Network Performance Display System for WAN Interface Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer network systems face challenges in determining which WAN interfaces to select for transmission and receiving data packets, especially when there are multiple end-to-end connections, as testing network performance can be time-consuming and is complicated by traffic impacting other connections, making it difficult to display all network performance information effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system selects an aggregated end-to-end connection profile, receives and displays network performance information, including identities of WAN interfaces, and allows users to choose the type of information to display, such as historical or best performance, with optional warnings or suggestions for selecting optimal WAN interfaces based on the retrieved data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all network performance information is displayed simultaneously, then complete information is provided, but display complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network performance information by aggregation level (individual end-to-end connections vs. aggregated connections) and by time period (historical, recent, best, worst). This allows the system to present comprehensive information through organized groups rather than overwhelming individual data points, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and display complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temporal dimension by displaying different time-based performance data (historical, recent, best, worst) and hierarchical dimension by showing both individual and aggregated connection profiles. This multi-dimensional organization allows complete information to be presented in a structured manner that reduces perceived complexity.
2Measurement precision
If network performance testing is conducted for all end-to-end connections, then accurate performance data is obtained, but testing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by allowing users to select specific aggregation levels (individual connections or aggregated connections) and specific time periods for testing. Instead of requiring all possible tests to be conducted, the system performs only the necessary subset based on user needs, thereby maintaining measurement precision for relevant data while significantly reducing overall testing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing performance metrics for different aggregation levels and time periods. When users request performance information, the pre-computed data is readily available, eliminating the need to conduct full tests at the moment of inquiry and thus reducing testing time while maintaining accuracy.
3Reliability
If multiple WAN interfaces are tested simultaneously, then comprehensive interface performance is evaluated, but traffic interference between connections complicates results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the evaluation process by allowing separate testing of individual WAN interfaces and their associated end-to-end connections. By organizing tests at the interface level and aggregation level separately, the system can isolate traffic interference effects and attribute performance metrics to specific interfaces, thereby maintaining evaluation reliability even when multiple interfaces are tested.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces aggregation profiles as intermediaries that group multiple end-to-end connections. These aggregation profiles serve as mediators that allow the system to evaluate combined performance while accounting for traffic interference effects, as the aggregation level provides a higher-level view that incorporates the cumulative impact of multiple connections without requiring analysis of each individual connection's interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displaying network performance information by selecting an aggregated end-to-end connection profile, and then displaying network performance information corresponding to the aggregated end-to-end connection profile. The network performance information corresponding to the aggregated end-to-end connection profile is retrieved from a local storage unit or a remote storage unit. The aggregated end-to-end connection profile is corresponding to an aggregated end-to-end connection comprising a plurality of end-to-end connections. In one embodiment, identities of all WAN interfaces corresponding to the aggregated end-to-end connection are displayed. Alternatively, identities of a plurality of WAN interfaces corresponding to the aggregated end-to-end connection are displayed, where the plurality of WAN interfaces are selected according to a policy or a user's selection. Furthermore, a message may be displayed for helping the user to select end-to-end connections for transmitting and receiving data packets based on the network performance information.