Flow Control Device RTT Measurement via Packet Notifications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems require multiple control points to measure round-trip transmission delay time (RTT) between end users, which deteriorates network efficiency and is impractical for end users without the necessary control functions, especially in wireless networks where delay measurements are affected by varying wireless quality.
Innovation Solution
A flow control device that receives packet reception notifications from a packet transfer device to determine and manage flow control rules, allowing calculation of RTT between communication devices without the need for additional control points or network resources, using OpenFlow protocols to manage packet flow and delay measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple control points are used to measure RTT between end users, then measurement accuracy is improved, but network efficiency deteriorates and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the RTT measurement function into a single flow control device that aggregates packet reception notifications from multiple packet transfer devices. Instead of requiring multiple distributed control points, the invention combines measurement capabilities at one central location, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while improving network efficiency and reducing the complexity of deploying multiple control points throughout the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control device performs multiple functions: it controls flow rules for packet transfer devices and simultaneously measures RTT between end users by analyzing packet reception notifications. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate measurement systems, reducing overall device complexity and network overhead while maintaining accurate RTT measurement capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If multiple control points are deployed for RTT measurement, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines RTT measurement functionality into a single flow control device that receives and processes notifications from multiple packet transfer devices. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating the need to deploy, configure, and maintain multiple distributed control points, while still enabling accurate RTT measurement between end users through centralized analysis of packet reception data.
3Measurement precision
If additional measurement packets are transmitted for RTT measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but network use efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the flow control device to perform RTT measurement using existing packet traffic and notification mechanisms already present in the network. By analyzing packet reception notifications that are naturally generated during normal operation, the system obtains accurate delay measurements without requiring additional measurement packets, thereby avoiding any degradation in network use efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The packet transfer device acts as an intermediary that generates notification messages containing timing information about packet receptions. These notifications serve dual purposes: they enable the flow control device to measure RTT accurately while simultaneously providing flow control functionality. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for separate measurement packets, maintaining network efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a flow control device for controlling flow control rules defining processing contents per flow in a packet transfer device for processing packets belonging to a flow between a first communication device and a second communication device, which receives a packet reception notification indicating that the packet transfer device receives a packet from at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device from the packet transfer device, determines a flow control rule to be notified to the packet transfer device in response to the received packet reception notification, manages a packet reception notification reception time when the packet reception notification is received, and calculates a first round-trip transmission delay time between two devices among the first communication device, the second communication device, and the packet transfer device based on the packet reception notification reception times.