Multicast-based inference of temporal loss characteristics in packet data networks
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
InventorsNicholas Geoffrey Duffield, Vijay Arya, Darryl Neil Veitch
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Abstract
Disclosed are method and apparatus for characterizing the temporal loss characteristics of a packet data network by multicast-based inference. Multicast probes are transmitted from a source node to a plurality of receiver nodes, which record the arrivals of the multicast probes. From the aggregate data comprising recorded arrivals of the end-to-end paths from the source node to each receiver node, temporal loss characteristics of individual links within the network may be calculated. In a network with a tree topology, the complexity of calculations may be reduced through a process of subtree partitioning.
Claims15
A method for characterizing a packet data network comprising a source node, a plurality of receiver nodes, and a plurality of paths, paths in the plurality of paths connecting the source node with respective ones of the plurality of receiver nodes, the paths comprising respective sets of links, the method comprising:
- recording at respective ones of the plurality of receiver nodes arrivals of a plurality of multicast probe messages transmitted from the source node;
- and
- calculating, by a processor in communication with a data storage device, a probability that a length of a pass-run or a length of a loss-run exceeds a value over a selected time interval for a respective link in the set of links for a respective path in the plurality of paths by inference from the arrivals of the plurality of multicast probe messages.
An apparatus for characterizing a packet data network comprising a source node, a plurality of receiver nodes, and a plurality of paths, paths in the plurality of paths connecting the source node with respective ones of the plurality of receiver nodes, the paths comprising a respective plurality of links, the apparatus comprising:
- a data storage device storing computer program instructions;
- and
- a processor in communication with the data storage device, the processor to execute the computer program instructions to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- recording at respective ones of the plurality of receiver nodes arrivals of a plurality of multicast probe messages transmitted from the source node;
- and
- calculating a probability that a length of a pass-run or a length of a loss-run exceeds a value over a selected time interval for a respective link in the plurality of links for a respective path in the plurality of paths by inference from the recorded arrivals.
A computer readable storage device comprising computer program instructions for characterizing a packet data network comprising a source node, a plurality of receiver nodes, and a plurality of paths, paths in the plurality of paths connecting the source node with respective ones of the plurality of receiver nodes, the paths comprising respective sets of links, the instructions, when executed on a processor, to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- recording at respective ones of the plurality of receiver nodes arrivals of a plurality of multicast probe messages transmitted from the source node;
- and
- calculating a probability that a length of a pass-run or a length of a loss-run exceeds a value over a selected time interval for a respective link in the set of links for a respective path in the plurality of paths by inference from the recorded arrivals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.