Method and apparatus for monitoring transmission characteristics in a network

A method for monitoring transmission characteristics in a network including a media client, a media server, and a data processor, the method including establishing a connection with the data processor; establishing an end-to-end encrypted channel between the media client and the data processor for exchanging streaming media content over the connection; sending a probing message to the data processor over the channel, the probing message carrying a first timestamp indicating the sending time of the probing message; receiving a response to all of the probing message from the data processor, the response carrying a second timestamp indicating the arrival time of the probing message at the data processor; and deriving latency information, including an upstream latency between the media client and the data processor, from a difference between the second timestamp and the first timestamp.