Network Throughput Measurement via Time Sync Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for measuring network throughput often generate unnecessary extra data flow and occupy network bandwidth, necessitating a more efficient approach.
Innovation Solution
A method involving message exchanges with a time synchronization protocol server or slave device to synchronize clocks and calculate network throughput using time and size information, eliminating the need for additional servers and minimizing extra data flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods set up an FTP server to transmit data for measuring network throughput, then network throughput measurement is achieved, but extra data flow is generated and network bandwidth is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The time synchronization protocol messages serve dual purposes: synchronizing clocks between master and slave devices while simultaneously enabling network throughput measurement. The same message exchanges that achieve time synchronization are reused to collect data for throughput calculation, eliminating the need for separate measurement traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational messages (time synchronization packets) to perform the measurement function. The time synchronization protocol messages inherently contain the necessary information (timestamps and message sizes) to calculate network throughput, allowing the system to measure its own performance without external intervention or additional traffic generation.
2Measurement precision
If conventional methods set up an FTP server to measure network throughput, then throughput measurement is achieved, but additional server setup is required
Solution Approach 1:
The time synchronization protocol server performs both time synchronization and throughput measurement functions. The existing infrastructure is leveraged to achieve measurement capabilities without requiring dedicated measurement servers or additional system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The time synchronization protocol messages inherently contain the necessary information (timestamps and message sizes) to calculate network throughput, allowing the system to measure its own performance without external intervention or additional traffic generation.
3Quantity of substance
If time synchronization protocol messages are used to measure network throughput, then extra bandwidth occupation is minimized, but accurate throughput calculation requires precise time information
Solution Approach 1:
The master clock generates precise timestamps before message transmission, and the slave clock records reception times before processing. This preliminary time stamping ensures that accurate time information is captured at the source, enabling precise throughput calculation without requiring additional measurement overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for measuring network throughput is provided. The method comprises the following steps: exchanging messages with a time synchronization protocol server in compliance with a time synchronization protocol, synchronizing a slave clock with a master clock of the time synchronization protocol server according to time information related to the messages, and calculating at least one network throughput according to the time information and size information related to the messages.