User Device Packet Flow Performance Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for performance measurement in packet-switched communication networks require complex schemes of measurement points to monitor multiple packet flows, leading to significant computational effort and node complexity.
Innovation Solution
A computer program product installed on user communication devices, such as smartphones or PCs, activates a marking functionality on packet flows, allowing user communication devices to autonomously monitor and provide performance measurements by setting measurement-dedicated fields in packets and inducing network nodes to mark downstream packets, thereby reducing the need for multiple measurement points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement points are deployed at network nodes to monitor multiple packet flows, then performance measurement coverage is improved, but computational effort and node complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional measurement architecture by moving the measurement functionality from network nodes to end-user devices. Instead of network nodes monitoring packet flows, user communication devices perform the measurements on packets they receive, fundamentally reversing where the measurement intelligence resides in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
User communication devices perform self-measurement by autonomously analyzing received packets for performance metrics. Each device independently measures performance characteristics of packet flows it receives without requiring external measurement infrastructure, enabling devices to serve their own measurement needs.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measurement points are deployed to monitor all packet flows, then measurement granularity is improved, but the number of measurement points and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is segmented and distributed across multiple user communication devices rather than concentrated at network nodes. Each device independently performs measurements on its received packets, dividing the overall measurement task across many distributed endpoints throughout the network.
Solution Approach 2:
User communication devices perform multiple functions simultaneously: they communicate applications while also performing performance measurements on received packets. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated measurement infrastructure, as regular user devices serve dual purposes.
3Measurement precision
If measurement points monitor all packet flows through the network, then overall network performance measurement is improved, but computational load at measurement points increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each user communication device performs measurements only on packet flows it receives, rather than monitoring all network traffic. This partial action approach distributes the measurement load across many devices, each handling a subset of traffic, reducing the computational burden on any single device while achieving comprehensive network coverage collectively.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is disclosed a performance measurement application for a user communication device. The device runs at least one user application which exchanges at least one packet flow with a packet-switched communication network. When executed, the performance measurement application receives from an owner of the user communication device a request for performing a performance measurement. In response to such request, the performance measurement application activates a marking functionality comprising marking upstream packets of the packet flow to be measured and inducing the network node originating the downstream packets of the packet flow to be measured to mark them. The performance measurement application then provides performance parameter(s) relating to the marked upstream packets as transmitted and/or the marked downstream packets as received and, based on such parameter(s), provides a performance measurement. The measurement results are then shared with a measurement management server.