Network Working Group                                          T. Ionta
Internet-Draft                                      Telecom Italia Labs
Intended status: Standard Track                            May 26, 2013
Expires: November 25, 2013

         Spatial Aggregation Metrics for Multipary Services
         draft-ionta-spatial-metrics-multiparty-services-02


Abstract

One of the best chances for a Service Provider to face the complex
growth of IP Services, and their challenging requirements/SLAs along
the Core network, is to enrich the current Performance metrics - mainly
derived from a Network-oriented point of view, and therefore a general
perspective, not focused on specific services - with some more
Performance factors, so to include a Service-oriented point of view,
more centred on the particular kind of service, with its own
characteristics in terms of protocol, application, manageability,
and so on.
To achieve the above goal, and starting from the one-to-group
performance metrics outlined in RFC 5644 [RFC5644], an effort to a
deeper analysis and definition of spatial aggregation metrics (as a
part of the framework for metric composition defined in RFC 5835
[RFC5835])is proposed in this memo, where the main focus is on
multiparty communications (e.g. video providers, online biding,
online stock market, etc.).
This memo lends itself to passive measurement as well as active
measurement.
Finally this memo is tuned to RFC 6390 [RFC6390] in terms of scopes,
framework concepts, and need to widen the current performance metrics
depending on the application, service etc.


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This Internet-Draft will expire on December 7, 2012.


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Table of Contents
1. Introduction and Scope ..........................................2
2. Terminology .....................................................3
3. Brief metric description.........................................6
4. One-to-Group Link Metrics definition ............................7
5. One-to-Group Link and Path Statistics ...........................8
6. One-to-Group Overall Packet Loss Statistics ....................11
7. Extended applications...........................................12
8. Security Considerations ........................................12
9. References .....................................................13
10. Acknowledgments................................................13

1. Introduction and Scope

Current Performance Metrics, especially those applied to the core
network, derive from a general perspective approach, only based on a
Network-oriented point of view, therefore unconnected to the kind of
service offered on the network.
But, due to the growing need to face the complexity of the new IP
Services, and their challenging SLAs, this approach has become
inadequate, especially while trying to detect the impact of a
performance measurement on a particular service. For instance, if a
network or a link has a 10-4 average PLR, does this impact on the kind
of service required to be monitored? And to what degree?

Moreover, this general perspective approach is unsuited to perceive
further various factors to be taken into account, such as:

- the specificity of the service, with its own protocol, application
(i.e. coding), and management (i.e. QOS, fragmentation management)
characteristics.

- the kind of network topology over which the particular service is
implemented (i.e. redundancy, tunneling, etc.).

A trivial but clarifying example of this occurs when the same PLR is
detected over two different links: one of the link coming out from the
root (source) of a multicast tree, and the other link ending with a
leaf (receiver).

The impact on the service, of course, is dramatically different if the
two cases are considered separately, since the first kind of link
conveys the whole set of flows originating from the source, while the
second one conveys just a subset of the whole set of flows.

As a consequence of the above consideration, a Service-oriented point of
View - more centred on the particular kind of service, and its own
specific characteristics - must be taken into account while defining
Performance metrics.
In particular two needs raise:

- an effort to a deeper analysis and definition of spatial aggregation
metrics (as a part of the framework for metric composition defined in
RFC 5835 [RFC5835]), thus assigning a sort of weight, specific, and
different for each link, to the PLR measured over it, in order to take
into account the impact of the PLR on the service.

- starting from the metrics outlined in the RFC 5644 [RFC5644] for
multiparty services, define performance metrics aggregation, so to
enrich the current Performance Metrics, mainly derived from a
Network-oriented point of view.

The main focus of this memo is to address these two needs for
multiparty communications (e.g. TV broadcast providers, video
providers, online biding, online stock market, etc.) in order to
better evaluate the network against the service requirements.

This memo lends itself to passive measurement as well as active
measurement (with dedicated test traffic). In reality, if the
service provider is in control of the Source traffic on the tree,
and knows and/or can arrange the traffic headers to be suitable for
measurement, then it blurs the lines quite a bit between passive and
active. The Source's inter-packet sending time distribution comes into
focus as the main difference - it will not be Poisson and may not be
Periodic. This is a key area to address further.

Finally this memo is tuned to RFC 6390 [RFC6390] in terms of scopes,
framework concepts, and need to widen the current performance metrics
depending on the application, service etc.

1.1. Requirements Language

The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].



2. Terminology

2.1 Naming of the metrics

The names of the metrics, including capitalized letters, are as close as
possible of the names of the one-way end-to-end or one-to-group metrics
they are derived from.



2.2 Terms defined elsewhere

composed metric: section 4 of RFC 5835
composition function: section 4 of RFC 5835
higher-order composition: section 5 of RFC 5835
host: section 5 of RFC 2330
link: path: section 5 of RFC 2330
one-to-group metric: section 2 of RFC 5644
path: section 5 of RFC 2330
router: section 5 of RFC 2330
routers digest: section 2 of RFC 5644
sample: section 11 of RFC 2330
singleton: section 11 of RFC 2330
spatial aggregation: section 5 of RFC 5835
spatial composition: section 5 of RFC 5835
spatial metric: section 2 of RFC 5644
subpath: section 5 of RFC 2330
temporal aggregation: section 5 of RFC 5835
Type-P: see RFC 2330
Type-P-One-way-Packet-Loss-Average: see RFC 2680, and RFC 5644



2.3 One-to-Group metrics defined elsewhere

Type-P-One-to-group-Packet-Loss-Vector: section 7, and 8 of RFC 5644
Type-P-One-to-group-Receiver-n-Loss-Ratio: section 7, and 8 of RFC 5644
Type-P-One-to-group-Loss-Ratio: section 7, and 8 of RFC 5644



2.4 Points of Interest

The points of interest correspond to the hosts (according to the RFC
2330 definition, "hosts" include routing nodes), - i.e. measurement
collection points - which are a sub-set of the set of hosts involved in
the delivery of the packets (in addition to the source itself).
In RFC 5644 two possible scenarios concerning the points of interest
(the spatial one, and one-to-group) have been considered.
For the purpose of this memo a sort of mixed scenario, among the ones
shown above, is taken into account. In fact the whole set of the hosts
composing a multicast tree, including destinations, are points of
interest. An example of a very simple multicast tree, and its related
points of interest is depicted in Fig. 1.


                   Dst
             /----(*)1
           (*)----(*)2
           / \____(*)3
          /
         /     /--(*)4
Src --- (*)-- (*)--(*)5
         \
        ...  ...--(*)x
           \
           (*)----(*)X-1
             \____(*)X

             Note : (*) represent the nodes that are points of interest

               Figure 1: Points of Interest for a multicast tree



2.5 Multicast tree equivalent splitting

A generic single-source multicast tree, like the very simple one
depicted in Fig.2, is composed by J links, and X receivers.

             Link 1               Link 2              Link 3
 +--------+          +--------+           +--------+         +--------+
 |   H1   <>--------<>   H2   <>---------<>   H3  <>--------<>   H4   |
 +--------+          +---<>---+           +--------+         +--------+
                         |
                         |
                         |               Link 4               +--------+
                         +-----------------------------------<>   H5   |
                                                              +--------+
    <>   Interface
   ----  Link

          Figure 2: Example of a whole (or part of) multicast tree


To accomplish the task of this memo, an equivalent representation of the
generic single-source multicast tree is proposed, which is obtained by
splitting it in X different Multicast Equivalent Paths (called ME-Paths,
from now on), each of them corresponding to one of the X different paths
- as better explained below - starting from the source, and ending up
into one of the X receivers.

The generic ME-Path x is composed by the sequence of hosts, and
corresponding links between the source, and the receiver x.

As a result, the ME-Paths are different from each other because even if
they can partially overlap, they never do it completely. This happens
because each ME-Path is different from all the other ones regarding at
least one link, the one ending on the receiver, belonging just to one
ME-Path.
To clarify this concept, just apply the splitting method to the very
simple tree in Fig. 2.

It has only two leaves (receivers), therefore, only two different
ME-Paths can be derived, as shown below (Fig. 3).


             Link 1               Link 2              Link 3
 +--------+          +--------+           +--------+         +--------+
 |   H1   <>--------<>   H2   <>---------<>   H3  <>--------<>   H4   |
 +--------+          +---<>---+           +--------+         +--------+


                    Link 1                   Link 4
          +------+         +-------+                          +-------+
ME-PATH 2 |  H1  <>-------<> H2    <>-------------------------<>  H5  |
          +------+         +-------+                          +-------+

    <>   Interface
   ----  Link

          Figure 3: single-source multicast tree equivalent splitting.

The ME-Path definition shown above allows possible partial overlappings
among some ME-Paths (e.g. ME-Path 1, and ME-Path 2 in Fig. 3). This is
a specific choice, as detailed hereafter in section 5.3.1.

The numbering of the links composing the multiparty tree is free,
provided that:

- the link numbering is unique (that is not repeated) with respect to
the multicast tree.

- even if belonging to many ME-Paths, the same link between the same
two hosts keeps the same name (e.g. Link 1 in both ME-Path 1, and
ME-Path 2 in Fig. 3)


2.6 Vector

In accordance with the definition of RFC 5644 stated in section 2, a
vector is a set of singletons (single atomic results) comprised of
observations corresponding to a packet sent from one point to another.
In this memo the packet is sent from one side to the other one of each
of the J links composing the multicast tree. For instance, if the
one-way loss singletons observed over J links are LL1,LL2,...,LLJ
(where LL stands for Link Loss) then a generic one- way loss vector V
with J elements can be organized as {LL1, LL2,..., LLJ}. The
complete vector gives information over the dimension of space, a set of
J links in this memo.
Different vectors for common measurement points of interest are
distinguished by the packet sending time.


2.7 Matrix

As stated in RFC 5644, several vectors form a matrix, which contains
results observed over a sampling interval (from T0 to TK) at different
places in a network at different times.
For instance, a one-way loss Matrix {V1,V2,...,Vk,...,VK} is formed by
the one-way loss vectors V1={LL11,LL21,...,LLj1, ...,LLJ1},
V2={LL12,LL22,...,LLj2, ...,LLJ2},..., Vk={LL1k,LL2k,...,LLjk,
...,LLJk},...,VK={LL1K,LL2K,...,LLjK, ...,LLJK} for a sample of packets
P1, P2,...,Pk,...PK.
The matrix organizes the vectors information to present network
performance in both space and time.
Each row is a set of oneway singletons spreading over the time
dimension, and each column is another set of One-way singletons
spreading over the space dimension.
A one-dimensional matrix (row) corresponds to a sample in simple
point-to-point (a link in this memo) measurement.
The relationship among sample, vector, and matrix is illustrated in
Figure 4.

     Space
       ^
Link   |   /----------- Samples ------------------\
       |
 1     |    LL11  LL12  LL13  ...  LL1k  ...  LL1K
       |
 2     |    LL21  LL22  LL23  ...  LL2k  ...  LL2K
       |
 3     |    LL31  LL32  LL33  ...  LL3k  ...  LL3K
 .     |     .     .     .   ...     .         .
 .     |     .     .     .   ...     .         .
 j     |    LLj1  LLj2  LLj3  ...  LLjk  ...  LLjK
 .     |     .     .     .   ...     .         .
 .     |     .     .     .   ...     .         .
 J     |    LLJ1  LLJ2  LLJ3  ...  LLJk  ...  LLJK
       |
       +-----+-----+-----+---...-----+----...---+----> time
       T0    T1    T2    T3          Tk         TK
                   ^                 ^
                   |                 |
                Vector V2         Vector Vk

Figure 4: Relationship among Samples,Vectors, and Matrix.


3. Brief metric description

The metrics, and KPI defined in this memo are based on the source-to-
destination or end-to-end or one-to-group metrics defined by IETF in
[RFC2679], [RFC2680], [RFC3393], [RFC3432], and [RFC5644].
The [RFC2330], and [RFC5644] framework of parameters, unit of
measurement, and measurement methodologies are also adopted.

In RFC5644 two different approaches have been considered: the spatial
metric approach - intended to measure the performance of each segment
along a path - and the multiparty one, aimed at measuring the
end-to-end performance between one sorce and a group of receivers.
To achieve the goals of this memo - enriching the current one-to-group
Performance metrics, and statistics also with a Service-oriented point
of view
- a mixed approach is taken into account in this memo, and a new set of
multiparty metrics is stated.

This memo defines two new metrics:

- Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Vector which collects the set of
Type-P-One-way-Packet-Loss singletons between one side and the other
one of each of the links composing a multicast tree;

- Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Matrix which organizes the
above vectors information to present network performance in both space
and time.

Based on the above mentioned new metrics, new link, and path statistics
are defined:

- Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-j-Loss-Ratio captures the overall
packet loss ratio for link j;

- Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Loss-Ratio-Vector which collects the set of
Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-j-Loss-Ratios of each of the links composing
a multicast tree;

- Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-j-Weighted-Loss-Ratio captures the overall
Weighed packet loss ratio for link j;

- Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Weighted-Loss-Vector which collects the set
of Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-j-Weighted-Loss-Ratios of each of the links
composing a multicast tree. Since this is a very important vector, in
this memo it is also referred to as the Reference Vector;

- Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-x-Loss-Vector which collects a subset of
Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Weighted-Loss-Vector elements, which are
only those corresponding to the links belonging to the generic MEpath x.

Finally, based on the statistics shown above, a new overall performance
metrics composition/aggregation framework is defined:

- Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-x-Loss-Ratio is a user definable metric
composition/aggregation function applied to the set of Type-P-One-to-
group-Link-j-Loss-Ratios associated to the links belonging to the
generic ME-Path x;

- Type-P-One-to-Group-KPI-Loss-Ratio is a user definable metric
composition/aggregation function applied to all Type-P-One-to-group-
Path-x-Loss-Ratios of the ME-Paths composing the multiparty tree.




4. One-to-Group Link Metrics definition

This section defines vectors, and matrix for a one-to-group topology
using loss singleton over the J links composing the multicast tree.


4.1. Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Vector

Each element of the vector defined in section 2 of this memo represents
a loss singleton over one of the J links composing the multicast tree.
Thus the number of elements composing the whole vector equals the number
of links (that is J) composing the whole multiparty tree.
The generic Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Vector for a packet
sent at time Tk can be represented as:

Vk = <Tk, LL1, LL2, ..., LLj, ..., LLJ >

where j=1,2, ..., J , and LLj is the loss singleton over link j.



4.2. Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Matrix

Composing the J vectors shown above, as described in section 2, a
Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Matrix can be built as shown in
the following Fig. 5.

   space
     ^
Link |  /----------- Samples ----------\    Stats
     |
 1   |  LL11  LL12  ...  LL1k ...  LL1K     LL1LR
     |
 2   |  LL21  LL22  ...  LL2k ...  LL2K     LL2LR
     |
 3   |  LL31  LL32  ...  LL3k ...  LL3K     LL3LR
 .   |   .     .    ...    .         .         .
 .   |   .     .    ...    .         .         .
 j   |  LLj1  LLj2  ...  LLjk ...  LLjK     LLjLR <-- Link-j Loss Ratio
 .   |   .     .    ...    .         .         .
 .   |   .     .    ...    .         .         .
 J   |  LLJ1  LLJ2  ...  LLJk ...  LLJK     LLJLR
     |
     +---+-----+----...----+----...--+-->time  ^
    T0   T1    T2          Tk        TK        |
                           ^                   |
                           |                   |
                        Vector Vk        Link Loss Ratio Vector

Figure 5: Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Matrix J*K


From the considerations stated above it can be derived that the number
of rows composing the matrix equals the number of links (that is J)
composing the whole multicast tree.

All loss ratios are expressed in units of packets lost to total packets
sent. Statistics are computed on the sample of
Type-P-One-way-Packet-Loss[RFC2680] of the above matrix.

Based on the one-to-group vector metrics listed above, statistics are
defined below, so to capture single link performance, ME-Path
performance, and group performance, and the relative performance for a
multiparty communication.


5. One-to-Group Link and Path Statistics

Starting from the above metrics definition, this section defines link,
and path statistics for a one-to-group topology.


5.1. Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-j-Loss-Ratio

Given the Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Packet-Loss-Matrix depicted in Fig.
5, and according to the definitions, and method of [RFC2680], a Type-P-
One-way-Packet-Loss-Average for the sample at each of the J links can be
determined, and named Type-P-One-to-group-Link-j-Loss-Ratio, also
called LLjLR.
It can be expressed as

                   K
                ------
            1   \
    LLjLR = - *  > LLjk
            K   /
                ------
                 k = 1

Figure 6: Type-P-One-to-group-Link-j-Loss-Ratio for Link j.


5.2. Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Loss-Ratio-Vector

The Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Loss-Vector collects all the Type-P-One-
to-group-Link-j-Loss-Ratios computed on the J links composing the
multicast tree.
An example of Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Loss-Vector is depicted in Fig.
3.


5.3. Discussion about the Weighing Factor

The purpose of this memo is to enrich the current Performance metrics -
mainly derived from a Network-oriented point of view, and therefore a
general perspective, which is not focused on specific services - with
some more Performance factors, so to include a Service-oriented point
of view as well, more centred on:

- the specificity of the service or services to be monitored, with their
own protocols, applications (i.e. coding), and management (i.e. QOS,
 fragmentation management) characteristics.

- the kind of network topology over which the service or services to be
monitored are implemented (i.e. redundancy, tunneling, etc.).

To accomplish this task a weighing factor Wj, related to the
corresponding Link j, is introduced. Thus each Type-P-One-to-group-
Link-j-Loss-Ratio is weighed through its own specific Wj.
Since this memo introduces a framework for performance metrics, the
characterization of Wj is user definable, and up to the service
provider, depending on many factors he has to manage.
Some, but not all, of the possible network, and/or service factors that
can be taken into account while characterizing Wj are: number of
multicast flows over link j, bandwith, capacity (any possible type:
total, available, etc.) of link j,its redundancy, traffic flowing
through link j, type of service to be monitored over the link,
location of the link with respect to the whole topology, and so on.


5.3.1 Discussion about the Overlapping Factor

While characterizing each Wj - the so called Overlapping Factor - is
worthy of a special remark.
As discussed in section 2, ME-Paths can partially overlap, thus
sharing one or more links (e.g. Link 1 in Fig. 2). As a result, a
generic Link j can belong to more than one ME-Path. A consequence of
this fact is that the more the ME-Paths the generic Link j belongs to,
the more a packet loss over that link impacts the service it conveys.
For instance, even if the same packet loss is detected both over a link
coming out from the root (source) of a multicast tree, and over a link
ending on a receiver, the impact on the service is dramatically
different in the two cases.
As a consequence, the Overlapping Factor MUST be taken into account
while characterizing each Wj.
Considering this, a question arises: how to expressly include it in the
Wj characterization, since the ME-Paths overlappings are dynamically
varying, following the dynamic topology changes of the multicast tree.
A possible way to solve this problem is to take the Overlapping Factor
into account just implicitly, while calculating the final
Type-P-One-to-Group-KPI-Loss-Ratio, as hereafter deepened.


5.4. Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-j-Weighted-Loss-Ratio

Based on the above discussion, a new entity is introduced: the Type-P-
One-to-group-Link-j-Weighted-Loss-Ratio (LLjWLR), defined as:

         LLjWLR = LLjLR * Wj

Note that if Wj is set to 1, thus the weighing factor is not taken into
consideration for link j.


5.5. Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Weighted-Loss-Vector

A new kind of loss vector is introduced, the Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-
Weighted-Loss-Vector (Fig. 7).
It collects all the Type-P-One-to-group-Link-j-Weighted-Loss-Ratios of
each of the links composing a multicast tree.

/ LL1LR * W1 \            / LL1WLR \
| LL2LR * W2 |           |  LL2WLR  |
| LL3LR * W3 |           |  LL3WLR  |
| LL4LR * W4 |     --->  |  LL4WLR  |
|   .        |           |    .     |
|   .        |           |    .     |
| LLjLR * Wj |           |  LLjWLR  |
|   .        |           |    .     |
|   .        |           |    .     |
\ LLJLR * WJ /            \ LLJWLR /

Fig. 7. Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Weighted-Loss-Vector


Type-P-One-to-Group-Link-Weighted-Loss-Vector is hereafter considered
the Reference Vector for the definition of the next statistics, and KPI
definitions.



5.6. Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-x-Loss-Vector

This section defines the overall one-way loss statistics for an ME-Path
(as defined above).
Starting from the Reference vector (the above Type-P-One-to-Group-
Link-Weighted-Loss-Vector), and given the X possible ME-Paths
generated after the multicast tree splitting described in section 2, X
different Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-x-Loss-Vectors are created, each
of them composed by a subset of the whole set of the Reference Vector
elements (LLjWLR), in other words, only by those elements LLjWLR
associated to the links composing ME-Path x.
A clarifying example can be given applying the concepts shown above to
ME-Path 1, and 2 in Fig. 3.
For ME-Path 1:
                                            /LL1WLR \
Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-1-Loss-Vector = | LL2WLR |
                                            \LL3WLR /

while for ME-Path 2:
                                            /LL1WLR \
Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-2-Loss-Vector =  \LL4WLR /

The number of elements composing the generic Type-P-One-to-Group-
MEPath-x-Loss-Vector equals the number of links composing the ME-
Path x it derives from.
Note that since all ME-Paths are different from each other - at least
for one link - as a result of this, all
Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-x-Loss-Vectors are different from each other
as well.


6. One-to-Group Overall Packet Loss Statistics

Starting from the link, and path statistics definition stated above,
this section defines the overall statistics for a one-to-group topology.


6.1. Type-P-One-to-Group-MEPath-x-Loss-Ratio

The current network oriented point of view states that the
calculation of the Packet Loss Ratio over a path is based on the
Packet Loss Ratio detected over each of the links belonging to the path,
 applying the usual spatial composition formula:

Path Packet Loss Ratio = 1 - [(1-L1LR) * (1-L2LR) * ... *(1-LnLR)]

where LnLR represents the Packet Loss Ratio detected over the generic
link n belonging to the path.

However, due to the growing interest in enriching the current
performance metrics with a service oriented point of view as well, the
purpose of this memo is to propose a new framework for performance
metric composition/aggregation.
Thus a new definition of an equivalent PLR over a generic ME-Path x is
given:

Type-P-One-to-Group-Path-x-Loss-Ratio= Fa (Type-P-One-to-Group-
MEPath-x-Loss-Vector)

where  Fa is a user definable metric composition/aggregation function
applied to the set of Type-P-One-to-group-Link-j-Loss-Ratios associated
to the links belonging to the generic ME-Path x.

A very common example of Fa is the usual spatial composition formula
mentioned above.


6.2 Type-P-One-to-Group-KPI-Loss-Ratio

This section defines the overall one-way network-service KPI (Key
Performance Indicator) for a multicast tree loss statistics.

Type-P-One-to-Group-KPI-Loss-Ratio = Fb (Type-P-One-to-Group-Path-
1-Loss-Ratio, Type-P-One-to-Group-Path-2-Loss-Ratio, ..., Type-P-One-
to-Group-Path-X-Loss-Ratio)

where Fb is a user definable metric composition/aggregation function
applied to all Type-P-One-to-group-Path-x-Loss-Ratios of the ME-Paths
composing the multiparty tree.

Each service provider defines his own Fb, based on the topology of his
network, on the way the monitored service is implemented, on the
specific SLAs associated with the monitored service, and so on.
A very common example of Fb is the average function among all the
Type-P-One-to-group-Path-x-Loss-Ratios. Other possibilities are the
maximum value, the minimum value, the range, and so on.
Please point out that the Overlapping Factor described in section
5.3.1 is here taken into account, even if implicitly. In fact all the
paths are now considered, regardless of the presence of overlapping
links in the paths.


7. Extended applications


7.1. Extended applications to multi-source one-to-group topology

All the above discussion is applicable both to a single-source
one-to-group topology, and to a multi-source one-to-group topology.
In fact, given one single group flowing from several sources - thus
different from several groups flowing from several sources, that is a
group-to group topology - each host chooses just one, and only one
source at a time from which the flow is accepted, thus leading
us back to the single-source one-to-group situation already dealt with
in this memo.


7.2. Extended applications to One-way Delay and Delay Variation

The framework proposed in this memo is wide enough to be applicable not
only to the Packet Loss analysis, but also to the One-way Delay, and
Delay Variation ones.
This goal is achievable by adequately defining Fa, Fb, and Wj.
Anyway, this is out of the scope of this memo, and it will be deepened
in another memo.



8. Security Considerations

Spatial, and one-to-group metrics are defined on the top of end-to-end
metrics. Security considerations discussed in the one-way delay
metrics definitions of [RFC2679], in packet loss metrics definitions
of [RFC2680], and in IPDV metrics definitions of [RFC3393], and
[RFC3432] apply to metrics defined in this memo.
Someone may spoof the identity of a point of interest identity, and
intentionally send corrupt results in order to remotely orient the
traffic engineering decisions.
A point of interest could intentionally corrupt its results in order
to remotely orient the traffic engineering decisions.



8.1. One-to-Group Metrics

Reporting of measurement results from a huge number of probes may
overload reference point resources (network, network interfaces,
computation capacities, etc.).
The configuration of a measurement must take into consideration that
implicitly more packets will be routed than sent and select a test
packet rate accordingly. Collecting statistics from a huge number of
probes may overload any combination of the network to which the
measurement controller is attached, measurement controller network
interfaces, and measurement controller computation capacities.
One-to-group metric measurements should consider using source
authentication protocols, standardized in the MSEC group, to avoid
fraud packet in the sampling interval. The test packet rate could be
negotiated before any measurement session to avoid denial-of-service
attacks.
A point of interest could intentionally degrade its results in order
to remotely increase the quality of the network on the branches of
the multicast tree to which it is connected.



9. References

9.1. Normative References

[RFC2119] Bradner, S., Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
Requirement Levels, BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.

[RFC2679] Almes, G., Kalidindi, S., and M. Zekauskas, A One-way
Delay Metric for IPPM, RFC 2679, September 1999.

[RFC2680] Almes, G., Kalidindi, S., and M. Zekauskas, A One-way
Packet Loss Metric for IPPM, RFC 2680, September 1999.

[RFC3393] Demichelis, C., and P. Chimento, IP Packet Delay Variation
Metric for IP Performance Metrics (IPPM), RFC 3393,
November 2002.

[RFC5644] Stephan, E., Liang L., Morton A., IP Performance Metrics
(IPPM): Spatial and Multicast, RFC5644, October 2009.

[RFC6390] Clark, A., Guidelines for Considering New Performance Metric
Development, BCP170, RFC6390, October 2011.


9.2. Informative References

[RFC2330] Paxson, V., Almes, G., Mahdavi, J., and M. Mathis,
Framework for IP Performance Metrics, RFC 2330,
May 1998.

[RFC3432] Raisanen, V., Grotefeld, G., and A. Morton, Network
performance measurement with periodic streams, RFC 3432,
November 2002.

[RFC5835] Morton, A., Van den Berghe, S., Framework for metric
composition, RFC5835, April 2010.



10. Acknowledgments

A special thank to Daniela, Irene and Elisa for their creative support.
The author would like to thank his workmates A. Barbetti, A. Cappadona
and S. Mariani for their helpful support while designing the main ideas
behind this memo.
I also acknowledge the precious comments and suggestions from Al Morton.


Author Address

Tiziano Ionta (editor)
Telecom Italia Labs
Via Valcannuta 250
00167 Rome
Italy

Phone: +39 06 3688 5600
Email: tiziano.ionta@telecomitalia.it