Network Latency Measurement Using Trigger Packets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining end-to-end latency in data networks, particularly those with real-time capabilities, lack precision and granularity, especially in networks using the TDMA time-slot method, making it difficult to accurately measure latency and diagnose packet delays.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting a trigger packet with timestamps from one network device to another, allowing for the determination of end-to-end latency by recording arrival and departure times at each device, which can be inserted into or stored separately from data packets, enabling precise latency measurement without additional delay to the data exchange process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional trigger packets are transmitted separately from data packets to measure latency, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the latency measurement function with regular data packet transmission by using the data packets themselves as trigger packets. Timestamps are recorded and inserted into the existing data packets during normal network operations, eliminating the need for separate measurement packets while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Data packets are given dual functionality: they serve both as carriers for actual data and as trigger packets for latency measurement. This multi-functionality allows the network to perform monitoring and measurement without adding dedicated measurement traffic, reducing overall network complexity.
2Measurement precision
If timestamps are recorded for every packet to establish temporal profiles, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
Timestamp recording is performed as a preliminary action integrated into the packet processing workflow. The timestamps are captured at standardized points (arrival and departure) within the existing packet handling routine, ensuring minimal additional processing time while maintaining accurate temporal measurements.
3Device complexity
If data packets are used as trigger packets instead of separate trigger packets, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by data packet processing variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by recording timestamps at specific localized points within the packet processing path (arrival timestamp at input, departure timestamp at output). This ensures that measurements capture the actual latency experienced by packets traversing the network device, maintaining precision while using regular data packets.
Data Source
AI summary
End-to-end latency in a data network containing a succession of network devices through which a data packet passes via data connections is determined by first providing the data packet with a trigger packet. Then each device generates and adds to the trigger packet a respective reception timestamp indicating when the packet is received by the respective device. This added data indicates time needed for travel from the immediately upstream network device such that, when reaching the furthest downstream device of the succession of network devices, the trigger packet holds a plurality of timestamp representing when the trigger packet was received by the network devices. Finally the end-to-end latency is calculated at the furthest downstream network device from all of the time stamps in the trigger packet.