Ethernet Ring Switching Time Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring switching time in Ethernet ring networks are inaccurate due to unsynchronized node times and reliance on constant packet transmission and reception speeds, failing to meet the precision requirements for protection switching performance evaluation.
Innovation Solution
Synchronizing local times across nodes in the Ethernet ring network by sending synchronization protocol frames, recording start and end times of switching events, and calculating the difference between the maximum end time and minimum start time to determine the switching time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional packet count method is used to measure switching time, then measurement process is simple, but measurement precision is insufficient due to unsynchronized node times and variable packet speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by synchronizing the local times of all nodes in the Ethernet ring network before performing switching time measurement. This pre-synchronization ensures that when switching events occur, all nodes are operating with a common time reference, enabling accurate timestamp comparison across different nodes without requiring complex real-time synchronization mechanisms during the measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses timestamp records as an intermediary to capture and transfer timing information between nodes. Each node records the start and end times of switching events with synchronized timestamps, and these timestamp records serve as intermediaries that can be collected and analyzed centrally to determine the actual switching time, avoiding the need for direct real-time coordination between nodes.
2Measurement precision
If node times are not synchronized, then system operation is simple, but switching time measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having each node independently record its own switching event timestamps using its local synchronized clock. Each node autonomously captures the start time when a switching event begins and the end time when it completes, then these self-recorded timestamps are collected for analysis. This eliminates the need for complex inter-node coordination mechanisms during the actual switching measurement process.
3Measurement precision
If packet transmission speed is assumed constant, then calculation process is simple, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to speed variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/packet-based measurement approach with a time-based electronic measurement system. Instead of counting packets and assuming constant transmission speed, the system uses synchronized electronic timestamps recorded at each node to directly measure the duration of switching events. This substitution of time-stamping mechanism for packet-counting mechanism eliminates the need to account for packet speed variations while providing more precise measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for measuring switching time of an Ethernet ring network, which comprises the following steps: synchronizing a local time of each node in the Ethernet ring network (301); when switching occurs in the Ethernet ring network, each node recording its own start time of the switching and end time of the switching (302); comparing all the time of the switching to obtain a maximum end time of the switching and a minimum start time of the switching among all the nodes, and calculating a difference between the maximum end time of the switching and the minimum start time of the switching (303) to serve as the switching time of the Ethernet ring network. The present invention also provides an apparatus for measuring switching time of the Ethernet ring network. By applying the method and apparatus, the switching time of the Ethernet ring network can be measured precisely, which facilitates the maintenance, fault location and service influence estimation etc. of the Ethernet ring network.