Communications Management System for Test Packet Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing network throughput performance using test packets can cause network congestion and service disruptions, as network elements lack the ability to distinguish between test packets and real customer traffic, leading to performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A communications management system that determines network congestion and generates messages to terminate test packets, allowing network elements to differentiate between test packets and real traffic, thereby preventing further network degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If test packets are sent to test network throughput performance, then network performance can be evaluated, but network congestion and service disruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a special marker or flag in packet headers to identify test packets as intermediaries between test traffic and customer traffic. This intermediary mechanism allows network elements to distinguish test packets without disrupting customer services, resolving the contradiction between performance measurement and service reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of packet identification by adding specific markers or modifying header fields to distinguish test packets from customer packets. This parameter change enables selective handling of test traffic, allowing performance evaluation without causing network congestion that would disrupt customer services
2Productivity
If test packets with quality of service marking matching live traffic are used to load the network, then throughput performance can be determined, but network congestion and network failure occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distinctive marker or flag in packet headers to identify test packets, serving as an intermediary mechanism that allows network elements to distinguish test traffic from customer traffic. This enables selective prioritization or dropping of test packets during congestion, allowing throughput testing without causing harmful network failure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the identification parameters of test packets by adding specific markers or modifying header fields, enabling network elements to recognize and selectively handle test traffic. This parameter change allows the network to maintain customer service quality while permitting throughput performance testing
3Device complexity
If network elements cannot distinguish test packets from real customer traffic, then traffic management is simplified, but customer service quality deteriorates during testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a special marker or flag in packet headers as an intermediary identification mechanism. This simple intermediary approach enables network elements to distinguish test packets from customer packets without requiring complex analysis, thereby maintaining customer service quality during testing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the identification parameter of packets by adding specific markers or modifying header fields. This parameter change provides a clear distinction between test and customer traffic, enabling reliable customer service quality maintenance during testing without significantly increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention include a system for preventing a packet of a test pattern from being communicated over a network. In one embodiment, a communications management system is disclosed that includes a network interface configured to enable the communications management system to communicate with a plurality of network nodes over a network. The communications management system further includes a processor configured to execute instructions to determine whether one or more portions of the network are congested, and generate and transmit a message to at least one of the network nodes to terminate communication of test packets in response to a determination that one or more portions of the network is congested.