Packet Flow Sampling Signature for Network Performance Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring packet loss, one-way delay, and jitter in packet-switched communication networks require significant data generation, transmission, and processing, leading to high computation effort and bandwidth consumption, and are prone to reception sequence errors due to hash function collisions.
Innovation Solution
A method that samples packet flows using a sampling signature calculated by applying a hash function to a predetermined mask of bits, identifying a sub-flow of measurement samples based on a predefined value, and generating measurement parameters only for packets with this signature, thereby reducing data processing and increasing robustness against errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If each single packet is identified and analytics data is generated for every packet, then measurement precision is improved, but computation effort and bandwidth consumption increase remarkably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by generating analytics data only for a sampled subset of packets rather than all packets. A hash function processes packet headers to generate signatures, and only packets with specific signature values (e.g., matching a predefined value or falling within a range) are selected for full analytics processing. This reduces computation effort and bandwidth consumption while maintaining statistically valid measurement precision for network performance monitoring.
2Ease of operation
If a hash function is used to identify packets, then packet identification is simplified, but reception sequence errors occur due to hash function collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of hash signature matching from exact equality to range-based or probabilistic matching. Instead of requiring exact hash value matches (which cause sequence errors when collisions occur), the system accepts hash signatures within a defined range or uses multiple hash functions with different parameters. This maintains ease of packet identification while reducing reception sequence errors by accommodating hash collisions through parameter flexibility.
3Reliability
If the sampling signature length is increased to reduce collisions, then reliability against reception sequence errors is improved, but computational resources and data processing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by processing only the necessary portion of packet data for sampling signature generation. Instead of processing entire packets or using excessively long signature lengths, the system selectively hashes specific packet header fields (e.g., source/destination addresses, port numbers) to generate compact signatures. This balances error robustness with computational efficiency by processing only the minimal required data elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using different signature lengths or hashing strategies for different packet types or network conditions. Critical packets (e.g., control plane traffic) may use longer signatures for higher reliability, while data plane packets use shorter signatures. The sampling rate and signature parameters are locally optimized based on network traffic characteristics and measurement requirements, balancing error robustness with processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for performing a performance measurement on a packet flow transmitted along a path through a packet switched communication network. At least two measurement points implemented on the path calculate a sampling signature for each packet of the flow by applying a hash function to a mask of bits of the packet, and identify a sub-flow of measurement samples as those packets whose sampling signatures are equal to a certain value H*. The measurement points then provide measurement parameters for the measurement samples, which are used for providing performance measurement for the whole packet flow. Tailoring the length of the sampling signature allows the sampling rate to be statistically controlled so as to balance the risk of reception sequence errors between measurement samples and the computational effort on one hand, and the accuracy of the measurements provided on the other hand.