Systems and methods for net neutrality testing

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods that may determine a net neutrality status. Server and agent of an internet network may each generate two flows of data that are transmitted/received by the server/agent, respectively. The first flow comprises an unspoofed data flow as may be transmitted over the network based on an HTTP GET command. The second flow may comprise a spoofed data flow. The second flow may emulate, or spoof, a video stream or other data flows that may be altered in the network. Server or agent may compare the first flow relative to the second flow to determine differences in performance data, from which a net neutrality status can be detected. Generally, after a measurement command is invoked, the system starts a downstream measurement. Then after completion of the downstream measurement, the system starts an upstream measurement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 invoking a measurement command by a server or an agent;   generating, by the server, a first flow comprising unspoofed data and a second flow comprising spoofed data;   transmitting downstream, by the server, the first flow and the second flow via an internet network to the agent;   generating, by the agent, a third flow comprising unspoofed data and a fourth flow comprising spoofed data;   transmitting upstream, by the agent, the third flow and the fourth flow via the internet network to the server; and   determining a downstream net neutrality status by measuring, by the server or agent, downstream performance parameters and determining if there is a difference between the first flow and the second flow, and   determining an upstream net neutrality status by measuring, by the server or agent, upstream performance parameters and determining if there is a difference between the third flow and the fourth flow.