Flexible Ethernet Latency Measurement Without GPS Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for measuring asymmetric uplink and downlink latency in flexible Ethernet networks rely on GPS synchronization, which is costly and prone to maintenance issues due to high invalidity rates of GPS antennas, especially over long distances.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for measuring asymmetric uplink and downlink latency in flexible Ethernet networks that determines latency differences without relying on GPS synchronization by calculating durations based on time intervals between sending and receiving reference code blocks across nodes, allowing for compensation to achieve latency symmetry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If GPS synchronization is used to measure asymmetric uplink and downlink latency, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and maintenance cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency measurement precisionVSAvoidGPS synchronization system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the latency measurement function from the GPS synchronization system. Instead of relying on GPS for time synchronization, the invention uses local time stamps at sending and receiving ends combined with round-trip time calculation to determine latency, thereby eliminating the need for complex GPS synchronization infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement mechanism using reference code blocks and time stamp exchange. The sending end attaches a time stamp when sending the service code block, the receiving end attaches a time stamp when receiving it, and they exchange these time stamps to calculate latency through mathematical computation, serving as an intermediary method that replaces GPS synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If GPS synchronization is used to measure asymmetric uplink and downlink latency, then measurement precision is improved, but maintenance cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency measurement precisionVSAvoidmaintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive GPS synchronization hardware with a software-based time stamping mechanism. Instead of maintaining costly GPS antennas and synchronization equipment, the system uses simple time stamp attachments and exchanges, dramatically reducing maintenance costs while achieving the same measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If GPS synchronization is used to measure asymmetric uplink and downlink latency, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to antenna invalidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelatency measurement precisionVSAvoidGPS antenna reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the measurement function from the unreliable GPS system. By using local time stamps and round-trip time calculation, the invention eliminates dependence on external GPS signals, thereby improving reliability while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If asymmetric latency compensation is implemented, then service quality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoidlatency compensation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary latency measurement and compensation parameter calculation before actual service transmission. By measuring asymmetric latency in advance and pre-calculating compensation values, the system can implement latency compensation without adding complexity to the main service flow, thereby improving service quality while maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3720053B1Flexible ethernet delay measurement method and related device
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3720053B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3720053B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3720053B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible Ethernet latency measurement method and a related device. The method includes: determining, by a first node, first duration based on a first downlink transmission time interval and a second downlink receiving time interval, where the first downlink transmission time interval is a time interval between a time point at which the first node obtains a first service code block and a time point at which the first node sends a first downlink sending reference code block, and the second downlink receiving time interval is a time interval between a time point at which a second node obtains the first service code block and a time point at which the second node obtains a first downlink receiving reference code block; determining, by the first node, second duration based on a first uplink transmission time interval and a second uplink receiving time interval; and calculating, by the first node, an uplink and downlink latency difference between the first node and the second node based on the first duration and the second duration. According to the embodiments of the present invention, costs for measuring an asymmetric uplink and downlink latency can be reduced.