Passive TCP Path Analysis for Real-Time Network Connectivity Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network connectivity determination mechanisms lack real-time response to connection interruptions, leading to delayed failure detection and unnecessary network traffic, which can cause user frustration and system downtime, especially in enterprise networks with proxy servers.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution leverages connection-oriented end-to-end stack protocol information, such as TCP path analysis and send/receive packet counts, to passively determine network connectivity in real-time, improving accuracy and responsiveness, and is specifically designed to function effectively in the presence of web proxy systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional network services are used to report connection failures, then connection failure detection is provided, but the response is delayed until after the failure occurs, causing user frustration and unnecessary network traffic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection failure detection accuracyVSAvoidfailure detection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary connectivity assessments by continuously monitoring TCP connection states and packet transmission/reception patterns before actual failures impact service. This proactive monitoring detects connectivity issues at the earliest possible moment, enabling timely intervention before users experience frustration or unnecessary traffic is generated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops by monitoring TCP acknowledgment patterns, packet loss rates, and connection state changes in real-time. This feedback mechanism provides ongoing connectivity health assessments, allowing the system to detect and respond to failures immediately rather than waiting for conventional error reporting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If active connectivity detection methods are used, then real-time connectivity information can be obtained, but additional packets are injected into the network, burdening the network further

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity detection accuracyVSAvoidnetwork traffic volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system leverages existing TCP protocol mechanisms and naturally occurring network traffic to assess connectivity health. By analyzing acknowledgment patterns, packet loss in existing traffic, and connection state changes from normal operations, the system derives connectivity information without requiring separate probe packets or additional traffic generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses TCP acknowledgment packets and existing data traffic as intermediaries to gather connectivity information. Instead of sending dedicated probe packets, it analyzes the acknowledgment and transmission patterns of normal network traffic to infer connectivity status, thereby obtaining measurement precision without increasing traffic volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If connectivity monitoring is implemented in enterprise networks with proxy servers, then network health can be assessed, but the complexity of determining actual connectivity status increases due to the proxy layer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork health assessment accuracyVSAvoidconnectivity determination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and analyzes TCP connection state information and packet transmission patterns at the client side, before traffic reaches the proxy server. By monitoring connectivity indicators locally and using feedback from the TCP stack, the system determines actual network health without needing to penetrate or analyze the proxy server's internal state, thereby simplifying the determination process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trying to determine connectivity by analyzing traffic after it passes through the proxy, the system inverts the approach by monitoring connectivity indicators at the source (client side) and using TCP protocol feedback mechanisms. This allows direct assessment of connectivity status without the complexity introduced by the proxy layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8160062B2Network connectivity determination based on passive analysis of connection-oriented path information

Publication Date: 2012.04.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Passive analysis connection detection architecture that leverages connection-oriented end-to-end stack protocol information. In a TCP/IP implementation, by passively leveraging TCP information, a given system can determine in a more realtime fashion the connectivity state of a TCP pathway. Additionally, other passive information from the TCP/IP stack such as send/receive packet counts can be considered. Based on analysis of TCP path information and/or send/receive packet counts, loss of certain network connectivity can be inferred, which greatly improves the accuracy and responsiveness of detecting network connectivity losses. The disclosed architecture also facilitates improved performance when using proxy systems for network connectivity so as to reduce unnecessary network traffic and to route network systems to other online systems in a more efficient and effective manner.