Edge Router Sequence Number Assignment for Packet Loss Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for identifying and managing subscribers based on IP packets face challenges, such as dynamic IP address changes and the need for additional server functions, making it difficult to accurately track packet loss and being costly to implement.
Innovation Solution
An information collection system with edge routers and a relay device that assigns and transfers sequence numbers and line information to packets, allowing for accurate tracking of packet loss across the network, even with changing IP addresses, without requiring extensive modifications to existing network systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IP address-based subscriber identification is used, then subscriber identification is possible, but accurate tracking of packet loss becomes difficult due to dynamic IP address changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay device as an intermediary component between the edge router and the destination. This relay device receives packets with assigned sequence numbers from the edge router, stores them temporarily, and forwards them to the destination. By using this intermediary, the system can track packet delivery status independently of IP address changes, as the sequence numbers remain valid identifiers throughout the transmission process even when IP addresses are dynamically reassigned.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge router performs preliminary assignment of sequence numbers to packets before they are transmitted through the network. This preliminary action of tagging packets with unique sequence numbers allows the system to establish a reference framework for tracking packet delivery before any potential IP address changes occur. The sequence numbers are assigned in advance and remain associated with the original subscriber throughout the transmission, enabling accurate packet loss tracking regardless of subsequent IP address reassignments.
2Measurement precision
If RADIUS server and DHCP server functions are added to identify subscribers, then accurate subscriber identification is achieved, but system complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the subscriber identification and packet tracking functions into the existing edge router and relay device infrastructure. Instead of adding separate RADIUS and DHCP server components, the solution integrates sequence number assignment and tracking capabilities directly into the network's existing routing and relay devices. This merging approach achieves accurate subscriber identification while avoiding the complexity and cost of implementing additional dedicated server systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge router and relay device are designed to perform multiple functions: traditional packet routing, sequence number assignment, packet loss tracking, and subscriber identification. By making these existing network components multi-functional, the system achieves accurate subscriber tracking without requiring dedicated RADIUS or DHCP servers. The edge router simultaneously handles routing decisions and assigns sequence numbers, while the relay device both forwards packets and monitors their delivery status, eliminating the need for separate specialized servers.
Data Source
AI summary
A counter router (20) assigns predetermined information specifying a terminal (40) and a sequence number according to the predetermined information to a packet which is received and destined for the terminal (40). Further, the counter router (20) transfers the packet to which the predetermined information and the sequence number are assigned, to a subscriber accommodation router (10) via a relay device. Further, the subscriber accommodation router (10) stores, in an aggregation server (30), the predetermined information and the sequence number which are assigned to the packet transferred from the counter router (20).