Test Traffic Interceptor for Accurate Path Performance Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining path performance in IP-based communication systems face challenges such as inability to inspect or intercept test traffic within intermediate nodes, leading to inaccurate results and legal ramifications, and fail to identify specific connectivity or performance issues along the subscriber connection.
Innovation Solution
A node with enhanced encapsulator and decapsulator capabilities, along with a proxy test traffic responder, manages test traffic by adding extensions to tunnel headers, allowing intermediate nodes to intercept and process test packets without altering current forwarding functions, and provides detailed performance metrics without subscriber device modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If test traffic is sent to subscriber device endpoints, then end-to-end connectivity can be tested, but subscriber devices must be modified to support test traffic processing and legal issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary node (enhanced intermediate node) that acts as a mediator between the test traffic controller and subscriber devices. This intermediary intercepts test traffic destined for subscriber devices, processes it locally without requiring device modification, and generates appropriate test results. The intermediary effectively substitutes for the subscriber device in test scenarios, eliminating the need to modify actual user devices while maintaining test accuracy.
2Productivity
If intermediate nodes forward all tunnel traffic, then packet forwarding is efficient, but test traffic cannot be inspected or intercepted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the processing of regular traffic versus test traffic at intermediate nodes. Regular tunnel traffic continues to be forwarded efficiently based on tunnel identifier information, while test traffic is selectively intercepted and processed by enhanced functionality. This localized enhancement allows test traffic inspection without degrading overall forwarding performance for user data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of intermediate nodes by introducing enhanced encapsulator and decapsulator capabilities. These enhanced nodes can identify test traffic through specific parameters (such as tunnel identifiers or packet markers) and alter their forwarding behavior accordingly, enabling inspection and interception of test traffic while maintaining normal forwarding for other packets.
3Measurement precision
If test traffic is intercepted at intermediate nodes, then detailed performance metrics can be obtained, but intermediate nodes must process user data traffic which degrades performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts test traffic from the general tunnel traffic flow at intermediate nodes. By identifying and separating test packets from user data traffic, the system enables precise performance measurement of test traffic without requiring comprehensive processing of all user data. This extraction approach minimizes the processing burden on intermediate nodes while maintaining measurement precision for test scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
Presented are methods and apparatus for processing test traffic encapsulated within bidirectional subscriber connections on intermediate nodes. Test packet requests are generated by a test traffic controller and received at a node by an enhanced decapsulator, a decapsulator or at an ingress port. A tunnel header is extracted from the test packet requests and a determination is made as to whether the test packet request destination is for the receiving node or for another node. If the test packet request is for another node the test packet request is forwarded toward the destination node. If the test packet request is for the receiving node then a test packet reply is generated and the test packet reply is sent toward the test traffic controller.