One-Way Performance Measurement in MPLS Subnets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining one-way performance parameters in packet-switched communication subnetworks, such as MPLS networks, are inefficient as they require synchronized clocks and multiple measuring devices, making it difficult to accurately measure one-way performance metrics like transit time and packet loss between edge routers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses a single measuring device connected to one or multiple edge routers to measure one-way performance parameters by transmitting packets in a loop, allowing for the determination of calibration values across multiple routes, enabling accurate measurement of one-way performance parameters without the need for synchronized clocks or multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If synchronized clocks and multiple measuring devices are used to measure one-way performance parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement task into two parts: (1) round-trip measurement using a single device at one location, and (2) calculation of one-way parameters using the round-trip data combined with known path characteristics. This segmentation eliminates the need for synchronized clocks at multiple locations while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation step where round-trip measurement data is processed to derive one-way performance parameters. Instead of directly measuring one-way performance requiring multiple synchronized devices, the round-trip measurement serves as an intermediary that can be mathematically transformed into one-way metrics.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measuring devices with synchronized clocks are deployed, then one-way performance parameter measurement becomes possible, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single measuring device to perform what traditionally required multiple coordinated devices. The device measures round-trip parameters and uses local processing to derive one-way performance metrics, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the operational complexity of coordinating multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct one-way measurement (requiring multiple devices) to round-trip measurement (single device), then transforms the round-trip data into one-way parameters through calculation. This parameter transformation simplifies deployment while maintaining the ability to assess one-way performance.
3Device complexity
If round-trip measurement methods are used to infer one-way performance, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to path differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary actions by measuring and characterizing the network path properties before performing the main measurement. By pre-establishing knowledge of path characteristics and using systematic measurement sequences, the method compensates for path differences between forward and return journeys, improving the accuracy of one-way parameter derivation from round-trip data.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to determining one-way performance parameters during the transmission of a packet in packet-switched communication subnetworks, in particular MPLS packets in an MPLS communication subnetwork, wherein the packet is transmitted in a loop from a sender to a destination and back to the sender, passing through a number of routers, wherein a router can be an inner router or an edge router, which represents a transition between the communication subnetwork and an access network or a termination of the communication subnetwork, and wherein, after the loop has been completely traversed, a measured value belonging to the one-way performance parameter to be determined is measured and assigned to this traversed loop as a whole, wherein all routes to be traversed on the loop between any two specific (edge) routers within the loop for a packet are already determined before its transmission.that, with a number n routes within the loop, one-way performance calibration values corresponding to the one-way performance parameter to be determined can already be used with respect to n-1 routes within the loop, and the one-way performance parameter to be determined is calculated with respect to the remaining route in functional dependence on the measured performance measurement of the entire traversed loop and the one-way performance calibration values of the n-1 routes.