Network Connectivity Detection via Multi-Destination Probe Voting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network connectivity determination methods are inadequate in detecting pin-holing and walled-garden or captive-portal restrictions, leading to unreliable network connectivity assessments and potential data loss or connection interruptions.
Innovation Solution
The system determines network connectivity by transmitting requests to multiple destinations and using a majority vote among response results to assess connectivity, allowing for detection of pin-holing and prioritization of probe servers to balance load across multiple servers or CDNs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single destination is used for network connectivity testing, then the testing process is simple, but the accuracy of connectivity determination is reduced due to pin-holing and walled-garden restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connectivity testing process by dividing it into multiple independent probe requests sent to different destinations. Instead of relying on a single destination, the system sends requests to multiple destinations and aggregates the results, thereby improving measurement accuracy while managing complexity through systematic segmentation of the testing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by sending a subset of probe requests to multiple destinations rather than exhaustively testing all possible routes. The system determines connectivity based on a threshold number of successful responses, using partial information from multiple destinations to make a definitive connectivity determination, thus balancing accuracy with operational efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If multiple destinations are probed simultaneously, then connectivity determination accuracy improves, but network bandwidth and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by sending probe requests in a structured sequence rather than continuously or simultaneously. The system periodically probes multiple destinations and uses the aggregated results to determine connectivity, thereby reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption and power usage while maintaining accurate connectivity assessment through systematic periodic testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lightweight, disposable probe requests that consume minimal network bandwidth and processing resources. Each probe request is a simple, stateless operation that can be quickly sent and discarded, allowing multiple destinations to be probed without significant energy or bandwidth expenditure, thus enabling accurate connectivity determination with minimal resource loss.
3Reliability
If connectivity testing is performed frequently, then real-time connectivity status is maintained, but network throughput and power efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by implementing scheduled connectivity testing at optimized intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The system determines when connectivity testing is necessary based on network activity patterns and environmental conditions, performing tests periodically to maintain real-time awareness while minimizing interruptions to network throughput and reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining connectivity status information in a cached or remembered state between periodic tests. Rather than performing full connectivity tests continuously, the system maintains the last known good state and only retests when necessary, ensuring continuous reliable connectivity information is available while preserving network throughput and power efficiency during intervals between tests.
Data Source
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AI summary
A state of network connectivity of a network interface can be determined by transmitting, via a network interface, requests having respective destinations. A computing device can determine that respective results corresponding to the requests include at least some inconsistent results. A further request can be transmitted having a respective destination. A state of network connectivity of the network interface can be determined based at least in part on a result corresponding to the further request and at least one of the inconsistent results. Destinations can be selected based on respective priority values. An indication can be transmitted of a destination that does not correspond to the state of network connectivity.