Ethernet MEG Topology Construction via Measurement Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring Ethernet network performance, such as those defined by ITU Y.1731 and MEF 10.2.1, face challenges when delay and loss measurements are reported by different maintenance end points, and require provisioning of MEG configuration for all Ethernet circuits, which can be complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A metric device collects and correlates delay and loss measurements from the same maintenance entity group, allowing for automatic correlation and reporting without the need for measurements to be sent from the same end point, and constructs MEG topology dynamically from measurement reports, enabling comprehensive Ethernet performance measurements without manual provisioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If delay and loss measurements are collected from different maintenance end points, then measurement coverage is improved, but measurement correlation becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central collector as an intermediary that receives measurements from multiple maintenance end points and maintains a measurement database. This collector acts as a mediator that correlates delay and loss measurements from different end points by matching maintenance entity identifiers, eliminating the need for direct correlation between distributed end points and reducing measurement correlation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines delay measurements and loss measurements from different maintenance end points into a unified measurement database at the collector. By merging these measurements and correlating them through common maintenance entity identifiers, the system achieves comprehensive measurement coverage while simplifying the correlation process through centralized data consolidation.
2Reliability
If MEG configuration is provisioned for all Ethernet circuits, then network monitoring completeness is improved, but provisioning complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the collector automatically discovers maintenance entities and groups by processing measurements from multiple end points. The system autonomously builds MEG configurations by correlating measurements with maintenance entity identifiers without requiring manual provisioning, thereby achieving complete network monitoring while eliminating provisioning complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary automatic discovery and correlation of maintenance entities before formal MEG configuration is needed. By pre-establishing the measurement database and correlating measurements in advance, the system prepares the monitoring structure proactively, eliminating the need for complex manual provisioning operations later.
3Measurement precision
If measurements are correlated in real-time, then availability determination accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary correlation of delay and loss measurements by maintaining a measurement database that pre-associates measurements with maintenance entity identifiers and groups. This preliminary organization of data enables efficient availability determination without requiring complex real-time processing, as the correlational structure is already established before availability assessment is needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for correlating communications measurements are disclosed. In one aspect, a communications measurement of a maintenance entity (ME) is received. The communications measurement is stored and correlated with a maintenance entity group (MEG) identifier and an ME identifier received with the communications measurement. The stored communications measurement is registered with one or more previously received communications measurements. Each previously received communications measurement is associated with an availability indicator corresponding to an availability of the ME at a time the particular communications measurement was obtained. An availability of the ME during a given time interval is determined based on availability indicators of consecutive communications measurements for the ME. Availability indicators of at least one of the one or more previously received communications measurements are changed after the ME has been determined to be unavailable during the given time interval.