Distributed Network Measurement for Lag Source Detection and Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack effective methods to identify and mitigate sources of lag in networks with diverse device types and architectures, particularly impacting real-time applications like video conferencing and online gaming.
Innovation Solution
A distributed network of measurement points, including measurement clients and servers, is utilized to monitor network conditions and detect sources of lag such as latency, jitter, and packet loss, with a controller managing and controlling these points to implement mitigation procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional network monitoring methods are used, then network management is simple, but the ability to identify and mitigate lag sources in diverse network architectures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into multiple segments with measurement points distributed at different locations (customer premises, network edge, core network). Each measurement point independently monitors its local network conditions, and the controller aggregates data from all segments to identify lag sources. This segmentation enables precise localization of lag issues across diverse network architectures without requiring a monolithic complex monitoring system.
Solution Approach 2:
A controller acts as an intermediary between measurement points and network management systems. The controller receives measurement data from distributed measurement points, processes the information to identify lag sources, and coordinates mitigation actions. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling sophisticated lag detection and mitigation capabilities across diverse network environments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If diverse network devices and architectures are supported, then network coverage and adaptability improve, but the difficulty of managing and identifying lag sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
Measurement points are designed with universal functionality to operate across diverse network devices and architectures (routers, switches, set-top boxes, personal computers). Each measurement point can monitor multiple network parameters (latency, jitter, packet loss) and adapt to different network configurations. This universality enables the system to handle diverse network architectures while maintaining consistent lag detection capabilities through standardized measurement procedures.
3Productivity
If real-time lag detection is implemented, then application performance improves, but processing and memory resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial monitoring by focusing measurement efforts on specific network segments and parameters most likely to cause lag, rather than continuously monitoring all network traffic. Measurement points perform targeted tests (round-trip time, jitter, packet loss) on selected traffic flows and time periods. This approach provides sufficient real-time lag detection capability for performance-critical applications while reducing overall processing and memory resource consumption compared to comprehensive continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects are described that utilize a distributed network of measurement points to detect sources of lag in a network, but are not so limited. Sources of lag can be detected at particular locations in a network or multiple networks using a plurality of distributed measurement points. Each measurement point can be configured to monitor network conditions at a particular network location using a measurement client to perform a network testing procedure with a measurement stream. Each measurement point can also include a measurement server configured to receive a measurement stream from at least one measurement client. A controller is configured to manage and control one or more of the plurality of measurement clients using a secure connection. Aspects are configured to detect one or more sources of lag of a distributed network of devices and/or cause procedures to be implemented to mitigate identified sources of lag