End-to-End Latency Measurement via Management Function

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems lack a defined mechanism for end-to-end (e2e) latency measurements, which is crucial for performance assurance in 5G networks, especially for services requiring ultra-low latency and high reliability.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a management function that acts as a special service application to measure e2e latency by sending 'special' user data packets between the UE and the management function, allowing for the calculation of average and maximum e2e latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If end-to-end latency measurements are implemented in 5G networks, then performance assurance capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for special measurement packets and management functions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance assurance capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management function is designed to serve dual purposes: it acts as both a network management entity and a special service application for e2e latency measurements. By making the management function multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated measurement infrastructure, thereby improving performance assurance capability while limiting the increase in system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses existing network infrastructure and protocols to perform measurements rather than requiring entirely new external measurement tools. The management function leverages existing user plane connections and packet routing mechanisms, allowing the network to self-measure its own performance without significant additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If special user data packets are used for measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to the need for additional time stamp data in packets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvee2e latency measurement accuracyVSAvoidpacket data overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Time stamps are embedded in the measurement packets at the source before transmission begins. The management function and UE prepare the measurement packets with embedded time stamps in advance, eliminating the need for post-capture timestamping and reducing the risk of information loss during measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement packets are designed as special copies of regular user data packets, reusing existing packet structures and protocols where possible. This approach minimizes the additional information overhead by only adding necessary measurement-specific elements (time stamps) while leveraging existing packet formatting and routing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12267221B2Systems, methods, and devices for end-to-end measurements and performance data streaming

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 APPLE INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and apparatuses provide for collecting end-to-end (e2e) one way latency measurements and solutions for performance data streaming. The e2e performance measurements and performance data streaming (real-time performance measurements) may be used for performance assurance of 5G networks including network slicing.