Packet Flow Metrics Storage for Delayed Monitor Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packet switching technologies face challenges in accurately monitoring and recording metrics for packet flows due to delayed resolution of traffic monitors, which can lead to incomplete data collection and inefficient performance management in communications networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that temporarily stores metrics for initial packets of a flow in a data structure and updates monitors once the flow is resolved, ensuring accurate and complete metric collection even after several packets have passed through the monitor, and ceasing temporary collection only after all potential monitors have been resolved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packet switching technology is used to achieve greater speed and capacity, then network performance is improved, but accurate monitoring and recording of packet flow metrics becomes difficult due to delayed monitor resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating temporary monitor entries and pre-collecting packet flow metrics before the actual monitor resolution is complete. This allows the monitoring system to be ready and waiting with the appropriate data structures in place, so that when monitor resolution eventually occurs, the metrics are already captured and can be immediately associated with the correct monitor, eliminating the accuracy problem caused by delayed resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a temporary monitor entry with an entry key - that bridges the gap between packet arrival and final monitor resolution. This intermediary holds the packet flow metrics in a pending state, allowing the high-speed packet switching to continue uninterrupted while the monitoring information is gradually resolved and associated with the appropriate permanent monitor entry.
2Measurement precision
If metrics are collected for all initial packets of a flow, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to temporary storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into distinct functional components: temporary monitor entries for pending resolutions, permanent monitor entries for resolved monitors, and classification mechanisms for associating packets with monitors. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific, simplified role - temporary entries just hold metrics with an entry key, classification engine just matches patterns, and permanent entries store final results - reducing overall system complexity despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of monitor entries from a static resolved/unresolved binary state to a dynamic progression through states (temporary entry creation → packet metric collection → classification matching → permanent entry association). This parameter change allows the system to track the resolution progress systematically, managing complexity through structured state transitions rather than ad-hoc handling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If monitor resolution is delayed until after several packets have passed, then adaptability to emerging technologies is improved, but loss of information occurs due to incomplete data collection
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates temporary monitor entries and begins collecting packet flow metrics immediately when packets are detected, performing preliminary data collection actions before monitor resolution is complete. This ensures that no packet flow information is lost during the resolution delay, as the metrics are captured and held in the temporary entry with its entry key, ready for association once the monitor is resolved.
Solution Approach 2:
The classification engine continuously monitors incoming packets and provides feedback to the temporary monitor entries, checking whether packets match patterns associated with the pending monitor resolution. This feedback mechanism ensures that when monitor resolution eventually occurs, the system has already identified and captured all relevant packet flow metrics, preventing information loss while maintaining adaptability to emerging technologies.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, accurate packet metrics are recorded despite delayed resolution of one or more traffic monitors that maintain the metrics for the packet flow. One or more metrics related to an initial plurality of packets of a packet flow are stored in a temporary metrics data structure. One or more monitors are subsequently resolved based on information included in packets of at least the initial plurality of packets. For example, an application or Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) segment that is to be monitored may not be identified until after numerous packets have passed. The monitor(s) are updated with metrics related to the packet flow based on said one or more metrics related to the initial plurality of packets from the metrics data structure and packets of the packet stream subsequent to the first one or more packets.