Access Point Port Probing for Layer-2 Network Performance Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network performance monitoring technologies lack visibility into Layer-2 hops, particularly in wireless networks, which can cause delays and impairments that are difficult to identify with Layer-3 path testing.

Innovation Solution

A device generates a configuration for a specific port on an access point to enable path probing, allowing endpoint agents to capture Layer-2 link performance metrics by redirecting probe traffic through a responder on the access point, which then provides timestamps and other performance data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If Layer-3 path testing is used for network performance monitoring, then end-to-end connectivity can be tested, but visibility into Layer-2 hops and access link performance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork performance measurement precisionVSAvoidLayer-2 link information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network monitoring function into two parts: Layer-3 end-to-end path testing and Layer-2 access link testing. The access link testing is performed separately through the access point using a responder that captures test packets at the Layer-2 level, allowing independent measurement of access link performance without interfering with the overall path testing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The access point acts as an intermediary between the endpoint and the network. It receives test packets from the endpoint, captures them at the Layer-2 level, and forwards them to the network. The responder on the access point provides detailed access link performance information, serving as a mediator that bridges Layer-2 and Layer-3 monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If wireless endpoint forms Layer-2 access link with access point, then wireless connectivity is enabled, but delays and impairments on access link become hard to pin down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewireless connectivityVSAvoidaccess link performance detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by configuring the access point with a responder before the actual network performance testing. The responder is pre-configured to capture test packets and measure access link performance, so that when the endpoint sends test packets, the Layer-2 performance data is already being collected and can be immediately analyzed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The responder on the access point provides feedback about access link performance by measuring and reporting metrics such as delay and packet loss specific to the wireless link. This feedback mechanism allows the system to identify whether performance issues originate at the access link or further downstream in the network path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260067195A1Network performance monitoring with access link information

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one implementation, a device receives a control request from an endpoint agent executed by a wireless endpoint in a network. The device generates, based on the control request, a configuration for a particular port on an access point to which the wireless endpoint is connected. The device notifies the endpoint agent of the particular port via which the endpoint agent may perform path probing in the network. The device removes the configuration after the endpoint agent performs the path probing via the particular port.