In-band Performance Information Packets for Network Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telephony over packet networks lacks effective mechanisms for managing network performance information, leading to difficulties in diagnosing and mitigating issues such as congestion, jitter, and packet loss, which affect voice quality and call reliability due to the absence of real-time bandwidth monitoring and in-band path signaling.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of performance information packets (PIP packets) that communicate network performance information in-band, allowing for the collection and monitoring of real-time and non-real-time bandwidth usage, packet loss, and other transmission metrics, enabling more intelligent call management and network resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network performance information is made accessible to multiple users for monitoring and diagnosis, then network management capability improves, but information security and access control complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network performance information into different types (real-time bandwidth usage, packet loss, jitter, delay) and provides targeted access to different user roles. Network operators can access all performance data, while network monitoring services receive only specific metrics relevant to their function, eliminating the need for universal access to all information types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements location-specific access control where network performance information is made accessible at specific network nodes and monitoring points. Each network element can access and publish its local performance metrics to relevant stakeholders without requiring centralized access control for all network information, simplifying the overall access control architecture.
2Reliability
If real-time network performance monitoring is implemented across the network, then call reliability and voice quality improve, but network bandwidth consumption and processing overhead worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential network performance metrics needed for call reliability (bandwidth usage, packet loss, jitter, delay) from the total network traffic and monitors them separately. By focusing on these specific parameters rather than analyzing all network data, the system achieves effective monitoring with minimal additional bandwidth consumption and processing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces performance information packets as intermediary carriers that transport network performance data efficiently. These specialized packets carry compressed and aggregated performance metrics, reducing the bandwidth overhead compared to transmitting raw network data for analysis while still providing comprehensive monitoring capability for call reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for restricting access to network performance information associated with communications over a packet network. A request may be received from a user to access network performance information associated with communications of data packets over a packet network. A determination as to whether the user has permission to access the network performance information may be made. In response to determining that the user has permission to access the network performance information, the user may be enabled to access the network performance information; otherwise, the user may be prevented from accessing the network performance information. The network performance information may include information associated with communications of data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content.