Link Performance Determination via End-to-End Path Measures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining link performance in data communication networks rely on real-time link performance metrics, which are often unavailable or unreliable, making it difficult to ensure end-to-end service quality and route data effectively around underperforming links.

Innovation Solution

A method that receives end-to-end path performance measures and derives link performance measures without relying on real-time link metrics, using route information to update routing rules and identify poorly performing links, allowing for proactive rerouting and improved quality of experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If real-time link performance metrics are used to determine routing decisions, then routing accuracy and service quality can be improved, but availability and reliability of performance data deteriorate because such metrics are often unavailable or unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink performance measurement accuracyVSAvoidavailability of real-time link metrics

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using end-to-end path performance measures as a mediator to infer link performance characteristics. Instead of directly measuring link performance metrics which are unavailable, the system uses available end-to-end path performance data to indirectly determine link performance, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and data availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of direct real-time link monitoring with an alternative measurement system based on end-to-end path performance observation. This substitution allows the system to obtain link performance information without relying on unavailable real-time link metrics, maintaining measurement utility while overcoming data availability constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If routing decisions are based on standard protocols minimizing hop-count, then routing simplicity and speed are improved, but ability to guarantee SLA and avoid poor performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting decision speedVSAvoidSLA guarantee capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining link performance characteristics using end-to-end path performance data before making routing decisions. This allows routing protocols to incorporate performance-aware link cost information in advance, enabling both fast routing decisions and SLA guarantee capability without the trade-off present in conventional approaches

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If per-link performance metrics are collected in real-time from network nodes, then link performance monitoring accuracy is improved, but network management complexity and overhead deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveper-link performance metric accuracyVSAvoidnetwork management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the performance measurement function from individual network nodes and consolidates it at end points. By removing the requirement for intermediate nodes to collect and report per-link metrics, the system achieves performance monitoring capability while significantly reducing network management complexity and overhead at intermediate devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If multiple services are transmitted over a single link with sufficient theoretical capacity, then link resource utilization is improved, but end-to-end performance deteriorates due to fluctuating data rates and capacity competition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink capacity utilizationVSAvoidend-to-end service performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining performance characteristics for different links individually using end-to-end path performance data. This allows the system to identify which specific links contribute to performance degradation, enabling targeted routing decisions that maintain high link utilization while protecting individual services from capacity competition on problematic links

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10637767B2Determination and use of link performance measures

Publication Date: 2020.04.28 BRITISH TELECOM PLC

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for determining and using link performance measures (DL, CL) in respect of communication links (125) in a cata communication network (100) are disclosed, where the network comprises a plurality of data-forwarding nodes (120) each capable of forwarding data along a plurality of communication links (125). Link performance measures (DL, CL) are determined in dependence on end-to-end path performance measures (Es,u) received in respect of a plurality of end-to-end paths having at least one link in common, and on the basis of route information (Rs,u) identifying the links of which those end-to-end paths are comprised. Methods are disclosed for using link performance measures in relation to decisions regarding the routing and/or re-routing of data in a network, and in relation to determining measures indicative of expected quality of experience in respect of data traversing end-to-end paths across a network.