Centrally driven performance analysis of low power and Lossy Networks

• US 9,218,216 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vasseur, Jean-Philippe, Hui, Jonathan W., Tolle, Gilman
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Application Number:
  US13/188,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/226, 455/67.11, 455/453, 455/63.1, 370/252, 370/255, 370/310, 370/311
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5061 Partitioning or combining of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

In one embodiment, a centralized device for a computer network divides the computer network into one or more regions for which performance is to be measured, and selects one or more nodes within each respective region of the one or more regions. The centralized device may then send a performance measurement request (PMR) to the selected node(s) for each region, and receives measured performance reports from the selected node(s) for each region in response to the PMR. Accordingly, based on the measured performance reports, the centralized device may then adjust at least one of either the divided regions or the selected node(s) for one or more of the one or more regions, e.g., for future PMRs.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

dividing a computer network into one or more regions for which performance is to be measured, wherein each region of the one or more regions makes up an area of the computer network;

selecting one or more nodes within each respective region of the one or more regions;

determining how often to send a performance measurement request (PMR);

scheduling the sending of the PMR to minimize interference with one or more applications operating in the computer network;

sending the PMR to the one or more selected nodes for each region;

receiving measured performance reports from the one or more selected nodes for each region in response to the PMR; and

adjusting, based on the measured performance reports, at least one of either the divided regions or which of the one or more nodes is selected for one or more of the one or more regions.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein selecting the one or more nodes within each respective region comprises:

selecting the one or more nodes based on at least one of either node capability or node location.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein determining how often to send a PMR to a particular region is based on stability of the particular region.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein dividing the computer network into the one or more regions comprises:

determining a number of regions, a size of regions, and a location of regions within the computer network.

5. The method as in claim 4, further comprising:

initializing a selected number of regions with substantially similar size without knowledge of any performance measurements; and

iterating the number, size, and location of regions based on received performance measurements.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

indicating, within the PMR to a particular selected node for a particular corresponding region, a scope of the PMR, wherein the scope is selected from a group consisting of local scope of the particular node and regional scope for the particular corresponding region.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

indicating, within the PMR to a particular selected node for a particular corresponding region, a list of one or more performance parameters to measure.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein the performance parameters comprise local resources selected from a group consisting of:

memory-based metrics, processor-based metrics, and energy-based metrics.

9. The method as in claim 7, wherein the performance parameters comprise regional network statistics selected from a group consisting of:

path metrics, delay metrics, latency metrics, packet loss metrics, and throughput metrics.

10. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

indicating, within the PMR to a particular selected node for a particular corresponding region, a periodicity of reporting, wherein the periodicity of reporting specifies a number of measurements to be performed by the particular selected node over a specified period of time.

11. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a particular PMR to one or more particular region in response to a network event.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces to communicate in a computer network;

a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;

a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to;

divide the computer network into one or more regions for which performance is to be measured, wherein each region of the one or more regions makes up an area of the computer network;

select one or more nodes within each respective region of the one or more regions;

determining how often to send a performance measurement request (PMR);

scheduling the sending of the PMR to minimize interference with one or more applications operating in the computer network;

send the PMR to the one or more selected nodes for each region;

receive measured performance reports from the one or more selected nodes for each region in response to the PMR; and

adjust, based on the measured performance reports, at least one of either the divided regions or which of the one or more nodes is selected for one or more of the one or more regions.

13. The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the process when executed to select the one or more nodes within each respective region is further operable to:

select the one or more nodes based on at least one of either node capability or node location.

14. The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the process when executed to divide the computer network into the one or more regions is further operable to:

determine a number of regions, a size of regions, and a location of regions within the computer network.

15. The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

indicate, within the PMR to a particular selected node for a particular corresponding region, at least one of;

i) a scope of the PMR, wherein the scope is selected from a group consisting of local scope of the particular node and regional scope for the particular corresponding region;

ii) a list of one or more performance parameters to measure; and

iii) a periodicity of reporting, wherein the periodicity of reporting specifies a number of measurements to be performed by the particular selected node over a specified period of time.

16. The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the process when executed is further operable to:

send a particular PMR to one or more particular region in response to a network event.

17. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed by a processor operable to:

divide a computer network into one or more regions for which performance is to be measured, wherein each region of the one or more regions makes up an area of the computer network;

select one or more nodes within each respective region of the one or more regions;

determining how often to send a performance measurement request (PMR);

scheduling the sending of the PMR to minimize interference with one or more applications operating in the computer network;

send the PMR to the one or more selected nodes for each region;

receive measured performance reports from the one or more selected nodes for each region in response to the PMR; and

adjust, based on the measured performance reports, at least one of either the divided regions or which of the one or more nodes is selected for one or more of the one or more regions.

18. The computer-readable media as in claim 17, wherein the software when executed is further operable to:

indicate, within the PMR to a particular selected node for a particular corresponding region, at least one of;

i) a scope of the PMR, wherein the scope is selected from a group consisting of local scope of the particular node and regional scope for the particular corresponding region;

ii) a list of one or more performance parameters to measure; and

iii) a periodicity of reporting, wherein the periodicity of reporting specifies a number of measurements to be performed by the particular selected node over a specified period of time.

19. The computer-readable media as in claim 17, wherein the software when executed is further operable to:

send a particular PMR to one or more particular region in response to a network event.