Adaptive Keepalive Detection for Network Link Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network link failure detection mechanisms are inefficient as they use static and uniform intervals for keepalive messages, which can lead to delayed detection and are not adaptive to the varying nature of different link types, such as LTE and DSL, resulting in prolonged downtime before fault detection.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution determines an average round-trip delay time (RTD) between network devices over a given time interval and uses this adaptive approach to send keepalive packets at the calculated interval, allowing for faster and more accurate detection of link failures by adjusting the keepalive message retry time based on historical data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If static and uniform intervals for keepalive messages are used, then the detection mechanism is simple to implement, but the detection time is delayed and not adaptive to different link types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static, uniform keepalive intervals to dynamic, adaptive intervals. The system continuously monitors round-trip delay times (RTD) and adjusts the keepalive message intervals based on historical performance data. This allows the detection mechanism to adapt to varying network conditions and different link types (e.g., LTE vs. DSL), reducing detection time while maintaining simplicity through automated adaptation rather than manual configuration.
2Ease of operation
If static and uniform intervals for keepalive messages are used, then the system is easy to configure, but it is not adaptive to varying nature of different link types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the keepalive message intervals based on measured network parameters, specifically round-trip delay time (RTD). The system calculates average RTD over time and uses this metric to adaptively set appropriate keepalive intervals for different link types. This allows the same system to be configured for various network conditions (LTE, DSL, etc.) without manual reconfiguration, as the parameters automatically change based on observed performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional hardcoded methods are used, then the implementation is straightforward, but system responsiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a closed-loop system that continuously monitors network performance (round-trip delay time) and uses this feedback to adjust keepalive message intervals. The system measures actual network conditions, compares them against historical data, and automatically adjusts the detection parameters accordingly. This feedback mechanism maintains straightforward implementation through automated decision-making while significantly improving system responsiveness by adapting to real-time network conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Some examples relate to detecting network link failure. In an example, a determination may be made at a first network device on a network regarding an average round-trip delay time (RTD) between the first network device and a second network device over a given time interval during a given period of time. Then, for the given time interval, a keepalive packet may be sent from the first network device to the second network device at the average RTD of the given time interval for a keepalive time. In response to a determination, by the first network device that there is no acknowledgement of the keepalive packet from the second network device during the keepalive time, a network link between the first network device and the second network device may be identified as failed.