Virtual Network Performance Scoring via Underlying Path Ratios

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Solution Overview

Problem

Assessing the performance of virtual networks in heterogeneous cloud environments is challenging due to the complexity of combining individual component metrics into meaningful scores, as the quality of service (QoS) impacts the Quality of Experience (QoE) for applications, and existing methods fail to accurately evaluate networking performance across diverse infrastructure and traffic patterns.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced that involves selecting endpoint pairs, determining virtual and underlying network paths, generating flows, collecting measurements, and computing ratios between virtual and underlying network path measurements to generate scores, allowing for a normalized assessment of virtual network performance relative to the underlying network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If individual component metrics are assessed separately, then assessment granularity is improved, but meaningful virtual network performance scoring deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent metric granularityVSAvoidmeaningful performance score

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the virtual network assessment into multiple hierarchical levels: individual component metrics (bandwidth, latency, jitter), path-level metrics (aggregated component metrics), and overall virtual network performance scores (weighted combination of path metrics). This segmentation allows precise measurement at each level while maintaining the ability to synthesize meaningful overall scores.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges individual component metrics into path-level metrics through aggregation, and then merges path-level metrics into overall virtual network performance scores through weighted combinations. This merging process transforms granular component data into meaningful holistic performance scores that reflect the end-to-end virtual network experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If absolute performance metrics are used in heterogeneous infrastructure, then measurement simplicity is improved, but performance evaluation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement simplicityVSAvoidperformance evaluation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms absolute performance metrics into relative performance ratios by comparing virtual network path metrics against underlying network path metrics. This parameter transformation normalizes measurements across heterogeneous infrastructures, enabling accurate performance evaluation regardless of the underlying network capabilities. The ratio metric changes the evaluation from absolute terms to relative terms, making it infrastructure-agnostic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If multiple network measurements are collected, then data completeness is improved, but insight into application traffic performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement data volumeVSAvoidapplication traffic performance insight

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the specific metrics most relevant to application traffic performance from the comprehensive set of collected measurements. By identifying and extracting key performance indicators (bandwidth, latency, jitter) that directly impact QoE, the system filters out extraneous data while maintaining complete measurement collection for thoroughness. This extraction process maintains data completeness while providing focused insights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Speed

If virtual network performance is assessed in isolation, then assessment speed is improved, but assessment accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment speedVSAvoidassessment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurement of underlying network path performance before assessing virtual network performance. By first establishing baseline measurements of the physical infrastructure, the system prepares reference data that enables accurate virtual network assessment. This preliminary action ensures that when virtual network metrics are collected, they can be immediately compared against known baseline performance for accurate evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10523533B2Cloud network assessment based on scoring virtual network performance relative to underlying network performance

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

One aspect includes a method to assess virtual network performance, comprising: selecting at least a given pair of endpoints; determining at least one virtual path between the given pair of endpoints; determining at least one underlying network path between the given pair of endpoints; generating one or more flows between the given pair of endpoints over both the virtual path and the underlying network path; collecting one or more measurements for the virtual path and for the underlying network path; and determining at least one score for the given pair of endpoints at least in part by computing at least one ratio between at least one of the one or measurements for the virtual path and at least one of the one or more measurements for the underlying network path.