SIP Messaging Latency Measurement Without Clock Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collecting network metrics for SIP messaging latency is difficult, time-consuming, error-prone, and requires manual effort, especially when correlating network logs with device logs, and often necessitates clock synchronization between network and user devices, consuming processor and memory resources.
Innovation Solution
A method to measure SIP messaging latency by timestamping SIP messages and calculating latency values within the messages themselves, allowing network devices to determine network and device latency without requiring clock synchronization, thereby reducing resource usage and simplifying data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If clock synchronization is implemented between network devices and user devices to measure SIP latency, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing measurement function from the complex clock synchronization system and implements it directly within SIP messages using timestamps. Each SIP message carries a timestamp indicating when it was sent, allowing latency calculation without requiring synchronized clocks between devices. This separates the measurement function from the synchronization infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces timestamps as an intermediary carrier of timing information. Instead of directly synchronizing clocks between network devices and user devices, the timestamps serve as a mediator that embeds timing data within the SIP message flow, enabling latency measurement without direct clock interaction between devices.
2Measurement precision
If manual correlation of network logs with device logs is performed to collect SIP metrics, then measurement completeness is improved, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the timing information that was previously distributed across separate network logs and device logs into a single unified SIP message. The timestamp embedded in each SIP message combines the sending time information that would otherwise require correlation between multiple log sources, eliminating manual correlation efforts.
Solution Approach 2:
The SIP messages carry their own timing information (timestamps) within themselves, enabling self-measurement of latency. The messages essentially measure their own transmission time by including when they were sent, eliminating the need for external logging and correlation systems to perform the measurement.
3Productivity
If timestamps are embedded in SIP messages for latency measurement, then productivity is improved, but message complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timestamp field in the SIP message serves multiple functions: it records when the message was sent for latency calculation, provides timing information for network analysis, and enables synchronization-free measurement. This multi-functionality justifies the addition to the message structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may receive a first session initiation protocol (SIP) message from another device, and may determine a first timestamp associated with the first SIP message. The first timestamp may represent a receipt time of the first SIP message by the device. The device may determine a second timestamp associated with a second SIP message. The second timestamp may represent a transmission time of the second SIP message by the device, and may be a response to the first SIP message. The device may determine a device latency value representing a difference between the second timestamp and the first timestamp. The device may provide the second SIP message to the other device at the transmission time. The second SIP message may include the device latency value.