US 20140313927A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0313927 A1
(43) Pub. Date:
Xue et al.
(54)
METHOD AND SENDING-END DEVICE FOR
MEASURING PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
OF SERVICE FLOW
Oct. 23, 2014
Foreign Application Priority Data
(30)
May 29, 2012
(CN) ...................... .. 201210171739.X
Publication Classi?cation
(71) Applicant: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,
LTD., ShenZhen (CN)
(51)
(72) Inventors: Jing Xue, Beijing (CN); Mengiiao Liao,
Beijing (CN); Hongming Liu, Beijing
(CN)
Int. Cl.
H04L 12/26
CPC .................................... .. H04L 43/50 (2013.01)
USPC
(73) Assignee:
........................................................ ..
370/253
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,
(57)
LTD., ShenZhen (CN)
?ow is disclosed. A sending-end device constructs a measure
May 27, 2014
Related US. Application Data
(63) Continuation of application No. PCT/CN2012/
083465, ?led on Oct. 25, 2012.
ABSTRACT
A method for measuring a performance indicator of a service
(21) App1.No.: 14/288,187
(22) Filed:
(2006.01)
(52) U.S.Cl.
ment packet. The measurement packet is used to trigger a
receiving-end device to measure the performance indicator of
the service ?ow. A forwarding attribute of the measurement
packet is the same as a forwarding attribute of a packet in the
service ?ow. The measurement packet is sent to the receiving
end device.
A sending-end device constructs a ?rst measurement packet, where
the ?rst measurement packet is used to trigger a receiving-end
device to measure a performance indicator of a service ?ow, a
forwarding attribute of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as
a forwarding attribute of a packet in the service ?ow so that a
forwarding path of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a
forwarding path of the packet in the service ?ow and a forwarding
priority of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a forwarding
priority of the packet in the service ?ow, and the ?rst measurement
packet carries a ?rst identi?er used to indicate that the ?rst
measurement packet is not a packet in the service ?ow
W102
The sending-end device sends the ?rst measurement packet to the
receiving-end device
Patent Application Publication
Oct. 23, 2014 Sheet 1 of 2
US 2014/0313927 A1
A sending-end device constructs a ?rst measurement packet, where
the ?rst measurement packet is used to trigger a receiving-end
device to measure a performance indicator of a service ?ow, a
forwarding attribute of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as
a forwarding attribute of a packet in the service ?ow so that a
forwarding path of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a
forwarding path of the packet in the service ?ow and a forwarding
priority of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a forwarding
priority of the packet in the service ?ow, and the ?rst measurement
packet carries a ?rst identi?er used to indicate that the ?rst
measurement packet is not a packet in the service ?ow
r102
The sending-end device sends the ?rst measurement packet to the
receiving-end device
FIG. 1
Sending-end device
f 201
Packet
construction unit
I
Packet sending
unit
FIG. 2
?202
Patent Application Publication
Oct. 23, 2014 Sheet 2 of 2
US 2014/0313927 A1
Sending-end device
p 201
Packet
construction unit
A2 \
Packet sending
counting unit
unit
FIG. 3
203
Oct. 23, 2014
US 2014/0313927 A1
METHOD AND SENDING-END DEVICE FOR
MEASURING PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
OF SERVICE FLOW
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/CN2012/083465, ?led on Oct. 25,
2012, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application
No. 201210171739.X, ?led on May 29, 2012, both of which
are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002]
The present application relates to the ?eld of com
munication technologies and, in particular embodiments, to a
method and a sending-end device for measuring a perfor
mance indicator of a service ?ow.
BACKGROUND
construction unit is con?gured to construct a ?rst measure
ment packet, where the ?rst measurement packet is used to
trigger a receiving-end device to measure the performance
indicator of the service ?ow. A forwarding attribute of the ?rst
measurement packet is the same as a forwarding attribute of a
packet in the service ?ow so that a forwarding path of the ?rst
measurement packet is the same as a forwarding path of the
packet in the service ?ow and a forwarding priority of the ?rst
measurement packet is the same as a forwarding priority of
the packet in the service ?ow. The ?rst measurement packet
carries a ?rst identi?er used to indicate that the ?rst measure
ment packet is not a packet in the service ?ow. A packet
sending unit is con?gured to send the ?rst measurement
packet to the receiving-end device.
[0008]
For the method and the sending-end device for mea
suring the performance indicator of the service ?ow, the send
ing-end device sends, a measurement packet whose forward
latency.
ing attribute is the same as that of the packet in the service
?ow to the receiving-end device, so as to trigger the receiving
end device to measure the performance indicator of the ser
vice ?ow. The measurement packet can be forwarded accord
[0004] In the prior art, when a performance indicator of a
service ?ow between a sending-end device and a receiving
end device needs to be measured. The sending-end device
ing to a path of the packet in the service ?ow and packet
disordering does not occur, thereby improving accuracy of
measuring the performance indicator of the service ?ow.
[0003] Performance of a network service ?ow may be mea
sured by a performance indicator such as a packet loss ratio or
intermittently inserts a dedicated protocol packet into the
service ?ow to serve as a measurement packet and carries an
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
original parameter counted by the sending-end device. For
example, the number of packets in the service ?ow sent by the
sending-end device during a period when two measurement
[0009] FIG. 1 is a ?owchart of a method for measuring a
performance indicator of a service ?ow according to an
packets are sent, in the measurement packet, so as to trigger
the receiving-end device to perform a corresponding mea
embodiment of the present application;
surement action to obtain a measurement result. The mea
surement result obtained in this way may be inaccurate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005]
Embodiments of the present application provide a
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sending-end
device for measuring a performance indicator of a service
?ow according to an embodiment of the present application;
and
[0011]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another sending
end device for measuring a performance indicator of a service
?ow according to an embodiment of the present application.
method and a sending-end device for measuring a perfor
mance indicator of a service ?ow, which can solve the prob
lem in the prior art. A dedicated protocol packet is inserted
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE
EMBODIMENTS
intermittently into a service ?ow to serve as a measurement
service ?ow (the forwarding attribute includes a forwarding
[0012] The following further describes the technical solu
tions of the embodiments of the present application in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodi
path and a forwarding priority), which may result in an inac
ments.
curate measurement result.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present
application provides a method for measuring a performance
indicator of a service ?ow, including the following steps.
packet. It cannot be ensured that the measurement packet has
a forwarding attribute consistent with that of a service in the
[0006]
According to one aspect, an embodiment of the
present application provides a method for measuring a per
formance indicator of a service ?ow. A sending-end device
constructs a ?rst measurement packet. The ?rst measurement
packet is used to trigger a receiving-end device to measure the
performance indicator of the service ?ow. A forwarding
attribute of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a
forwarding attribute of a packet in the service ?ow so that a
forwarding path of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as
a forwarding path of the packet in the service ?ow and a
forwarding priority of the ?rst measurement packet is the
same as a forwarding priority of the packet in the service ?ow.
The ?rst measurement packet carries a ?rst identi?er used to
indicate that the ?rst measurement packet is not a packet in
the service ?ow. The sending-end device sends the ?rst mea
surement packet to the receiving-end device.
[0007] According to another aspect, an embodiment of the
present application provides a sending-end device for mea
suring a performance indicator of a service ?ow. A packet
[0014]
101: A sending-end device constructs a ?rst mea
surement packet, where the ?rst measurement packet is used
to trigger a receiving-end device to measure the performance
indicator of the service ?ow. A forwarding attribute of the ?rst
measurement packet is the same as a forwarding attribute of a
packet in the service ?ow so that a forwarding path of the ?rst
measurement packet is the same as a forwarding path of the
packet in the service ?ow and a forwarding priority of the ?rst
measurement packet is the same as a forwarding priority of
the packet in the service ?ow. The ?rst measurement packet
carries a ?rst identi?er used to indicate that the ?rst measure
ment packet is not a packet in the service ?ow.
[0015] 102: The sending-end device sends the ?rst mea
surement packet to the receiving-end device.
[0016] For example, the sending-end device and the receiv
ing-end device may be network devices such as a router and a
switch, and the sending-end device forwards the service ?ow
US 2014/0313927 A1
Oct. 23, 2014
to the receiving-end device. When the performance indicator
of the service ?ow needs to be measured, the sending-end
mines whether the ?rst measurement packet carries the ?rst
device constructs the ?rst measurement packet and sends the
?rst measurement packet to the receiving-end device. The
device determines that the packet header of the ?rst measure
ment packet has the option whose sequence number is 26. For
forwarding attribute of the ?rst measurement packet is the
the Ethernet packet, the receiving-end device determines that
the value of the type ?eld in the packet header of the ?rst
measurement packet is 0x1011. Therefore, it is known that
the ?rst measurement packet is not a packet in the service
?ow. Then, the receiving-end device starts a corresponding
action of measuring the performance indicator of the service
same as the forwarding attribute of the packet in the service
?ow so that the ?rst measurement packet and the packet in the
service ?ow have the same forwarding path and forwarding
priority. Adopting the same forwarding attribute ensures that
packet disordering does not occur, where packet disorder
identi?er. For example, for the 1P packet, the receiving-end
refers to a situation in which a packet sent later arrives earlier.
?ow, and the performance indicator includes one or more of a
For example, a packet in the service ?ow sent after the ?rst
measurement packet arrives earlier at the receiving-end
device, or the ?rst measurement packet is not forwarded along
the path of the service ?ow, so as to improve measurement
result accuracy of the performance indicator of the service
?ow.
[0017] The ?rst measurement packet carries the ?rst iden
ti?er used to indicate that the ?rst measurement packet is not
a packet in the service ?ow.
[0018] Use the ?rst measurement packet that is an IP (Inter
packet loss ratio and a latency.
[0021] Optionally, if the performance indicator is a packet
loss ratio, the sending-end device continues to send the ser
vice ?ow after sending the ?rst measurement packet, and
counts, within a preset interval, the number of packets in the
net Protocol, lnternet Protocol) packet in Layer 3 protocol
packets as an example. The ?rst identi?er may be carried in an
option Options ?eld of a header of the 1P packet. For example,
a newly de?ned option whose sequence number is 26. A
forwarding path of the 1P packet is determined by a quintuple
in the header of the 1P packet, namely, a source IP address
(Source Address), a destination IP address (Destination
Address), a protocol number (Protocol), a Transmission Con
trol Protocol (Transmission Control Protocol, TCP) or a User
Datagram Protocol (User Datagram Protocol, UDP) source
port number (TCP or UDP Source Port), and a TCP or UDP
destination port number (TCP or UDP Destination Port). The
TCP and UDP source and destination port numbers are pay
load parts in the 1P packet. A forwarding priority of the 1P
packet is determined by a type of service (Type of Service) in
the header of the 1P packet. The quintuple in the packet header
of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a quintuple in
a packet header of the packet in the service ?ow. The value of
the type of service in the packet header of the ?rst measure
ment packet is the same as the value of the type of service in
the packet header of the packet in the service ?ow.
[0019] Use the ?rst measurement packet that is an Ethernet
packet in Layer 2 protocol packets as an example. There are
two types of common Ethernet packets: one is an RFC894
Ethernet packet (namely, Ethernet H), and the other is an
802.1Q Ethernet packet. The ?rst identi?er may be carried in
a type ?eld of a header of the RFC894 Ethernet packet or a
type length/type (Length/Type) ?eld of the 802.1Q Ethernet
packet. For example, a new type whose value is 0x1011. A
forwarding path of the Ethernet packet is determined by a
destination media access control address (Destination Media
Access Control, DMAC) in a header of the Ethernet packet.
The value of a DMAC in the packet header of the ?rst mea
surement packet is the same as the value of a DMAC in the
packet header of the packet in the service ?ow. An 802 . 1 Q Tag
?eld in a header of the 802.1Q Ethernet packet includes a
service ?ow that are sent to the receiving-end device after the
sending-end device sends the ?rst measurement packet to the
receiving-end device (for ease of subsequent description, the
number is referred to as the number of packets sent by the
sending-end device within a measurement interval). The pre
set interval may be an interval of time, or may also be an
interval of the number of packets in the service ?ow. For
example, the interval of time may be set to two seconds, or the
interval may be also set to ten thousand packets in the service
?ow. After the counting is ?nished, the sending-end device
constructs a second measurement packet, where a forwarding
attribute of the second measurement packet is the same as the
forwarding attribute of the packet in the service ?ow. The
second measurement packet and the packet in the service ?ow
have the same forwarding path and forwarding priority.
[0022] The sending-end device carries the number of pack
ets sent by the sending-end device in the second measurement
packet. Use the second measurement packet that is an IP
packet as an example. The number of packets may be carried
in a type length value (Type Length Value) in the option ?eld
whose sequence number is 26 in a packet header of the second
measurement packet.
[0023] The sending-end device sends the second measure
ment packet to the receiving-end device.
[0024] For example, the number of packets sent by the
sending-end device within the measurement interval may not
be sent by using the second measurement packet, and may be
carried in a protocol packet and sent to the receiving-end
device. The protocol packet is named so to be distinguished
from a measurement packet. A forwarding attribute of the
protocol packet is different from that of the packet in the
service ?ow. Strict order preserving is not required for the
protocol packet and the packet in the service ?ow. For
example, the sending-end device constructs a ?rst protocol
packet, where the ?rst protocol packet carries the number of
packets sent by the sending-end device within the measure
ment interval and a packet header of the ?rst protocol packet
is different from the packet header of the packet in the service
?ow. In this case, the second measurement packet may be
constructed ?rst. The number of packets sent by the sending
end device within the measurement interval is then counted.
priority PR1 sub-?eld, a forwarding priority of the 802.1Q
Ethernet packet is determined by the value of the priority
sub-?eld, and the value of the priority in the packet header of
After the counting is ?nished, the second measurement
packet is sent.
the ?rst measurement packet is the same as the value of the
the ?rst measurement packet and the second measurement
priority in the packet header of the packet in the service ?ow.
[0020] After receiving the packet in the service ?ow and the
?rst measurement packet, the receiving-end device deter
packet, an action of measuring the performance indicator of
the service ?ow by the device is triggered. For example, after
[0025] Accordingly, after the receiving-end device receives
the ?rst measurement packet is received, a counter is started
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to count the number of packets in the service ?ow that arrive
after the ?rst measurement packet. When the second mea
surement packet is received, a value of the counter is
recorded. The value corresponds to the number of received
packets in the service ?ow that arrive after the ?rst measure
ment packet and until the second measurement packet is
received (for ease of subsequent description, the number is
referred to as the number of packets received by the receiving
end device within a measurement interval). The receiving
end device obtains the number of packets sent by the sending
end device within the measurement interval from the received
second measurement packet or the received ?rst protocol
packet and determines the packet loss ratio of the service ?ow.
For example, the number of packets sent by the sending-end
device within the measurement interval is 1000, and the num
and packet disordering does not occur, thereby improving
accuracy of measuring the performance indicator of the ser
vice ?ow.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present
application provides a sending-end device for measuring a
performance indicator of a service ?ow, including the follow
ing. A packet construction unit 201, con?gured to construct a
?rst measurement packet, where the ?rst measurement packet
is used to trigger a receiving-end device to measure the per
formance indicator of the service ?ow. A forwarding attribute
of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a forwarding
attribute of a packet in the service ?ow so that a forwarding
path of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a forward
ing path of the packet in the service ?ow and a forwarding
priority of the ?rst measurement packet is the same as a
ber of packets received by the receiving-end device within the
forwarding priority of the packet in the service ?ow. The ?rst
measurement interval is 999, so that it is determined that the
packet loss ratio of the service ?ow is one thousandth.
measurement packet carries a ?rst identi?er used to indicate
that the ?rst measurement packet is not a packet in the service
?ow.
[0026]
Optionally, the performance indicator can be a
[0034] A packet sending unit 202, con?gured to send the
latency.
[0027] The ?rst measurement packet may carry time infor
mation indicating time at which the measurement packet is
sent. Use the ?rst measurement packet that is an IP packet as
an example. The time information may be carried in a type
length value (TLV) in an option ?eld whose sequence number
is 26 in the packet header of the ?rst measurement packet.
De?nitely, the sending-end device may also construct a sec
ond protocol packet, and carry the time information in the
second protocol packet and send the time information to the
receiving-end device (the second protocol packet has the
same type as the ?rst protocol packet).
[0028] Accordingly, the receiving-end device records the
time at which the ?rst measurement packet is received and
calculates the latency of the service ?ow.
[0029] A packet type of the service ?ow includes a Layer 2
protocol packet or a Layer 3 protocol packet. This embodi
ment of the present application may be used to measure
performance indicators of a Layer 2 service ?ow and a Layer
3 service ?ow. This embodiment of the present application
uses an IP packet and an Ethernet packet as an example.
However, the same concept may be extended to other Layer 2
protocols, such as asynchronous transfer mode (Asynchro
nous Transfer Mode, ATM), Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP),
frame relay (PR), and High Level Data Link Control (HDLC).
[0030] Optionally, the sending-end device may periodi
cally send a measurement packet to the receiving-end device.
[0031]
In this embodiment of the present application, a
packet type of the ?rst protocol packet and the second proto
col packet may be the same as or may also be different from
the packet type of the packet in the service ?ow. The ?rst
protocol packet and the second protocol packet can carry the
time information indicating time at which the sending-end
device sends the measurement packet or the number of pack
ets sent by the sending-end device within the measurement
interval.
[0032]
For the method for measuring a performance indi
cator of a service ?ow, a sending-end device sends a measure
ment packet whose forwarding attribute is the same as that of
a packet in the service ?ow to a receiving-end device, so as to
trigger the receiving-end device to measure the performance
indicator of the service ?ow. The measurement packet may be
forwarded according to a path of the packet in the service ?ow
?rst measurement packet to the receiving-end device.
[0035] For example, if the performance indicator is a
packet loss ratio, the ?rst measurement packet is speci?cally
used to trigger the receiving-end device to start to count the
number of received packets in the service ?ow. Reference is
now made to FIG. 3.
[0036]
The packet construction unit 201 is further con?g
ured to construct a second measurement packet, where the
second measurement packet is used to trigger the receiving
end device to record the number of received packets in the
service ?ow. A forwarding attribute of the second measure
ment packet is the same as the forwarding attributes of the
packets in the service ?ow so that a forwarding path of the
second measurement packet is the same as the forwarding
paths of the packets in the service ?ow and a forwarding
priority of the second measurement packet is the same as the
forwarding priorities of the packets in the service ?ow. The
second measurement packet carries a second identi?er used
to indicate that the second measurement packet is not a packet
in the service ?ow.
[0037] The sending-end device further includes a counting
unit 203, con?gured to count, within a preset interval, the
number of packets in the service ?ow that are sent to the
receiving-end device after the sending-end device sends the
?rst measurement packet to the receiving-end device.
[0038] Accordingly, the packet sending unit 202 is further
con?gured to send the second measurement packet and the
number of packets to the receiving-end device after the count
ing unit 203 ?nishes counting the number of packets.
[0039] In an example, the number of packets is carried in
the second measurement packet. Accordingly, the packet con
struction unit 201 is con?gured to construct the second mea
surement packet after the counting unit 203 ?nishes counting
the number of packets.
[0040] In another example, the packet construction unit 201
is further con?gured to construct a ?rst protocol packet,
where the ?rst protocol packet carries the number of packets.
A forwarding attribute of the ?rst protocol packet is different
from the forwarding attributes of the packets in the service
?ow so that a forwarding path of the ?rst protocol packet is
different from the forwarding paths of the packets in the
service ?ow or a forwarding priority of the ?rst protocol
packet is different from the forwarding priorities of the pack
ets in the service ?ow.
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[0041] For example, if the performance indicator is a
latency, the ?rst measurement packet further carries a times
tamp indicating time at which the ?rst measurement packet is
sent.
[0042] For example, if the performance indicator is a
latency, the packet construction unit 201 is further con?gured
to construct a second protocol packet. The second protocol
packet carries the timestamp indicating time at which the ?rst
measurement packet is sent. A forwarding attribute of the
second protocol packet is different from the forwarding
attribute of the packet in the service ?ow so that a forwarding
path of the second protocol packet is different from the for
warding path of the packet in the service ?ow or a forwarding
priority of the second protocol packet is different from the
forwarding priority of the packet in the service ?ow.
[0043] Accordingly, the packet sending unit 202 is further
con?gured to send the second protocol packet to the receiv
ing-end device.
[0044]
For the sending-end device for measuring a perfor
mance indicator of a service ?ow, the sending-end device
sends a measurement packet whose forwarding attribute is the
same as that of a packet in the service ?ow to a receiving-end
device. This is so as to trigger the receiving-end device to
measure a performance indicator of the service ?ow, where
the measurement packet may be forwarded according to a
path of the packet in the service ?ow and packet disordering
does not occur, thereby improving accuracy of measuring the
performance indicator of the service ?ow.
[0045] For example, the units in the embodiments shown in
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the perfor
mance indicator is a packet loss ratio and wherein the ?rst
measurement packet is used to trigger the receiving-end
device to start to count the number of received packets in the
service ?ow.
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:
constructing, by the sending-end device, a second mea
surement packet, wherein the second measurement
packet is used to trigger the receiving-end device to
record the number of received packets in the service
?ow, wherein a forwarding attribute of the second mea
surement packet is the same as the forwarding attributes
of the packets in the service ?ow, and wherein the second
measurement packet carries a second identi?er used to
indicate that the second measurement packet is not a
packet in the service ?ow;
counting, by the sending-end device within a preset inter
val, the number of packets in the service ?ow that are
sent to the receiving-end device after the sending-end
device sends the ?rst measurement packet to the receiv
ing-end device; and
sending, by the sending-end device, the second measure
ment packet and the number of packets to the receiving
end device when counting of the number of packets is
?nished.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the number of
packets is carried in the second measurement packet and
wherein constructing the second measurement packet is per
formed when the counting of the number of packets is ?n
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 may be combined into one or more units.
ished.
[0046]
using hardware. A person of ordinary skill in the art may
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein sending the
second measurement packet and the number of packets to the
understand that all or a part of the steps of methods in the
receiving-end device comprises:
For example, all the units may be implemented by
embodiments may be implemented by a program instructing
relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer
readable storage medium. For example, the storage medium
may include: a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical
disc.
[0047] The method and the sending-end device for measur
ing a performance indicator of a service ?ow according to the
embodiments of the present application are described above
in detail. However, the descriptions of the foregoing embodi
ments are merely intended to help understand the method and
idea of the present application, and shall not be construed as
a limitation on the present application. Any variation or
replacement readily ?gured out by a person skilled in the art
within the technical scope disclosed in the present application
shall fall within the protection scope of the present applica
tion.
What is claimed is:
1. A method for measuring a performance indicator of a
service ?ow, the method comprising:
constructing, by a sending-end device, a ?rst measurement
packet, wherein the ?rst measurement packet is used to
trigger a receiving-end device to measure the perfor
mance indicator of the service ?ow, wherein a forward
ing attribute of the ?rst measurement packet is the same
as a forwarding attribute of a packet in the service ?ow,
and wherein the ?rst measurement packet carries a ?rst
identi?er used to indicate that the ?rst measurement
packet is not a packet in the service ?ow; and
sending, by the sending-end device, the ?rst measurement
packet to the receiving-end device.
sending, by the sending-end device, the second measure
ment packet to the receiving-end device;
constructing, by the sending-end device, a ?rst protocol
packet, wherein the ?rst protocol packet carries the num
ber of packets and wherein a forwarding attribute of the
?rst protocol packet is different from the forwarding
attributes of the packets in the service ?ow; and
sending, by the sending-end device, the ?rst protocol
packet to the receiving-end device.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the perfor
mance indicator is a latency and wherein the ?rst measure
ment packet further carries a timestamp indicating time at
which the ?rst measurement packet is sent.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the perfor
mance indicator is a latency and wherein the method further
comprises:
constructing, by the sending-end device, a second protocol
packet, wherein the second protocol packet carries a
timestamp indicating time at which the ?rst measure
ment packet is sent, and a forwarding attribute of the
second protocol packet is different from the forwarding
attribute of the packet in the service ?ow; and
sending, by the sending-end device, the second protocol
packet to the receiving-end device.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packet in
the service ?ow comprises a Layer 2 protocol packet.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the packet in
the service ?ow comprises a Layer 3 protocol packet.
10. A sending-end device for measuring a performance
indicator of a service ?ow, the device comprising:
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US 2014/0313927 A1
a packet construction unit, con?gured to construct a ?rst
measurement packet, wherein the ?rst measurement
packet is used to trigger a receiving-end device to mea
sure the performance indicator of the service ?ow,
wherein a forwarding attribute of the ?rst measurement
packet is the same as a forwarding attribute of a packet in
the service ?ow, and wherein the ?rst measurement
packet carries a ?rst identi?er used to indicate that the
?rst measurement packet is not a packet in the service
?ow; and
a packet sending unit, con?gured to send the ?rst measure
ment packet to the receiving-end device.
11. The sending-end device according to claim 10, wherein
if the performance indicator is a packet loss ratio, the ?rst
measurement packet is used to trigger the receiving-end
device to start to count the number of received packets in the
service ?ow;
wherein the packet construction unit is further con?gured
to construct a second measurement packet, wherein the
second measurement packet is used to trigger the receiv
ing-end device to record the number of received packets
in the service ?ow, a forwarding attribute of the second
measurement packet is the same as the forwarding
attributes of the packets in the service ?ow, and the
second measurement packet carries a second identi?er
used to indicate that the second measurement packet is
not a packet in the service ?ow;
wherein the sending-end device further comprises a count
ing unit, con?gured to count, within a preset interval, the
number of packets in the service ?ow that are sent to the
receiving-end device after the sending-end device sends
the ?rst measurement packet to the receiving-end
device; and
wherein the packet sending unit is further con?gured to
send the second measurement packet and the number of
packets to the receiving-end device after the counting
unit ?nishes counting the number of packets.
12. The sending-end device according to claim 11, wherein
the number of packets is carried in the second measurement
packet and wherein the packet construction unit is con?gured
to construct the second measurement packet after the count
ing unit ?nishes counting the number of packets.
13. The sending-end device according to claim 11, wherein
the packet construction unit is further con?gured to construct
a ?rst protocol packet, wherein the ?rst protocol packet car
ries the number of packets, and wherein a forwarding attribute
of the ?rst protocol packet is different from the forwarding
attributes of the packets in the service ?ow.
14. The sending-end device according to claim 10, wherein
the performance indicator is a latency and wherein the ?rst
measurement packet further carries a timestamp indicating
time at which the ?rst measurement packet is sent.
15. The sending-end device according to claim 10, wherein
the performance indicator is a latency,
wherein the packet construction unit is further con?gured
to construct a second protocol packet, wherein the sec
ond protocol packet carries a timestamp indicating time
at which the ?rst measurement packet is sent, and
wherein a forwarding attribute of the second protocol
packet is different from the forwarding attribute of the
packet in the service ?ow; and
wherein the packet sending unit is further con?gured to
send the second protocol packet to the receiving-end
device.