Connectionless Loop Monitoring for Redundant IP Link Health

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing link layer impairments on active data links in VoIP communications are inefficient, costly, and prone to false positives, as they often require external servers and reduce available bandwidth, making them unsuitable for time-sensitive applications like VoIP due to potential disruptions and high resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing connectionless loops over redundant IP networks, specifically using UDP packets, to test the health of data links without relying on external servers, allowing for frequent packet transmission and internal analysis to identify packet loss, corruption, or latency, thereby enhancing the reliability of link health monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If external speed test sites are used to diagnose link layer impairments on active data links, then link performance can be measured, but available bandwidth is reduced and active data transmission is slowed down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink performance measurementVSAvoidactive data transmission speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the link testing function from external speed test sites and implements it locally using connectionless loops. The network device creates a loopback path that sends test packets through the data link and receives them back, eliminating the need to send data to external sites and thus preserving bandwidth for active data transmission while still enabling link performance measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces connectionless loops as an intermediary mechanism between the network device and the data link. Instead of directly using external speed test sites, the loop acts as a local intermediary that enables link testing by routing test packets through the link and back, allowing performance measurement without consuming external resources or reducing available bandwidth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If ICMP pings are used to detect link problems, then data transmission correctness can be identified, but detection speed is too slow for time-sensitive VoIP communications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission correctness detectionVSAvoidimpairment detection speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of the testing mechanism by using connectionless loops with configurable packet intervals and sizes, unlike fixed-parameter ICMP pings. This allows the system to send test packets at optimized intervals suitable for VoIP requirements, achieving both accurate detection of transmission correctness and fast impairment detection by adjusting the timing and frequency parameters of test packets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If remote servers are used for link testing, then link health can be monitored, but the system becomes reliant on external servers that may be unavailable or under attack

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink health monitoringVSAvoidsystem dependency on external servers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service link health monitoring where the network device performs testing autonomously using connectionless loops. The device creates local loopback paths and sends test packets through its own data links without requiring external servers. This eliminates dependency on remote infrastructure while maintaining reliable link health monitoring, as the system serves itself by using its own resources for testing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Speed

If connectionless loops over redundant IP networks are used for link monitoring, then rapid and reliable detection is achieved, but bandwidth for active data is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpairment detection speedVSAvoidavailable bandwidth for active data

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using connectionless loops that send test packets at controlled intervals rather than continuously. The loop mechanism sends only the necessary number of test packets to detect impairments rapidly, consuming minimal bandwidth while achieving fast detection. The system uses just enough testing activity to maintain link health monitoring without excessively consuming bandwidth that would be needed for active data transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250365177A1Monitoring data link health using connectionless loops over redundant IP networks

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING CO INC

AI summary

Devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media for using connectionless loops for monitoring data link health using connectionless loops over redundant Internet Protocol (IP) networks are described herein. One system includes an IP network device connected to a device used by a party to communicate with another party through an IP network, a first network device operating a first network and referring to the IP network device with a first identifier, a second network device operating a second network and referring to the IP network device with a second identifier, an intermediary device allowing communication between the first and second networks, and instructions to create a connectionless packet, send the packet through the first network addressed to the second identifier, such that the packet is routed from the first network to the intermediary device and into the second network based on the second identifier, and receive the packet.