Network Path Probing with Non-Overlapping Agent Instantiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network path probing methods involve redundant active probing by multiple agents targeting the same paths on the public network, leading to inefficiencies in resource usage and overlapping tests, particularly for internal paths within the enterprise network.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that identifies non-overlapping paths between endpoint probing agents and an external probing agent, where endpoint agents perform internal probing and the external agent handles external probing, aggregating results to provide end-to-end metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple agents perform active probing tests targeting services and endpoints on the public network, then path performance assessment is achieved, but redundant probing and resource inefficiency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the probing function into two distinct agent types: endpoint probing agents that perform internal path probing within the enterprise network, and an external probing agent that performs external path probing to public network services. This segmentation eliminates redundant external probing by multiple agents while maintaining comprehensive path performance assessment through coordinated internal and external probing results.
2Loss of information
If multiple agents probe the same path on the public network at the same time, then path performance data is collected, but overlapping tests and redundancy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the probing responsibility by segmenting which agent performs which type of probing. Endpoint agents are assigned internal path probing tasks, while the external agent handles external path probing. This segmentation ensures that external path probing is performed only once by the external agent, eliminating overlapping tests while still collecting comprehensive path performance data through the combination of internal and external probing results.
Solution Approach 2:
The external probing agent acts as an intermediary that consolidates external path probing functionality. Instead of multiple endpoint agents directly probing external services, they route their external probing needs through the single external agent, which then performs the external probing and returns results. This intermediary approach eliminates redundancy while maintaining data collection completeness.
3Loss of energy
If the number of external services and frequency of tests for each agent is limited, then resource management is optimized, but visibility on non-overlapping paths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network path monitoring into internal paths (covered by endpoint agents) and external paths (covered by the external agent). This segmentation allows each agent type to focus on non-overlapping path segments, maximizing the use of limited probing resources while maintaining comprehensive visibility across the entire end-to-end path through the combination of internal and external probing results.
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a device identifies paths in a network between a plurality of endpoint probing agents in the network and an external probing agent. The device selects, based on the paths, a subset of endpoint probing agents from among the plurality of endpoint probing agents whose paths to the external probing agent do not overlap in the network. The device configures the subset of endpoint probing agents to perform path probing within the network towards the external probing agent. The device forms aggregated probing results by aggregating path probing results from the external probing agent probing a destination external to the network with path probing results from the subset of endpoint probing agents within the network.