Systems and methods of measuring communication performance

1. A device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

storing a user data frame, wherein the user data frame comprises a first portion that includes traffic data;

adding a set of stuff bits into a second portion of the user data frame to generate a modified user data frame having the set of stuff bits arranged in a detectible pattern, wherein a count of the set of stuff bits is associated with a measure of transport utilization of a data communication channel over which the user data frame is transported; and

sending the count of the set of stuff bits to an element manager to determine the measure of transport utilization.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the modified user data frame has a fixed size data payload.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first output interface coupled to the element manager.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a second output interface coupled to a demultiplexer via a communication path.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the operations further include:

storing a second user data frame, wherein the second user data frame includes a third portion that includes second traffic data; and

adding a second set of stuff bits into a fourth portion of the second user data frame to generate a second modified user data frame having the second set of stuff bits.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the second set of stuff bits is arranged in the detectible pattern.

7. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

storing a user data frame in a memory, wherein the user data frame comprises a first portion that includes traffic data;

adding a set of stuff bits into a second portion of the user data frame to generate a modified user data frame having the set of stuff bits arranged in a detectable pattern, wherein a count of the set of stuff bits is associated with a measure of transport utilization of a data communication channel used to communicate the modified user data frame; and

sending the count of the set of stuff bits to an element manager to determine the measure of transport utilization.

8. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the modified user data frame has a fixed size data payload.

9. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the user data frame has a data payload size, and wherein the modified user data frame has the data payload size.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the count of the set of stuff-bits is inversely proportional to the measure of transport utilization.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise identifying the second portion of the user data frame.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the operations further comprise sending the modified user data frame to a device.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 12 , wherein the device comprises a demultiplexer.

14. A method comprising:

storing a user data frame to a memory, wherein the user data frame comprises a first portion that includes traffic data;

adding a set of stuff bits into a second portion of the user data frame to generate a modified user data frame having the set of stuff bits arranged in a detectable pattern, wherein a count of the set of stuff bits is associated with a measure of transport utilization of a data communication channel used to communicate the modified user data frame; and

sending the count of the set of stuff bits to an element manager to determine the measure of transport utilization.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the modified user data frame has a fixed size data payload.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the count of the set of stuff bits is inversely proportional to the measure of transport utilization.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising identifying the second portion of the user data frame.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the user data frame has a data payload size, and wherein the modified user data frame has the data payload size.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sending the modified user data frame to a device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the device comprises a demultiplexer.