Multi-Path Network Condition Estimation for Legacy RTP Clients

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Solution Overview

Problem

Legacy RTP clients, unaware of multi-path signaling, fail to respond to MP-RTCP messages, leading to inefficient network condition estimation and biased RTT calculations in multi-path RTP sessions, as they ignore MP-RTCP messages and may transmit feedback on different paths, complicating the determination of individual path network conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method where the server obtains client parameters to determine the order of considering paths, sends data over each path, receives feedback messages, and estimates network conditions using these messages, allowing for efficient determination of network conditions even in legacy clients, thereby improving load balancing and feedback response handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If MP-RTCP messages are used for multi-path monitoring, then network condition estimation precision is improved, but legacy clients cannot respond to these messages, causing loss of information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork condition estimation precisionVSAvoidfeedback message response

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates MP-RTCP messages into conventional RTCP messages. The server acts as an intermediary by sending conventional RTCP messages through multiple paths and mapping the collected feedback to estimate network conditions for each path, thereby enabling legacy clients to participate in multi-path monitoring without direct MP-RTCP support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter format of feedback messages by converting MP-RTCP specific parameters into conventional RTCP parameters. By modifying message parameters and using path mapping tables, the system adapts the communication protocol to be compatible with legacy clients while still achieving multi-path network condition monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If feedback messages are transmitted over different paths, then path diversity is improved, but RTT calculation accuracy deteriorates due to path confusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath diversityVSAvoidRTT calculation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the feedback collection process by path. It maintains separate path mapping tables and processes feedback messages according to their specific paths. By dividing the monitoring task into path-specific segments and using sequential consideration of paths, the system accurately attributes feedback messages to their corresponding paths, ensuring precise RTT calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary path mapping and ordering before feedback collection. It pre-establishes the correspondence between sending and receiving paths and determines an optimal consideration order for paths. This preliminary action enables accurate RTT calculation by knowing in advance which path corresponds to which feedback message.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional RTCP messages are used for compatibility, then client compatibility is improved, but network condition estimation precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclient compatibilityVSAvoidnetwork condition estimation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the server as an intermediary that translates between conventional RTCP and MP-RTCP paradigms. The server sends conventional RTCP messages for compatibility but internally maps these messages to specific paths using path mapping tables, thereby achieving both client compatibility and precise path-level network condition estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a path dimension to conventional RTCP messaging. By introducing path mapping tables and considering paths in a specific sequence, the system elevates the conventional single-path RTCP model to a multi-path model, enabling precise network condition estimation across multiple paths while maintaining protocol compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10554524B2Estimation of network conditions of individual paths in a multi-path connection involving a device not aware of multi-path signaling

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 CANON KK

AI summary

A method for estimating network conditions of a multi-path connection between a server and a client that is not aware of multi-path signalling. The server having a plurality of communication interfaces connected to a same communication interface of the client through a respective plurality of paths, the method begins, at the server, by obtaining at least one parameter characterizing the client, determining, based on the at least one obtained parameter, an order for successively considering each path of two or more paths. The method may continue for each path successively considered, sending data over at least the path considered, and receiving, over a reception path, at least one feedback message, in response to the sent data and determining network conditions of the two or more paths, using the received feedback messages.