Local Performance Test Device for Network Issue Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network performance testing methods cannot accurately determine whether performance issues are occurring on a user's local area network or service provider network, making it difficult for users to identify and address connectivity problems.
Innovation Solution
A local performance test device is configured to communicate with both access and local area networks, analyzing network traffic to determine the source of performance issues and notify users or service providers, allowing for targeted repairs and upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a test server is hosted in the service provider network or another network to perform test measurements, then network performance information can be returned, but the device cannot determine whether a performance issue is occurring on the customer's local area network, access network, or service provider network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network testing capability into multiple distributed test devices located at different network points (customer premises, access network, service provider network). Each test device independently performs measurements and reports results, enabling precise localization of performance issues to specific network segments rather than providing only aggregate network performance data.
2Productivity
If traditional test servers are used to determine network performance, then general network performance information is obtained, but the user cannot determine which specific data or network connection needs to be improved or repaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces test devices as intermediary components deployed at strategic network locations (customer premises equipment, access network nodes, service provider network nodes). These intermediaries perform localized measurements and report findings, acting as mediators between the end user and the network infrastructure to precisely identify where performance degradation occurs without requiring complex centralized analysis.
3Device complexity
If a single centralized test server is used for network performance testing, then the testing process is simple to implement, but the system cannot distinguish whether performance issues originate from the local area network, access network, or service provider network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized testing function into multiple distributed test devices positioned at different network boundaries (customer premises, access network, service provider network). This segmentation maintains relative simplicity at each location while collectively providing comprehensive network-wide diagnostic capability that precisely identifies the location and source of performance issues.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel tools and techniques are provided for testing a data connection (e.g., network connection and/or packet-based service connection) and determining a performance condition of the data connection. The data connection may depend on conditions of an access network and/or a local area network. In some embodiments, a local performance test device may be in communication with an access network and/or a local area network. The local performance test device may receive a request to test the access network and/or the local area network. The local performance test device may further be configured to analyze the access network and/or the local area network to determine whether a data connection issue is occurring on the access network and/or the local area network. Once the local performance test device determines where a performance issue is occurring, the local performance test device may send the result of the test to a requesting device.