Network Speed Measurement via Statistical Server Sampling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to accurately and efficiently determine average network speed in communications networks, which is crucial for predicting customer quality of experience, as flooding the network with test packets can skew measurements and impact network performance.

Innovation Solution

Deploying speed test servers strategically throughout the network to gather data, which is then analyzed statistically to generate a model of average network speed for each network element, minimizing the number of tests to avoid network congestion and ensuring representative sampling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If test packets are flooded into the network to measure network speed, then measurement data can be collected, but network performance deteriorates and measurements become skewed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork speed measurement accuracyVSAvoidnetwork performance degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by collecting speed test data from only a subset of speed test servers rather than all servers. By selecting a representative sample of speed test servers and their associated customer premises equipment, the system obtains sufficient statistical data to determine average network speed without requiring every server to participate in testing, thus minimizing network impact while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple speed test servers throughout the network infrastructure and establishing their associations with customer premises equipment before measurements are needed. This allows the system to quickly deploy targeted measurements only when and where needed, rather than continuously flooding the network with test packets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If speed tests are performed frequently to capture network speed variations, then measurement accuracy improves, but network congestion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaverage network speed accuracyVSAvoidnetwork throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by scheduling speed tests to occur at specific intervals and times rather than continuously. Speed test servers perform measurements periodically, and the system collects data from multiple time points to statistically determine average network speed, thereby capturing network variations without constant testing that would cause congestion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by requiring only a sufficient number of speed tests from a subset of speed test servers to achieve statistical significance. The system determines when enough data has been collected to accurately calculate average network speed without needing exhaustive testing from all servers, thus balancing measurement precision with network productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If the number of speed test servers is increased to improve data representativeness, then measurement accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork speed data representativenessVSAvoidspeed test server arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies segmentation by dividing the network into multiple segments with speed test servers strategically placed throughout different portions of the network infrastructure. Each speed test server is associated with specific customer premises equipment and network elements, creating manageable segments that can be independently monitored and measured, thereby improving representativeness without overwhelming complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary headend system that manages the speed test servers and collects their data. The headend performs statistical analysis on the collected speed test results and generates the average network speed determination, acting as a mediator that simplifies the complexity of coordinating multiple distributed speed test servers while maintaining comprehensive network coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9037699B1Statistically determining average network speed in a communications network

Publication Date: 2015.05.19 COX COMMUNICATIONS INC

AI summary

Statistically determining the average network speed in a communications network is disclosed. A network is analyzed to determine an arrangement for speed test servers to collect network speed data. A plurality of speed test servers is dispersed in the network according to the determined arrangement. Speed tests are performed using the plurality of speed test servers to gather the network speed data for a plurality of network elements. The network speed data gathered from the plurality of speed servers is provided to a central database. The gathered network speed data in the central database is statistically analyzed to generate a model of average network speed for each of the plurality of network elements.