Method of measuring packet network transmission delay and machine-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing the method

• US 6,769,029 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hasei, Shinji, Tanabe, Yoshiharu, Nakazawa, Yoshinao, Seki, Yoshinaga, Tanno, Hidekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayard, Djenane
• Application Number:
  US09/634,714
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 370/253, 370/241, 370/473, 370/252
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 Round trip delays

Abstract

A transmission delay measuring method used in a packet network includes the steps of: detecting by the use of first and second clocks, for each of first direction-data packets transmitted from a first terminal to a second terminal through the packet network, input and output time instants when each of the first direction-data packets enters and leaves the packet network, respectively; recording the input and the output time instants for the first direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for the first direction-data packets; detecting by the use of the second and the first clocks, for each of second direction-data packets transmitted from the second terminal to the first terminal through the packet network, input and output time instants when each of the second direction-data packets enters and leaves the packet network, respectively; recording the input and the output time instants for the second direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for the second direction-data packets; calculating, for each of the first direction-data packets, a first-direction provisional delay which is a first difference given by subtracting, for each of the first direction-data packets, the recorded input time instant from the recorded output time instant; calculating, for each of the second direction-data packets, a second-direction provisional delay which is a second difference given by subtracting, for each of the second direction-data packets, the recorded input time instant from the recorded output time instant; and deriving a time difference between the first and the second clocks from a first minimum value of the first-direction provisional delays and a second minimum value of the second-direction provisional delays.

Claims

1. A transmission delay measuring method which is used in a packet network and which comprises the steps of:

detecting by the use of first and second clocks, for each of first direction-data packets transmitted from a first terminal to a second terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said first direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said first direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said first direction-data packets;

detecting by the use of said second and said first clocks, for each of second direction-data packets transmitted from said second terminal to said first terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said second direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said second direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said second direction-data packets;

calculating, for each of said first direction-data packets, a first-direction provisional delay which is a first difference given by subtracting, for each of said first direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant;

calculating, for each of said second direction-data packets, a second-direction provisional delay which is a second difference given by subtracting, for each of said second direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant; and

deriving a time difference between said first and said second clocks from a first minimum value of said first-direction provisional delays and a second minimum value of said second-direction provisional delays.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of correcting said first-direction and said second-direction provisional delays by the use of said time difference.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of synchronizing said first and said second clocks by the use of said time difference.

4. A transmission delay measuring method which is used in a packet network and which comprises the steps of:

detecting by the use of first and second clocks, for each of first direction-data packets transmitted from a first communication terminal to a second communication terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said first direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said first direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said first direction-data packets;

detecting by the use of said second and said first clocks, for each of second direction-data packets transmitted from said second communication terminal to said first communication terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said second direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said second direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said second direction-data packets;

calculating, for each of said first direction-data packets, a first-direction provisional delay which is a first difference given by subtracting, for each of said first direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant;

calculating, for each of said second direction-data packets, a second-direction provisional delay which is a second difference given by subtracting, for each of said second direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant; and

deriving a time difference between said first and said second clocks from a first minimum value of said first-direction provisional delays and a second minimum value of said second-direction provisional delays.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of correcting said first-direction and said second-direction provisional delays by the use of said time difference.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of synchronizing said first and said second clocks by the use of said time difference.

7. A machine-readable recording medium storing a transmission delay measuring program which is used in a packet network and which is for:

detecting by the use of first and second clocks, for each of first direction-data packets transmitted from a first terminal to a second terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said first direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said first direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said first direction-data packets;

detecting by the use of said second and said first clocks, for each of second direction-data packets transmitted from said second terminal to said first terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said second direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said second direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said second direction-data packets;

calculating, for each of said first direction-data packets, a first-direction provisional delay which is a first difference given by subtracting, for each of said first direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant;

calculating, for each of said second direction-data packets, a second-direction provisional delay which is a second difference given by subtracting, for each of said second direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant;

deriving a time difference between said first and said second clocks from a first minimum value of said first-direction provisional delays and a second minimum value of said second-direction provisional delays; and

correcting said first-direction and said second-direction provisional delays by the use of said time difference.

8. A machine-readable recording medium storing a transmission delay measuring program which is used in a packet network and which is for;

detecting by the use of first and second clocks, for each of first direction-data packets transmitted from a first communication terminal to a second communication terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said first direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said first direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said first direction-data packets;

detecting by the use of said second and said first clocks, for each of second direction-data packets transmitted from said second communication terminal to said first communication terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said second direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively;

recording the input and the output time instants for said second direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said second direction-data packets;

calculating, for each of said first direction-data packets, a first-direction provisional delay which is a first difference given by subtracting, for each of said first direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant;

calculating, for each of said second direction-data packets, a second-direction provisional delay which is a second difference given by subtracting, for each of said second direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant;

deriving a time difference between said first and said second clocks from a first minimum value of said first-direction provisional delays and a second minimum value of said second-direction provisional delays; and

correcting said first-direction and said second-direction provisional delays by the use of said time difference.

9. A transmission delay measuring system for a packet network, comprising:

first packet monitoring means for detecting, by the use of first and second clocks, for each of first direction-data packets transmitted from a first terminal to a second terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said first direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively, said first packet monitoring means being provided on a first network segment of which said first terminal is also provided, said first network segment being communicatively connected to said packet network;

recording means for recording the input and the output time instants for said first direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said first direction-data packets;

second packet monitoring means for detecting, by the use of said second and said first clocks, for each of second direction-data packets transmitted from said second terminal to said first terminal through said packet network, input and output time instants when each of said second direction-data packets enters and leaves said packet network, respectively, said first packet monitoring means being provided on a second network segment of which said first terminal is also provided, said second network segment being communicatively connected to said packet network,

wherein said recording means also records the input and the output time instants for said second direction-data packets as recorded input and recorded output time instants for said second direction-data packets;

calculating means for calculating, for each of said first direction-data packets, a first-direction provisional delay which is a first difference given by subtracting, for each of said first direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant,

wherein said calculating means also calculates, for each of said second direction-data packets, a second-direction provisional delay which is a second difference given by subtracting, for each of said second direction-data packets, said recorded input time instant from said recorded output time instant, and

wherein said calculating means derives a time difference between said first and said second clocks from a first minimum value of said first-direction provisional delays and a second minimum value of said second-direction provisional delays, and

wherein said calculating means is not communicatively connected to either the first network segment or the second network segment.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising correcting means for correcting said first-direction and said second-direction provisional delays by the use of said time difference.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising synchronizing means for synchronizing said first and said second clocks by the use of said time difference.