Measurement device

Abstract

A measurement device (100) comprises: a measurement unit (113) that measures the communication quality between a first measurement endpoint node and a second measurement endpoint node, which are nodes in a routable network, by using a first measurement packet that passes through the first measurement endpoint node and the second measurement endpoint node, a second measurement packet that is sent back at the first measurement endpoint node, and a third measurement packet that is sent back at the second measurement endpoint node; and an encapsulation unit (115) that, if the route to the first measurement endpoint node includes a non-routable network, sets the first measurement packet and the second measurement packet to pass through a tunnel for which the termination is set to be a node of the routable network including the first measurement endpoint node.

Description

Measuring equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a measurement device for measuring communication quality in a network in which networks in which routing of communication packets is possible and networks in which routing of communication packets is not possible coexist.

[0002] The spread of fifth-generation mobile communication systems (5G) and e-sports has created demands for strict network requirements, such as ultra-low latency, low jitter, and high reliability. Network monitoring technology is needed to ensure these requirements. Examples of physical network monitoring technology include those described in Patent Documents 1 to 3. By connecting a measuring device to one location on the network, it is possible to measure the quality of the connected network, such as latency and connectivity, in any section of the network.

[0003] International Publication No. 2021 / 166266 International Publication No. 2021 / 166267 International Publication No. 2022 / 176123

[0004] The technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are applicable to networks that are single domains constructed solely with SR (Segment Routing). For example, the technologies cannot be applied when there is a network (e.g., an IP network) that does not support SR between the measurement device and the measurement target section. An SR-compatible network is a network in which communication packets are transferred via a route (nodes to pass through) specified in the communication packet (header). An example of an SR-compatible network is SR-MPLS (Segment Routing - Multi-Protocol Label Switching). The present invention has been made in light of this background, and aims to enable measurement of communication quality even in some networks where it is not possible to specify a route for communication packets.

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a measurement device according to the present invention comprises a measurement unit that measures communication quality between a first measurement endpoint node and a second measurement endpoint node, which are nodes in a routable network, a network in which a route for a communication packet can be specified, using a first measurement packet that passes through the first measurement endpoint node and a second measurement endpoint node, a second measurement packet that returns at the first measurement endpoint node, and a third measurement packet that returns at the second measurement endpoint node; and an encapsulation unit that, when a non-routable network, a network in which routing is not possible, configures the first measurement packet and the second measurement packet to pass through a tunnel that terminates at a node in the routable network that includes the first measurement endpoint node, and, when the non-routable network, a network in which routing is not possible, configures the first measurement packet and the third measurement packet to pass through a tunnel that terminates at a node in the routable network that includes the second measurement endpoint node,

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to measure communication quality even if it is not possible to specify a route for communication packets in some networks.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a tunnel connecting a measurement device according to the present embodiment and a network to be measured. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a tunnel connecting a measurement device according to the present embodiment and a network to be measured, and a tunnel connecting two networks to be measured. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a measurement device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a data configuration diagram of a tunnel endpoint information database according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a first measurement packet according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a first measurement packet transmitted by a node according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a first measurement packet transmitted by a node according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a route setting process according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer that realizes the functions of the measurement device according to the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0008] <<Overview of the Measurement Device>> The measurement device measures the communication quality of a section of a network that contains a mixture of routable networks, where communication packets (also simply referred to as packets) can be routed, and non-routable networks, where routing is not possible. The two nodes that are the endpoints of this section (measurement target section) are assumed to be within the routable networks.

[0009] The measurement device measures the communication quality of the measurement section using first, second, and third measurement packets. The first measurement packet leaves the measurement device, passes through one endpoint of the measurement section, enters the measurement section, leaves the other endpoint of the measurement section, and returns to the measurement device. The second measurement packet leaves the measurement device, returns at one endpoint of the measurement section, and returns to the measurement device. The third measurement packet leaves the measurement device, returns at the other endpoint of the measurement section, and returns to the measurement device.

[0010] When the first, second, and third measurement packets pass through the non-routable network, the measurement device configures the route through the non-routable network to be a tunnel, i.e., encapsulates the first, second, and third measurement packets so that they pass through the non-routable network.

[0011] Such a measurement device makes it possible to measure the communication quality of a measurement target section whose endpoints are on a routable network, even if the routable network is divided by a non-routable network.

[0012] <Network Configuration> Before describing the configuration of the measurement device 100, the configuration of the network to be measured by the measurement device 100 will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network 500 according to this embodiment. The network 500 is configured to include IP networks 510 and 520 and measurement target networks 300 and 400. The measurement target networks 300 and 400 are routable networks in which the nodes (paths) through which packets pass can be specified. The nodes through which packets pass are specified in the packet header. An example of a routable network is a network that supports SR. The IP networks 510 and 520 are networks in which routing cannot be specified.

[0013] Network 500 is a network in which routable and non-routable networks coexist. The routable networks (measurement target networks 300, 400) are separated by a non-routable network (IP network 520). The nodes that serve as endpoints of the section for which measurement device 100 measures communication quality are assumed to be within measurement target networks 300, 400. One endpoint may be within measurement target network 300, and the other endpoint may be within measurement target network 400.

[0014] The measurement target network 300 is configured to include measurement target networks 310, 320, and 330 (denoted as "Domain A," "Domain B," and "Inter-Domain" in FIG. 1). The measurement target networks 310, 320, and 330 are routable networks. The measurement target network 310 (Domain A) is configured to include nodes 1 to 8. The measurement target network 320 (Domain B) is configured to include nodes 11 to 18. The measurement target network 330 (Inter-Domain) is configured to include nodes 7 to 12.

[0015] Nodes 7 and 8 belong to measurement target networks 310 and 330 and are boundary nodes of the measurement target networks 310 and 330. Nodes 11 and 12 belong to measurement target networks 320 and 330 and are boundary nodes of the measurement target networks 320 and 330. Measurement target network 400 is configured to include measurement target networks 410 and 420 (denoted as "Domain C" and "Domain D" in FIG. 1). Measurement target networks 410 and 420 are routable networks.

[0016] The measurement target network 410 (domain C) is configured to include nodes 19 to 26. The measurement target network 420 (domain D) is configured to include nodes 27 to 34. Note that a domain is a network that serves as a unit of management in the measurement target networks 300 and 400, and each of the measurement target networks 310, 320, 330, 410, and 420 is a domain.

[0017] The measurement target networks 310, 320, and 330 are connected via nodes 7, 8, 11, and 12, which are boundary nodes between the domains, and the measurement target network 300 as a whole is a single routable network. In other words, for any two nodes in the measurement target network 300, it is possible to specify all nodes through which a packet leaving one node and arriving at the other node passes.

[0018] In contrast, the networks to be measured 410 and 420 do not have boundary nodes and are connected via IP network 520. In other words, it is not possible to specify the nodes through which a packet leaving a node in network to be measured 410 and arriving at a node in network to be measured 420 passes within IP network 520. Network to be measured 400 is not a single routable network.

[0019] The measuring device 100 is connected to the network 300 to be measured via an IP network 510. The networks 300 and 400 to be measured are connected via an IP network 520. For example, a packet arriving at the network 400 to be measured from the measuring device 100 passes through the IP network 510, the network 300 to be measured, and the IP network 520.

[0020] <<Tunnels>> Next, tunnels on the network 500 will be described. A tunnel is a virtual line connecting two nodes in the network 500, including the measurement device 100. In this embodiment, the sections of the IP networks 510 and 520 among the routes taken by the measurement packets (first measurement packet, second measurement packet, and third measurement packet, which will be described later) are considered to be tunnels. Note that sections other than the IP networks 510 and 520 may also be tunnels.

[0021] An example of a tunnel will be described below. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing tunnels 611 and 612 connecting the measurement device 100 according to this embodiment and the measurement target networks 310 and 320. The ends of tunnel 611 are the measurement device 100 and node 7. The ends of tunnel 612 are the measurement device 100 and node 11. Tunnels 611 and 612 pass through IP network 510 and measurement target network 330.

[0022] 3 is a diagram showing tunnels 621 and 622 connecting the measurement target networks 410 and 420 according to this embodiment, and tunnel 623 connecting the measurement target networks 410 and 420. The ends of tunnel 621 are the measurement device 100 and node 19. The ends of tunnel 622 are the measurement device 100 and node 27. Tunnels 621 and 622 pass through IP networks 510 and 520 and measurement target network 300. Tunnel 623 connects the measurement target networks 410 and 420, and its endpoints are nodes 19 and 27. The ends of the tunnels in this embodiment are the measurement device 100 and nodes 7, 8, 11, 12, 19, 20, 27, and 28.

[0023] 4 is a functional block diagram of the measuring device 100 according to this embodiment. The measuring device 100 is a computer, and includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a communication unit 180. A communication device included in the communication unit 180 is connected to a network 500, and is capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from nodes on the network 500.

[0024] <<Measuring Device: Storage Unit>> The storage unit 120 is configured to include storage devices such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 120 stores a network information database 130, a tunnel endpoint information database 140, and a program 128. The program 128 includes a description of the route setting process (see FIG. 10 ), which will be described later.

[0025] <Storage Unit: Network Information Database> The network information database 130 stores the nodes and links that make up the network 500, as well as connection information (topology) between the nodes and links. Information related to the nodes includes labels (identification information) that identify the nodes and the networks to which they belong (measurement target networks 310, 320, 410, 420, IP networks 510, 520).

[0026] <Storage Unit: Tunnel End Information Database> Fig. 5 is a data configuration diagram of the tunnel end information database 140 according to this embodiment. The tunnel end information database 140 is, for example, data in a table format, and one row (record) indicates a node that is the end of a tunnel in the network 500. A record in the tunnel end information database 140 includes a label that identifies the end node, a state, and a priority for each domain (network to be measured).

[0027] The status indicates whether the end node is alive or dead, and is either "UP" (alive) or "DOWN" (dead). The priority for a domain indicates the priority of the end node when sending a packet through a tunnel to a node in that domain (network to be measured). The larger the value, the higher the priority. For example, when sending a packet through a tunnel between the measurement device 100 and a node in domain A (network to be measured 310), one end of the tunnel is the measurement device 100. The other end is node 7 or node 8, which have a high priority for domain A (priority 10 in Figure 5), but node 8 is node 7 because it is in the "DOWN" status.

[0028] 4, the control unit 110 will be described. The control unit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and is provided with a topology acquisition unit 111, a tunnel monitoring unit 112, a measurement unit 113, a path calculation unit 114, and an encapsulation unit 115.

[0029] <<Control Unit: Topology Acquisition Unit>> The topology acquisition unit 111 acquires the topology of the network 500 and stores it in the network information database 130. The topology acquisition unit 111 may use information of a routing protocol such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) or ISIS (Intermediate System to Intermediate System), or may acquire the topology using link state information such as BGP-LS (Border Gateway Protocol - Link State).

[0030] <<Control Unit: Tunnel Monitoring Unit>> The tunnel monitoring unit 112 periodically monitors the alive status of each node at the end of a tunnel, and stores the results in the tunnel end information database 140 .

[0031] <<Control Unit: Measurement Unit>> The measurement unit 113 measures communication quality for the measurement target section using three measurement packets. The first measurement packet is a packet that leaves the measurement device 100, enters the measurement target section at one endpoint, leaves the measurement target section at the other endpoint, and returns to the measurement device 100. The second measurement packet is a packet that leaves the measurement device 100, turns back at one endpoint of the measurement target section, and returns to the measurement device 100. The third measurement packet is a packet that leaves the measurement device 100, turns back at the other endpoint of the measurement target section, and returns to the measurement device 100. The two endpoints of the measurement target section are nodes in the measurement target networks 300 and 400. The first, second, and third measurement packets are collectively referred to as measurement packets.

[0032] The measurement unit 113 calculates the delay in the measurement target section using the following formula: Delay = (transfer time of first probe packet) - (transfer time of second probe packet / 2) - (transfer time of third probe packet / 2).

[0033] If the first probe packet is returned, the measurement unit 113 determines that there is connectivity. If the first probe packet is not returned and the second and third probe packets are returned, the measurement unit 113 determines that there is no connectivity. If the first probe packet is not returned and neither the second nor the third probe packet is returned, the measurement unit 113 determines that the connectivity is unknown.

[0034] The measurement unit 113 may measure other communication qualities using the measurement packets. For example, the measurement unit 113 may calculate the jitter in the measurement section by repeatedly measuring the delay. The measurement unit 113 may also measure the packet loss rate by repeatedly determining whether communication is established.

[0035] <<Controller: Path Calculation Unit>> The path calculation unit 114 calculates the path between the node at the tunnel end and a node in the measurement target network 300, 400. The path calculation unit 114 also calculates the path between the endpoints of the measurement target section. The path calculation unit 114 may calculate the shortest path using Dijkstra's algorithm, or may use other methods. When the measurement packet passes through the IP networks 510, 520, the path calculation unit 114 calculates the tunnel section (endpoint) by referring to the tunnel endpoint information database 140 (see FIG. 5 ). In other words, the path calculation unit 114 calculates the endpoint of the tunnel whose status is "UP" (raw) and whose domain has a high priority for the endpoint. The tunnel endpoints in this embodiment are the measurement device 100 and nodes 7, 8, 11, 12, 19, 20, 27, and 28.

[0036] <<Control Unit: Encapsulation Unit>> The encapsulation unit 115 encapsulates the measurement packet so that it passes through a tunnel when the measurement packet passes through the IP networks 510 and 520. The encapsulation unit 115 also sets a route (nodes to pass through) for the measurement packet so that the measurement packet passes through the route calculated by the route calculation unit 114.

[0037] <<Configuration of Measurement Packet>> The following describes the encapsulated measurement packet with reference to Fig. 2, using as an example the first measurement packet 710 (see Fig. 6 described later) related to the measurement section whose endpoints are nodes 1 and 17. This first measurement packet 710 passes through the IP network 510, so it passes through tunnel 611 between the measurement device 100 and the end node of domain A (measurement target network 310) to which node 1 belongs. Similarly, it passes through tunnel 612 between the measurement device 100 and the end node of domain B (measurement target network 320) to which node 17 belongs.

[0038] The end node of domain A is node 7 of nodes 7 and 8 (see FIG. 5 ). The end node of domain B is node 11 of nodes 11 and 12. The paths from node 7, which is the end node, to node 1, which is the endpoint of the measurement section, from node 1 to node 17, which is the other endpoint, and from node 17 to node 11, which is the end node of domain B, are calculated by path calculation unit 114.

[0039] FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a first measurement packet 710 according to this embodiment. Header 711 indicates that the destination of the first measurement packet 710 is node 7. Header 712 indicates that the sender of the first measurement packet 710 is the measuring device 100. Header 713 is a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) header that encapsulates headers 714 to 725 and communication data 726. Note that in figures showing the configuration of measurement packets, including FIG. 6, the header of the data link layer (e.g., Ethernet) is omitted. The communication data 726 also includes measurement-related metadata such as measurement packet identification information, the time when the measuring device 100 sent the measurement packet, and the measurement section.

[0040] When the first probe packet 710 arrives at node 7, which is the destination and tunnel endpoint, node 7 extracts the encapsulated packet headers 714-725 and communication data 726, and forwards it to node 3, the next destination (forwarding destination), by referring to the first header 714. At this time, node 7 removes header 714. As the headers 715-723 are removed one by one, the first probe packet 710 passes through nodes 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, and 13 and arrives at node 11.

[0041] The node 11, which is the tunnel endpoint (starting point of the tunnel 612), encapsulates headers 724 and 725 and communication data 726 and transmits them to the measuring device 100. Fig. 7 shows the configuration of a first measurement packet 730 transmitted by the node 11 according to this embodiment. The node 11 transmits the first measurement packet 730 to which a header 731 indicating the destination (the measuring device 100), a header 732 indicating the source, and a header 733 which is a GRE header that encapsulates the headers 724 and 725 and the communication data 726 are added.

[0042] Next, the encapsulated measurement packet will be described with reference to Figure 3, using as an example the first measurement packet 750 (see Figure 8, described later) for the measurement section whose endpoints are nodes 25 and 33. Because this first measurement packet 750 passes through IP networks 510 and 520, it passes through tunnel 621 between the measurement device 100 and the end node of domain C (measurement target network 410), to which node 25 belongs. Similarly, it passes through tunnel 622 between the measurement device 100 and the end node of domain D (measurement target network 420), to which node 33 belongs. Furthermore, because the first measurement packet 750 passes through IP network 520 in the measurement section (nodes 25 to 33), it passes through tunnel 623 between domain C and domain D.

[0043] The end node of domain C is node 19 of nodes 19 and 20 (see FIG. 5 ). The end node of domain D is node 27 of nodes 27 and 28. The route within domain C from node 19, the end node, to node 25, the endpoint of the measurement section, and the route from node 25 to node 19, the end node, are calculated by the route calculation unit 114. Similarly, the route within domain D from node 27, the end node, to node 33, the endpoint of the measurement section, and the route from node 33 to node 27, the end node, are calculated by the route calculation unit 114.

[0044] 8 shows the configuration of a first measurement packet 750 according to this embodiment. A header 751 indicates that the destination of the first measurement packet 750 is node 19. A header 752 indicates that the source of the first measurement packet 750 is the measuring device 100. A header 753 is a GRE header that encapsulates headers 754 to 765 and communication data 766.

[0045] When the first probe packet 750 arrives at node 19, which is the destination and tunnel endpoint, node 19 extracts the encapsulated packet headers 754-765 and communication data 766, and forwards it to node 21, the next destination (forwarding destination), by referring to the first header 754. At this time, node 19 removes header 754. As the headers 755-757 are removed one by one, the first probe packet 750 passes through nodes 25 and 21 and arrives at node 19.

[0046] Node 19, which is the tunnel endpoint (starting point of tunnel 623), encapsulates headers 760 to 765 and communication data 726 and transmits them to node 27, which is the tunnel endpoint of domain D. Figure 9 shows the configuration of a first probe packet 770 transmitted by node 19 according to this embodiment. Node 19 transmits the first probe packet 770 to which a header 771 indicating the destination, a header 772 indicating the source, and a header 773, which is a GRE header that encapsulates the headers 760 to 765 and communication data 726, have been added.

[0047] After arriving at node 27, the first probe packet 770 is transferred in the same manner as the first probe packet 710 (see FIG. 6). That is, the headers 760 to 763 are removed one by one as the first probe packet 770 passes through nodes 29, 33, and 29 and arrives at node 27. Node 27 encapsulates the headers 764 and 765 and communication data 766 and transmits them to the measuring device 100.

[0048] <Route Setting Process> Fig. 10 is a flowchart of the route setting process according to this embodiment. The route setting process for the first measurement packet will be described with reference to Fig. 10. The measurement section (start point and end point) of the first measurement packet has already been determined by the measurement unit 113. The start point and end point are nodes within the measurement target networks 300 and 400.

[0049] In step S11, the path calculation unit 114 starts the process of repeating steps S12 to S15 for each of the start point and end point, which are the endpoints of the measurement section. In step S12, if there is an IP network 510, 520 (referred to as "IP network" in FIG. 10) between the measurement device 100 and the endpoint (step S12 → Yes), the path calculation unit 114 proceeds to step S13; if there is not (step S12 → No), the path calculation unit 114 proceeds to step S15.

[0050] 1, since the measuring device 100 is connected to the IP network 510, step S12 is followed by step S13. If the measuring device 100 is directly connected to the network to be measured and the endpoint is a node of the network to be measured, step S12 is followed by step S15.

[0051] In step S13, the route calculation unit 114 selects a tunnel endpoint between the measurement device 100 and the endpoint. The route calculation unit 114 selects the tunnel endpoint by referring to the measurement target network to which the endpoint belongs and the tunnel endpoint information database 140 (see FIG. 5). In step S14, the route calculation unit 114 calculates a route between the endpoint and the tunnel endpoint selected in step S13. In step S15, the route calculation unit 114 calculates a route between the measurement device 100 and the endpoint.

[0052] In step S16, if IP networks 510 and 520 exist between the end points (start point and end point) (step S16→YES), the path calculation unit 114 proceeds to step S17; if not (step S16→NO), the path calculation unit 114 proceeds to step S19. For example, if the two end points are nodes 1 and 33, the path calculation unit 114 proceeds to step S17. For example, if the two end points are nodes 1 and 17, the path calculation unit 114 proceeds to step S19.

[0053] In step S17, the route calculation unit 114 selects a tunnel termination between the endpoints. The route calculation unit 114 selects a tunnel termination by referring to the measurement target network to which the endpoint belongs and the tunnel termination information database 140. There are two tunnel terminations: the tunnel termination of the measurement target network to which the endpoint that serves as the starting point belongs, and the tunnel termination of the measurement target network to which the endpoint that serves as the ending point belongs.

[0054] In step S18, the route calculation unit 114 calculates a route between the endpoint and the tunnel termination point selected in step S17. There are two routes: one in the measurement target network to which the endpoint serving as the starting point belongs, and the other in the measurement target network to which the endpoint serving as the ending point belongs. In step S19, the route calculation unit 114 calculates a route between the endpoints.

[0055] In step S20, the encapsulation unit 115 configures the header of the first probe packet (sets the first probe packet) so that the packet passes through the tunnel endpoints and routes selected or calculated in steps S13 to S15 and S17 to S19 (see FIGS. 6 and 8).

[0056] The procedure for constructing the header of the first measurement packet has been described using Figure 10. The headers of the second and third measurement packets can be constructed in the same manner as steps S12 to S15. If there are no IP networks 510, 520 between the measurement device 100 and the endpoint, the path calculation unit 114 can calculate the path between the measurement device 100 and the endpoint, and the headers can be constructed so that the packet travels back and forth along that path.

[0057] If there is an IP network 510 or 520 between the measuring device 100 and the endpoint, the route calculation unit 114 selects the tunnel endpoint and calculates the route between the tunnel endpoint and the endpoint. The encapsulation unit 115 may construct a header including the tunnel endpoint as the destination (see header 751 in FIG. 8 ), the source (see header 752), the GRE header (see header 753), the round-trip route to the endpoint (see headers 754 to 757), and the measuring device 100 as the source (see headers 764 and 765).

[0058] <Features of the Measurement Device> The measurement device 100 measures the communication quality of a measurement target section whose endpoints are nodes in the measurement target networks 300 and 400. The measurement device 100 performs measurements using measurement packets whose routes are set to leave the measurement device 100, pass through the endpoints, and return to the measurement device 100. If there is a non-routable network (IP network 510 or 520) where a route cannot be set between the measurement device 100 and the endpoints or between the endpoints, the measurement packet is configured to pass through the endpoints using an encapsulated measurement packet (setting the measurement packet route). In this way, the measurement device 100 can measure the communication quality of a measurement target section whose endpoints are on a routeable network in a network where routeable and non-routeable networks coexist.

[0059] <<Modification: Omission of Route Setting>> In the above-described embodiment, the measurement device 100 specifies all nodes that form a route within the measurement target networks 300 and 400, which are route-settable networks (see headers 714 to 723 in FIG. 6). Depending on the node specifications, there may be an upper limit to the number of headers, making it impossible to specify all nodes on the route. The route calculation unit 114 may omit some nodes on the route in consideration of such cases. However, the route calculation unit 114 cannot omit endpoints of the measurement target section, tunnel terminations, or boundary nodes. For example, in FIG. 6, headers 714, 716, 718, 720, and 722 may be omitted.

[0060] Although several embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely illustrative and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can take on various other embodiments, and various modifications such as omissions and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention described in this specification, etc., and are included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0061] <Hardware Configuration> The measuring device 100 according to the embodiment described above is realized by a computer 900 configured as shown in Fig. 11, for example. Fig. 11 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 900 that realizes the functions of the measuring device 100 according to the embodiment described above. The computer 900 includes a CPU 901, a ROM 902, a RAM 903, an SSD 904, an input / output interface 905 (referred to as an input / output I / F (Interface) in Fig. 11), a communication interface 906 (referred to as a communication I / F in Fig. 11), and a media interface 907 (referred to as a media I / F in Fig. 11). The computer 900 may include a hard disk drive (HDD) instead of the SSD 904, or may include a HDD in addition to the SSD 904.

[0062] The CPU 901 operates based on programs stored in the ROM 902 or the SSD 904, and performs control by the control unit 110 in Fig. 4. The ROM 902 stores a boot program executed by the CPU 901 when the computer 900 starts up, programs related to the hardware of the computer 900, and the like. The CPU 901 controls an input device 910 such as a mouse or keyboard, and an output device 911 such as a display or printer, via an input / output interface 905. The CPU 901 acquires data from the input device 910 and outputs generated data to the output device 911 via the input / output interface 905.

[0063] The SSD 904 stores programs executed by the CPU 901 and data used by the programs. The communication interface 906 receives data from nodes on the network 500 and outputs it to the CPU 901, and also transmits data generated by the CPU 901 to nodes on the network 500. The media interface 907 reads programs or data stored on a recording medium 912 and outputs it to the CPU 901 via the RAM 903. The CPU 901 loads the programs from the recording medium 912 onto the RAM 903 via the media interface 907 and executes the loaded programs. The recording medium 912 may be an optical recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto Optical Disk), a magnetic recording medium, a conductive memory tape medium, or a semiconductor memory.

[0064] For example, when the computer 900 functions as the measuring device 100 according to the embodiment described above, the CPU 901 of the computer 900 executes the program 128 (see FIG. 4 ) loaded onto the RAM 903, thereby realizing the functions of the measuring device 100. The CPU 901 reads and executes the program from the recording medium 912. Alternatively, the CPU 901 may read the program from another device via a communication network, or may install and execute the program 128 from the recording medium 912 onto the SSD 904.

[0065] <Effects> The effects of the device will be described below.

[0066] The measuring device 100 according to the above embodiment includes a measuring unit 113 that measures the communication quality between a first measurement endpoint node (an endpoint of a measurement target section, for example, node 1) and a second measurement endpoint node (an endpoint of a measurement target section, for example, node 17), which are nodes in a route-specifiable network (see measurement target networks 300 and 400), a network in which the route of a communication packet can be specified, using a first measurement packet that passes through the first measurement endpoint node and the second measurement endpoint node (an endpoint of a measurement target section, for example, node 17), a second measurement packet that returns at the first measurement endpoint node, and a third measurement packet that returns at the second measurement endpoint node. The measuring device 100 is provided with an encapsulation unit 115 that, when a route to the first measurement endpoint node includes a non-routable network (see IP networks 510 and 520), which is a network where routing is not possible, configures the first measurement packet and the second measurement packet to pass through a tunnel (e.g., tunnel 611) terminating at a node of the routable network including the first measurement endpoint node, and, when the route to the second measurement endpoint node includes the non-routable network, configures the first measurement packet and the third measurement packet to pass through a tunnel (e.g., tunnel 612) terminating at a node of the routable network including the second measurement endpoint node.

[0067] According to such a measuring device 100, the communication quality between the first measurement endpoint node and the second measurement endpoint node can be measured even if there is a non-routable network between the measuring device 100 and the first measurement endpoint node or the second measurement endpoint node.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, when a non-routable network is included between a first measurement endpoint node (e.g., node 25) and a second measurement endpoint node (e.g., node 33), the encapsulation unit 115 configures the first measurement packet to pass through a tunnel (e.g., tunnel 623) terminating at a node (e.g., node 19) of the routable network including the first measurement endpoint node and a node (e.g., node 27) of the routable network including the second measurement endpoint node.

[0069] According to such a measuring device 100, the communication quality between the first measurement endpoint node and the second measurement endpoint node can be measured even if there is a non-routable network between the first measurement endpoint node and the second measurement endpoint node.

[0070] The measuring device 100 according to the embodiment includes a tunnel monitor 112 that monitors whether the nodes at the ends of the tunnels are alive or dead. The encapsulator 115 configures the first, second, and third measurement packets so that they pass through alive end nodes.

[0071] According to this measuring device 100, it is possible to measure communication quality while avoiding the failed termination, and to continue the measurement.

[0072] The encapsulation unit 115 in the above-described embodiment sets the first measurement packet so that some of the nodes between the termination (e.g., node 7) and the first measurement endpoint node (e.g., node 1), the nodes between the first measurement endpoint node (e.g., node 1) and the second measurement endpoint node (e.g., node 17), and the nodes between the second measurement endpoint node (e.g., node 17) and the termination (e.g., node 11) are not included as nodes through which the first measurement packet passes.

[0073] The measurement device 100 can reduce the number of nodes on the route included in the first measurement packet. Even if there is a limit to the number of headers in a communication packet at a node in a route-specifiable network (networks to be measured 300, 400), measurement becomes possible by reducing the number of nodes specifying the route.

[0074] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Measurement device 110 Control unit 111 Topology acquisition unit 112 Tunnel monitoring unit 113 Measurement unit 114 Route calculation unit 115 Encapsulation unit 120 Storage unit 128 Program 130 Network information database 140 Tunnel end information database 300, 310, 320, 400, 410, 420 Measurement target network (routable network) 510, 520 IP network (non-routable network) 611, 612, 621, 622, 623 Tunnel

Claims

1. A measurement device comprising: a measurement unit that measures communication quality between a first measurement endpoint node and a second measurement endpoint node, the first measurement packet passing through a first measurement endpoint node and a second measurement endpoint node, the first measurement packet passing through a routable network, a network in which a route for a communication packet can be specified, a second measurement packet returning at the first measurement endpoint node, and a third measurement packet returning at the second measurement endpoint node; and an encapsulation unit that, when a route to the first measurement endpoint node includes a non-routable network, a network in which routing is not possible, sets the first measurement packet and the second measurement packet to pass through a tunnel that terminates at a node in the routable network that includes the first measurement endpoint node; and, when a route to the second measurement endpoint node includes the non-routable network, sets the first measurement packet and the third measurement packet to pass through a tunnel that terminates at a node in the routable network that includes the second measurement endpoint node.

2. The measurement device described in claim 1, wherein the encapsulation unit configures the first measurement packet to pass through a tunnel terminating at a node of the routable network including the first measurement endpoint node and a node of the routable network including the second measurement endpoint node when a non-routable network is included between the first measurement endpoint node and the second measurement endpoint node.

3. The measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a tunnel monitoring unit that monitors the life or death of the nodes that terminate the tunnel, and the encapsulation unit sets the first measurement packet, the second measurement packet, and the third measurement packet to pass through a live termination node.

4. The measurement device described in claim 1, wherein the encapsulation unit configures the first measurement packet so as not to include, as nodes through which the first measurement packet passes, some of the nodes between the termination and the first measurement endpoint node, the nodes between the first measurement endpoint node and the second measurement endpoint node, and the nodes between the second measurement endpoint node and the termination.

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