Latency Measurement in IP Networks Using Control Plane Echo Messages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tools for measuring latency in wireless data networks operate at the equipment level, not at the user session level, failing to provide user experience metrics on a per-user, per-session basis, which is crucial for service providers to assess and improve network quality.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that measures and records latency between a mobile station and a packet data serving node or foreign agent, using control plane messages to compute elapsed times from standard communication messages, such as Link Control Protocol Echo messages, and records this data in usage records for billing, statistical, and reporting purposes, ensuring that latency measurements do not affect user billing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If latency measurement tools are integrated into wireless network services, then user experience measurement at session level is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the existing Link Control Protocol (LCP) Echo messages to serve dual purposes: their original function for protocol diagnostics and the new function for latency measurement. This allows the network to gain precise per-user, per-session latency measurement capabilities without adding dedicated measurement infrastructure or complexity, as the same protocol messages are reused for both purposes.
2Measurement precision
If control plane messages are used for latency measurement, then measurement accuracy is improved, but user billing may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the latency measurement function from the data plane and places it in the control plane by utilizing LCP Echo messages. These control plane messages are exchanged between the mobile station and access point independently from user data traffic. By separating measurement traffic from data traffic at the protocol level, the system achieves accurate latency measurement while ensuring that measurement messages are not billed to the user, as they are not part of the user's paid data session.
3Measurement precision
If per-user, per-session latency measurement is implemented, then service quality assessment is improved, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the mobile station and access point autonomously perform latency measurements using their existing LCP Echo message exchange mechanisms. The mobile station sends Echo Request messages and receives Echo Response messages, automatically computing round-trip latency without requiring centralized measurement systems or complex data processing infrastructure. This distributed self-service approach enables accurate per-user, per-session measurement while minimizing data processing requirements at network servers.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for measuring and recording latency in data networks. The system and method can be used to measure and record latency in a Simple IP network or a Mobile IP network. One embodiment of the present invention is a system and method for measuring latency between a first device and a second device, the first and second devices communicating in accordance with a communications specification. The system and method comprises the second device transmitting, during a communication session, a message to the first device; receiving a response message from the first device; computing an elapsed time from transmission of the message to receipt of the response message to determine the latency; and recording the latency in a latency parameter. The message and the response message are provided by the communications specification.