Packet Flow Link Performance Measurement via Alternating Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring packet loss, delay, and jitter in communication networks are inaccurate and inefficient, particularly when using artificial packets, as they do not account for processing times and are computationally intensive, and cannot perform intermediate performance measurements on portions of links.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves generating and transmitting packet flows with alternating marking values between two nodes in a communication network, allowing for accurate measurement of packet loss, one-way delay, and jitter by updating variables based on reception times and packet transmission rates, enabling precise calculation of performance metrics without requiring additional information from the transmitting node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing methods use artificial packets for measurement, then packet loss measurement can be performed, but measurement precision deteriorates due to not accounting for processing times
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting node preliminarily marks each packet with alternating values (0 or 1) before transmission and records the transmission timestamp. This preliminary action enables the receiving node to later calculate not only packet loss but also one-way delay and jitter by comparing the marked packets against local timestamps, thereby recovering the processing time information that was previously lost.
2Measurement precision
If existing methods perform continuous packet measurement, then performance monitoring is continuous, but computational resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous measurement, the transmitting node performs periodic packet marking with alternating values at specific intervals. The receiving node processes these marked packets periodically to calculate performance metrics. This periodic approach maintains continuous monitoring capability while significantly reducing computational resource consumption compared to processing every single packet continuously.
3Measurement precision
If existing methods measure one-way delay using packets, then delay measurement is possible, but measurement precision deteriorates due to unpredictable routing and permanence time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces marked packets as intermediaries that carry timing information through the network. Each marked packet acts as a mediator that transports the transmission timestamp from the source to the destination, enabling accurate one-way delay calculation without requiring complex synchronization or accounting for unpredictable routing variables. The marked packets simplify the measurement process by embedding all necessary timing data within themselves.
4Measurement precision
If existing methods require additional information from transmitting node, then accurate measurement can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitting node performs self-service by preliminarily marking each packet with alternating values and embedding the transmission timestamp before sending. The receiving node independently processes these marked packets to calculate all performance metrics (packet loss, delay, jitter) using only the information contained in the marked packets and its local clock. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex information exchange or additional data requests between nodes, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is disclosed a method for performing a performance measurement of a link between two nodes of a communication network. Before starting a measurement, measurement mode information comprising start time and packet transmission rate are provided to both nodes. At the start time, a first node generates and transmits to the other node a packet flow comprising packets with transmission times determined by start time and packet transmission rate. The packet flow is divided into alternating blocks transmitted during even and odd block periods. At each block period, while the packet flow is received, a variable indicative of its behaviour is updated by using the measurement mode information and detected information on reception of the packet flow. Then, a parameter indicative of a performance of the packet flow during the block period is calculated using the value reached by the variable at the end of the block period.