Edge Telemetry Packet Tagging for NAT-Safe Source Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems rely solely on source IP addresses for identifying the source of telemetry data, which can lead to inaccurate identification due to network address translation (NAT) and unreliable protocols like UDP, especially in multi-tenancy scenarios, leading to potential loss of source identity and network management inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an edge device that decorates telemetry packets with a preconfigured unique device identifier (device-id) to enhance accurate identification of the source device, using reliable transport protocols like gRPC or HTTP 2.0, thereby supporting multi-tenancy and network management accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If source IP address is used for identifying source device, then identification process is simple, but identification accuracy deteriorates due to NAT translation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification process complexityVSAvoidsource device identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a source identifier (such as source ID or device ID) as an intermediary field in the telemetry packet. This intermediary carries the actual source device identity through NAT translations, while the source IP address serves as a secondary reference. The collector uses this intermediary source identifier to accurately map telemetry data back to the original source device even when IP addresses are translated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If NAT is used for network address translation, then multi-tenancy support is improved, but source device identification reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-tenancy support capabilityVSAvoidsource device identification reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding the source identifier in the telemetry packet at the point of generation, before the packet enters the NAT translation process. This ensures the source identity is captured and preserved in advance, preventing any subsequent IP address changes from affecting the ability to identify the original source device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If UDP protocol is used for telemetry data transmission, then transmission speed is improved, but data transmission reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetelemetry data transmission speedVSAvoiddata transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the collector device can send acknowledgments or request retransmission of telemetry packets that may have been lost during UDP transmission. This feedback loop compensates for the unreliability of UDP while maintaining its speed advantages, ensuring that critical telemetry data is eventually received and processed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4456506B1Edge device for source identification using source identifier

Publication Date: 2026.04.01 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC

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AI summary

A device comprises processing circuitry configured to identify a telemetry packet indicating telemetry data for a plurality of packets output by a network device of a plurality of network devices and select a source identifier for the network device from a plurality of source identifiers. The processing circuitry is further configured to modify the telemetry packet to further indicate the selected source identifier and output the modified telemetry packet.