by the node include one or more of: latency, jitter, or loss to another node in the network that is also not running the particular type of network metric monitoring agent.

9 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent is run in a virtual appliance off a path in the network being monitored by the node.

10 . The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

generating an alert when a connection between the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent and the node is interrupted.

11 . An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces;

a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes; and

a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:

identify a node in a network that is not running a particular type of network metric monitoring agent;

request network metrics from the node collected using a network metric monitoring approach that differs from that of the particular type of network metric monitoring agent;

obtain the network metrics collected by the node; and

combine the network metrics collected by the node with results from an agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent, to identify a root cause of a performance degradation in the network.

12 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the node is identified using a simple network management protocol (SNMP) discovery operation within a particular Internet Protocol address range.

13 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the apparatus requests and obtains the network metrics from the node via the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent.

14 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the network metric monitoring approach is Internet Protocol Service Level Agreement (IP SLA) monitoring.

15 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent is executed by a second node in the network.

16 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the results from the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent comprise path trace results.

17 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is a supervisory device for a plurality of agents of the particular type of network monitoring agent deployed in the network.

18 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the network metrics collected by the node include one or more of: latency, jitter, or loss to another node in the network that is also not running the particular type of network metric monitoring agent.

19 . The apparatus as in claim 11 , wherein the agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent is run in a virtual appliance off a path in the network being monitored by the node.

20 . A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a device to execute a process comprising:

identifying a node in a network that is not running a particular type of network metric monitoring agent;

configuring the node to collect network metrics;

obtaining the network metrics collected by the node; and

combining the network metrics collected by the node with results from an agent of the particular type of network monitoring agent to identify a root cause of a performance degradation in the network.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: MACK, RYAN MICHAEL; ARDITO, FILIPPO; PULIMOOD, NIKHIL BENJAMIN
To: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 068357/0758 →
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