Passive Latency Measurement in 5G Network Slices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring latency in 5G communication networks are inadequate, particularly for network slicing, as they are either non-passive and intrusive, or insufficient to meet stringent service level agreement requirements, and lack scalability and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for passive, scalable, and accurate latency measurement in network slices using distributed agents that coordinate with a central node to compute end-to-end and segment latency, relying on periodic sampling of packet timestamp records without injecting probe packets or modifying user traffic, and synchronized with a common network clock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active probe packets are injected to measure latency, then measurement accuracy is improved, but network traffic burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network nodes themselves generate and process timestamp records for latency measurement without external probe packets. Each node autonomously creates timestamp records when packets pass through, and these records are collected by the central node for computation, eliminating the need for additional measurement traffic
Solution Approach 2:
Timestamp records serve as intermediaries that carry latency information passively through the network. Instead of injecting active probe packets, the system uses existing packet timestamps as mediators to convey timing information from network nodes to the central computation node
2Measurement precision
If detailed packet sampling is performed to improve latency measurement precision, then measurement accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latency measurement function is segmented between distributed network nodes that generate simple timestamp records and a central node that performs the computation. This segmentation allows measurement precision to be improved at the central node without burdening individual network nodes with complex processing
Solution Approach 2:
The complex latency computation logic is extracted from individual network nodes and centralized at a dedicated computation node. Network nodes only need to perform simple timestamp generation and record transmission, while the complex matching and latency calculation is performed centrally, reducing processing complexity at network nodes
3Ease of operation
If passive latency measurement is implemented to reduce network burden, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates copies of packet timestamp records at each network node and transmits these copies to the central node. This allows passive collection of precise timing data without modifying the original packet flow, maintaining both ease of operation and measurement precision
Data Source
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AI summary
The method includes transmitting request messages to at least one first network node, the request messages each including at least a sampling time-window and a network slice identifier, the sampling time-window defining a duration of time, the network slice identifier identifying a designated network slice within the communication network, receiving packet reports from the at least one first network node, the packet reports including latency information for packets that are processed by the at least one first network node during the sampling time-window for the designated network slice, and controlling the operation of the communication network based on the latency information.