Network Connectivity Identification via Latency Fingerprinting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service providers face difficulties in identifying network connectivity types within customer premises due to variations in home network technologies and fluctuating performance, making it challenging to troubleshoot issues like IPTV service failures, as they lack visibility beyond the gateway or router.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the transmission of data packets with fixed inter-packet gaps to measure latency values, generating a fingerprint from the distribution of latency values for different packet sizes, and comparing it with predetermined fingerprints to determine the network connectivity technology used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If bandwidth or throughput measurement is used to identify network technology, then identification can be performed, but the identification accuracy deteriorates due to dramatic fluctuations in bandwidth over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from bandwidth/throughput to latency. By measuring the time delay of packets traversing the network link rather than the data rate, the system obtains a stable characteristic that does not fluctuate dramatically over time, thereby resolving the identification accuracy problem caused by unstable bandwidth measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a fingerprint profile that copies the characteristic latency behavior of different network technologies. By measuring and storing the latency distribution patterns of various network types (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Powerline) under different load conditions, the system builds reference profiles that can be matched against live measurements for accurate identification
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network connectivity technologies are supported, then versatility is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the specific technology used increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification process into distinct phases: packet transmission with controlled inter-packet gaps, latency measurement, fingerprint generation, and pattern matching. This segmentation breaks down the complex task of identifying among multiple network technologies into manageable steps, reducing the overall difficulty while maintaining support for various technologies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces latency fingerprinting as an intermediary measurement mechanism between the network link and the identification process. This intermediary approach uses the inherent latency characteristics of different network technologies as a mediator that reveals the underlying technology type without requiring direct inspection of the physical medium or protocol stacks
3Measurement precision
If packet size variation is used to generate fingerprints, then identification accuracy is improved, but the measurement time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using a limited set of packet sizes (small, medium, large) rather than exhaustively testing all possible packet sizes. This partial approach captures the essential latency behavior patterns of different network technologies under varying load conditions without requiring excessive measurement time, achieving good identification accuracy with minimal testing
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples of the present invention present a method of determining the network connectivity technology being used in a network link. The method sends test packets from the router to an end device, such as a set-top box, and measures the latency in the received packets at the end device. The packets are gradually increased in size. The increasing packet size effectively results in increasing the load on the network link between the router and the end device. The latency characteristics vary as a function of packet size (representing increasing network load), and result in a signature or "fingerprint" for the network connectivity technology being used for the link, across the load cycle. The signature can be compared to predetermined models to identify the specific technology used. The technique can be enabled using software modules installed at the gateway/router and at the end-point, such as a set-top box.