A packetized streaming media delivery network carries many "streams" of
differing media content. They often are from multiple sources and of
different media types. The invention consists of a scalable hardware
and/or software computing element resolving the network traffic into its
individual streams for focused, simultaneous, and continuous real-time
monitoring and analysis. The monitoring and analysis consists of delay
factor and media loss rate which measure the cumulative jitter of the
streaming media within the delivery network and the condition of the
media payload. These measurements form a powerful picture of network
problem awareness and resolution. The delay factor objectively indicates
the contribution of the network devices in the streams' path, allowing
for both problem prediction and indication. In one example, tapping a
packetized network at various locations allows for correlation of the
same-stream performance at various network points to pinpoint the
source(s) of the impairment(s).