TSN Scheduling Fidelity Testing via Time Variation Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing network elements in time-sensitive networks (TSNs) is challenging due to the difficulty in verifying if they implement appropriate functionality and standards accurately, leading to potential latency and synchronization issues.
Innovation Solution
A test system that receives expected and actual receive times for test packets to compute a time variation metric, ensuring scheduling fidelity by using a processor-based test controller module and communications interfaces to analyze and generate metrics for TSN elements, aligning with IEEE standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If best-effort approach is used for network communication, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened due to unacceptable delays in time sensitive applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of network communication from best-effort to time-sensitive networking with precise timing control. Test packets include expected receive time information, and the system measures actual receive times to compute time variation metrics, thereby ensuring reliable delivery within acceptable timeframes while maintaining operational simplicity through automated testing.
2Reliability
If TSN protocols are implemented with precise synchronization and traffic shaping, then reliability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary testing system that simplifies the verification of complex TSN protocols. The test controller module acts as a mediator between test packets and the network, automatically computing time variation metrics and determining scheduling fidelity, thereby reducing the operational complexity despite the underlying complex TSN infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing system performs self-service by automatically generating test packets with expected receive times, measuring actual receive times, computing time variation metrics, and determining scheduling fidelity without requiring manual intervention, thereby managing complexity through automation.
3Loss of time
If scheduling rules are enforced in TSN elements, then time variation is reduced, but difficulty of detecting and measuring is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding expected receive time information in test packets before transmission. This allows the receiving end to compare actual receive times against pre-established expectations, making it straightforward to measure time variation and detect scheduling fidelity issues without complex real-time analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by computing time variation metrics based on the difference between expected and actual receive times. This feedback mechanism automatically detects and measures scheduling fidelity, reducing the difficulty of measurement while enforcing scheduling rules through quantifiable metrics.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for testing and/or determining scheduling fidelity in a time sensitive network (TSN) are disclosed. According to one method for determining scheduling fidelity in a TSN, the method occurs in a test system. The method includes receiving, via a system under test (SUT), at least one expected receive time indicating when a test packet is expected to be received by at least one destination. The method further includes computing, using the at least one expected receive time and at least one actual receive time, a time variation metric associated with the test packet.