Segmented Latency Diagnostics for CDN and ISP Attribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks using content distribution networks (CDNs), identifying the root causes of performance degradations for off-net users is complex due to the lack of comprehensive end-to-end and hop-by-hop information, making it difficult for telco CDNs to quickly localize issues and determine responsibility among multiple operators.
Innovation Solution
A latency analyzer component processes latency data in response to diagnostic triggers, determining whether latency is attributable to the communication network, CDN, or ISP, and identifies the responsible ISP by analyzing diagnostic data from network and CDN equipment, while accounting for legal constraints on data sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive end-to-end monitoring is implemented across multiple operators' networks, then latency diagnostic accuracy is improved, but system complexity and data sharing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the end-to-end latency measurement into multiple independent components: CDN-origin latency, network transit latency, and ISP-access latency. Each segment is measured and reported separately by the respective operator, eliminating the need for a single complex monitoring system while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary latency reporting mechanism where each operator (CDN, network operator, ISP) independently reports their segment's latency data to a common diagnostic framework. This mediator approach allows comprehensive monitoring without requiring direct integration or data sharing agreements between operators.
2Reliability
If latency data is collected from multiple independent operators, then diagnostic completeness is improved, but coordination difficulty and responsibility attribution complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the diagnostic process into segmented responsibility zones, where each operator is responsible for measuring and reporting their specific network segment's latency. This segmentation makes coordination easier by assigning clear ownership while maintaining diagnostic completeness through aggregation of all segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each operator's latency measurements are aggregated and analyzed to provide overall diagnostic feedback. This feedback loop enables automatic responsibility attribution by comparing actual performance against SLA thresholds for each segment, reducing manual coordination requirements.
3Loss of time
If real-time latency monitoring is implemented, then service degradation detection speed is improved, but processing overhead and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments real-time monitoring into distributed lightweight agents at each operator's network point, rather than a centralized heavy monitoring system. Each agent collects and reports latency data independently, reducing overall processing overhead while maintaining real-time detection capability through aggregated data analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
The described technology is generally directed towards latency diagnostics for multiparty systems, such as a system comprising a communication network, a content delivery network (CDN), and one or more internet service providers (ISPs). A latency analyzer component can process latency data in response to a latency diagnostic trigger, such as an alert from a video quality monitoring system. The latency analyzer can determine whether latency is attributable to the communication network. If not, the latency analyzer can determine whether the latency is attributable to the CDN. If the latency is not attributable to the communication network or the CDN, the latency analyzer can determine that the latency is attributable to the ISP, and the latency analyzer can identify the ISP and generate appropriate reports and notifications.