Inter-Packet Gap Metric for Network Performance Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for collecting packet flow metrics in networks are inadequate due to significant overhead, limited protocol support, deployment difficulties, and a burden on network nodes, making it challenging to monitor network performance effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of inter-packet gap value measurement techniques, where network nodes calculate and categorize inter-packet gap values into buckets, allowing for the collection and analysis of metric data to detect network degradation, congestion, or Quality of Service throttling, using a computer system to visualize and report this data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If RTP jitter measurement is used to monitor network performance, then measurement precision is improved, but network overhead increases due to timestamp requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the data plane by using out-of-band management channels to transport measurement data. This separates the performance monitoring traffic from the actual data traffic, eliminating the need to add timestamps or other overhead to every data packet while still enabling precise jitter measurement through inter-packet gap analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary management channel that acts as a mediator between the data plane and the monitoring system. This intermediary carries measurement data separately from the data traffic, allowing network performance monitoring without adding overhead to the actual data packets.
2Measurement precision
If UDP jitter measurement is used to detect network issues, then measurement capability is improved, but deployment complexity increases due to active probe requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables network elements to perform self-measurement by automatically collecting inter-packet gap data from passing traffic and reporting it through management channels. This eliminates the need for external active probes or manual intervention, allowing the network to monitor itself autonomously and simplifying deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures management channels and measurement parameters in advance, so that when traffic flows through the network, measurements are automatically performed without requiring real-time setup or active probing. The measurement infrastructure is prepared beforehand, enabling immediate deployment.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive packet flow metrics are collected to enhance network visibility, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases at network nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function into two parts: data collection at network elements and data analysis at management stations. Network nodes only need to collect simple inter-packet gap data and forward it through management channels, while complex analysis and visualization are performed remotely, reducing the processing burden on individual network devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the measurement analysis from the data plane to the management plane, creating a separate dimensional space for monitoring activities. This allows comprehensive metric collection without increasing the complexity of data forwarding operations at network nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for measuring network performance using the inter-packet gap metric are described. According to one approach, a computer-implemented method comprises a plurality of inter-packet gap buckets, along with their associated counts and inter-packet gap value ranges, being created and stored at a network node. Two or more network packets are received at a network node as a part of at least one unidirectional flow. For each successively received packet, the network node then determines the inter-packet gap value. Next, the network node compares the inter-packet gap value with the different discrete inter-packet gap value ranges that are associated with the stored inter-packet gap buckets. If the inter-packet gap value is included in an inter-packet gap value range associated with a particular inter-packet gap bucket then the that bucket is updated. The network node then exports the inter-packet gap metric data to a computer system.