RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) Extended Report (XR) Block for Burst/Gap Loss metric Reporting
draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-12.txt

Abstract

This document defines an RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) Extended Report (XR) Block that allows the reporting of Burst and Gap Loss metrics for use in a range of RTP applications.

Status of This Memo

This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. The list of current Internet-Drafts is at http://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/.

Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in progress."

This Internet-Draft will expire on October 17, 2013.

Copyright Notice

Copyright (c) 2013 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved.

This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components extracted from this document must include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as described in the Simplified BSD License.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 1.1. Burst and Gap Loss Report Block
• 1.2. RTCP and RTCP XR Reports
• 1.3. Performance Metrics Framework
• 1.4. Applicability
• 2. Terminology
• 2.1. Standards Language
• 3. Burst/Gap Loss Block
• 3.1. Report Block Structure
• 3.2. Definition of Fields in Burst/Gap Loss Report Block
• 3.3. Derived metrics based on reported metrics
• 4. Considerations for Voice-over-IP applications
• 5. SDP Signaling
• 5.1. SDP rtcp-xr-attrib Attribute Extension
• 5.2. Offer/Answer Usage
• 6. IANA Considerations
• 6.1. New RTCP XR Block Type value
• 6.2. New RTCP XR SDP Parameter
• 6.3. Contact information for registrations
• 7. Security Considerations
• 8. Contributors
• 9. Acknowledgments
• 10. References
• 10.1. Normative References
• 10.2. Informative References
• Appendix A. Metrics represented using RFC6390 Template
• Appendix B. Change Log
• B.1. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-11
• B.2. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-10
• B.3. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-09
• B.4. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-08
• B.5. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-07
• B.6. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-06
• B.7. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-04
• Authors' Addresses

1. Introduction

1.1. Burst and Gap Loss Report Block

This document defines a new block type to augment those defined in [RFC3611] for use in a range of RTP applications. The new block type supports the reporting of the proportion of packets lost by the network. The losses during loss bursts are reported, together with the number of bursts and additional data allowing the calculation of statistical parameters (mean and variance) of the distribution of burst lengths. Some uses of these metrics depend on the availability of the metric "cumulative number of packets lost" from RTCP [RFC3550].

This block provides information on transient IP problems. Burst/Gap metrics are typically used in Cumulative reports, however they also may be used in Interval reports. The burstiness of packet loss affects user experience, may influence any sender strategies to mitigate the problem, and may also have diagnostic value.

The metric belongs to the class of transport-related end system metrics defined in [RFC6792].

The definitions of Burst, Gap, Loss and Discard are consistent with definitions in [RFC3611]. To accommodate the range of jitter buffer algorithms and packet discard logic that may be used by implementors, the method used to distinguish between bursts and gaps may be an equivalent method to that defined in [RFC3611]. The method used should produce the same result as that defined in [RFC3611] for conditions of burst packet loss, but may produce different results for conditions of time varying jitter.

1.2. RTCP and RTCP XR Reports

The use of RTCP for reporting is defined in [RFC3550]. [RFC3611] defined an extensible structure for reporting using an RTCP Extended Report (XR). This document defines a new Extended Report block for use with [RFC3550] and [RFC3611].

1.3. Performance Metrics Framework

The Performance Metrics Framework [RFC6390] provides guidance on the definition and specification of performance metrics. The RTP Monitoring Architectures [RFC6792] provides guideline for reporting block format using RTCP XR. The Metrics Block described in this document are in accordance with the guidelines in [RFC6390] and [RFC6792].

1.4. Applicability

These metrics are applicable to a range of RTP applications which contain jitter buffers and don't use stream repair means, e.g., Forward Error Correction (FEC) [RFC5109] and/or retransmission [RFC4588].

2. Terminology

2.1. Standards 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].

In addition, the following terms are defined:

Received, Lost and Discarded

A packet shall be regarded as lost if it fails to arrive within an implementation-specific time window. A packet that arrives within this time window but is too early or late to be played out or thrown away before playout due to packet duplication or redundancy shall be regarded as discarded. A packet shall be classified as one of received (or OK), discarded or lost. The metric "cumulative number of packets lost" defined in [RFC3550] reports a count of packets lost from the media stream (single SSRC within single RTP session). Similarly the metric "number of packets discarded" defined in [DISCARD] reports a count of packets discarded from the media stream (single SSRC within single RTP session) arriving at the receiver. Another metric defined in [RFC5725] is available to report on packets which are not recovered by any repair techniques which may be in use.

Bursts and Gaps

The terms Burst and Gap are used in a manner consistent with that of RTCP XR [RFC3611]. RTCP XR views a RTP stream as being divided into bursts, which are periods during which the loss rate is high enough to cause noticeable quality degradation (generally over 5 percent loss rate), and gaps, which are periods during which lost packets are infrequent and hence quality is generally acceptable.

3. Burst/Gap Loss Block

Metrics in this block report on Burst/Gap Loss in the stream arriving at the RTP system. The measurement of these metrics are made at the receiving end of the RTP stream. Instances of this Metrics Block refer by Synchronization source (SSRC) to the separate auxiliary Measurement Information block [RFC6776] which describes measurement periods in use(see RFC6776 section 4.2).

This Metrics Block relies on the measurement period in the Measurement Information block indicating the span of the report. Senders MUST send this block in the same compound RTCP packet as the measurement information block. Receivers MUST verify that the measurement period is received in the same compound RTCP packet as this Metrics Block. If not, this Metrics Block MUST be discarded.

3.1. Report Block Structure

       0                   1                   2                   3
       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |    BT=NBGL    | I |C|  resv.  |      block length = 5         |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |                        SSRC of Source                         |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      | Threshold     |         Sum of Burst Durations (ms)           |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |            Packets Lost in Bursts             |    Total...   |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      | ...Packets expected in bursts |    Number of bursts   | Sum of|
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
      |                ...Squares of Burst Durations (ms-squared)     |
      +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

Figure 1: Report Block Structure

Burst/Gap Loss metrics block

3.2. Definition of Fields in Burst/Gap Loss Report Block

Block type (BT): 8 bits

A Burst/Gap Loss Report Block is identified by the constant NBGL.

[Note to RFC Editor: please replace NBGL with the IANA provided RTCP XR block type for this block.]

Interval Metric flag (I): 2 bits

This field is used to indicate whether the Burst/Gap Loss metrics are Sampled, Interval or Cumulative metrics:

• I=10: Interval Duration - the reported value applies to the most recent measurement interval duration between successive metrics reports.
• I=11: Cumulative Duration - the reported value applies to the accumulation period characteristic of cumulative measurements.
• I=01: Sampled Value - the reported value is a sampled instantaneous value.

In this document, Burst/Gap Loss Metrics can only be measured over definite intervals, and cannot be sampled. Also, the value I=00 is reserved for future use. Senders MUST NOT use the values I=00 or I=01. If a block is received with I=00 or I=01, the receiver MUST discard the block.

Loss and Discard Combination flag (C): 1 bit

The 'C' flag is used to indicate whether the loss/discard report is combined with the burst gap loss report in the same compound RTCP packet. The value is set to '1' if the loss/discard report and the burst gap loss report are combined. Otherwise, the value is set to '0'. If the 'C' flag is set to 1 but the burst gap discard was not sent, the receiver MUST discard the burst gap loss.

Reserved (resv): 5 bits

These bits are reserved. They MUST be set to zero by senders and ignored by receivers (See RFC6709 section 4.2).

block length: 16 bits

The length of this report block in 32-bit words, minus one. For the Burst/Gap Loss block, the block length is equal to 5. The block MUST be discarded if the block length is set to a different value.

SSRC of source: 32 bits

As defined in Section 4.1 of [RFC3611].

Threshold: 8 bits

The Threshold is equivalent to Gmin in [RFC3611], i.e. the number of successive packets that must be received prior to and following a lost packet in order for this lost packet to be regarded as part of a gap. Note that the threshold is calculated in accordance with Gmin Calculation defined in section 4.7.2 of RFC3611.

Sum of Burst Durations (ms): 24 bits

The total duration of bursts of lost packets in the period of the report (Interval or Cumulative).

The measured value is unsigned value. If the measured value exceeds 0xFFFFFD, the value 0xFFFFFE MUST be reported to indicate an over-range measurement. If the measurement is unavailable, the value 0xFFFFFF MUST be reported.

Packets lost in bursts: 24 bits

The total number of packets lost during loss bursts.

The measured value is unsigned value. If the measured value exceeds 0xFFFFFD, the value 0xFFFFFE MUST be reported to indicate an over-range measurement. If the measurement is unavailable, the value 0xFFFFFF MUST be reported.

Total packets expected in bursts: 24 bits

The total number of packets expected during loss bursts (that is, the sum of received packets and lost packets).

The measured value is unsigned value. If the measured value exceeds 0xFFFFFD, the value 0xFFFFFE MUST be reported to indicate an over-range measurement. If the measurement is unavailable, the value 0xFFFFFF MUST be reported.

Number of bursts: 16 bits

The number of bursts in the period of the report (Interval or Cumulative).

The measured value is unsigned value. If the measured value exceeds 0xFFFD, the value 0xFFFE MUST be reported to indicate an over-range measurement. If the measurement is unavailable, the value 0xFFFF MUST be reported.

Sum of Squares of Burst Durations (ms-squared): 36 bits

The sum of the squares of burst durations (where individual burst durations are expressed in ms) over in the period of the report (Interval or Cumulative). The units for this quantity are milliseconds-squared.

The measured value is unsigned value. If the measured value exceeds 0xFFFFFFFFD, the value 0xFFFFFFFFE MUST be reported to indicate an over-range measurement. If the measurement is unavailable, the value 0xFFFFFFFFF MUST be reported.

3.3. Derived metrics based on reported metrics

The metrics described here are intended to be used as described in this section, in conjunction with information from the Measurement Information block [RFC6776] and also with the metric "cumulative number of packets lost" provided in standard RTCP [RFC3550].

These metrics provide information relevant to statistical parameters, including:

• The fraction of packets lost during bursts (i.e., Burst Loss Rate in [SUMSTAT]), which can be calculated using the metric " Packets Loss in Bursts " and the metric " Total Packets expected in Bursts " provided in the Burst/Gap Loss metrics block.
• The fraction of packets lost during gaps (i.e., Gap Loss Rate in [SUMSTAT]), which can be calculated using the metric " Packets Loss in Bursts " and the metric " Total Packets expected in Bursts " provided in the Burst/Gap Loss metrics block.
• burst duration mean [SUMSTAT], which can be calculated using the metric " Packets Loss in Bursts " and the metric " Total Packets expected in Bursts " provided in the Burst/Gap Loss metrics block.
• burst duration variance [SUMSTAT], which can be calculated using the metric " Packets Loss in Bursts " and the metric " Total Packets expected in Bursts " provided in the Burst/Gap Loss metrics block.

The details on calculation these parameters in the metrics are described in [SUMSTAT].

4. Considerations for Voice-over-IP applications

This Metrics Block is applicable to a broad range of RTP applications. Where the metric is used with a Voice-overIP (VoIP) application and the stream repair means is not available, the following considerations apply.

RTCP XR views a call as being divided into bursts, which are periods during which the loss rate is high enough to cause noticeable call quality degradation (generally over 5 percent loss rate), and gaps, which are periods during which lost packets are infrequent and hence call quality is generally acceptable.

If Voice Activity Detection is used, the Burst and Gap Duration shall be determined as if silence packets had been sent, i.e. a period of silence in excess of Gmin packets will terminate a burst condition.

The recommended value for the threshold Gmin in [RFC3611] results in a Burst being a period of time during which the call quality is degraded to a similar extent to a typical Pulse-Code Modulation(PCM) Severely Errored Second.

5. SDP Signaling

[RFC3611] defines the use of SDP (Session Description Protocol) [RFC4566] for signaling the use of XR blocks. XR blocks MAY be used without prior signaling.

5.1. SDP rtcp-xr-attrib Attribute Extension

xr-format =/ xr-bgl-block

xr-bgl-block = "burst-gap-loss"

This section augments the SDP [RFC4566] attribute "rtcp-xr" defined in [RFC3611] by providing an additional value of "xr-format" to signal the use of the report block defined in this document.

5.2. Offer/Answer Usage

When SDP is used in offer-answer context, the SDP Offer/Answer usage defined in [RFC3611] for unilateral "rtcp-xr" attribute parameters applies. For detailed usage in Offer/Answer for unilateral parameter, refer to section 5.2 of [RFC3611].

6. IANA Considerations

New block types for RTCP XR are subject to IANA registration. For general guidelines on IANA considerations for RTCP XR, refer to [RFC3611].

6.1. New RTCP XR Block Type value

This document assigns the block type value NBGL in the IANA " RTP Control Protocol Extended Reports (RTCP XR) Block Type Registry " to the "Burst/Gap Loss Metrics Block".

[Note to RFC Editor: please replace NBGL with the IANA provided RTCP XR block type for this block.]

6.2. New RTCP XR SDP Parameter

This document also registers a new parameter "burst-gap-loss" in the " RTP Control Protocol Extended Reports (RTCP XR) Session Description Protocol (SDP) Parameters Registry".

6.3. Contact information for registrations

The contact information for the registrations is:

 Qin Wu (sunseawq@huawei.com)

 101 Software Avenue, Yuhua District
 Nanjing, Jiangsu  210012
 China

7. Security Considerations

This block does not provide per-packet statistics, so the risk to confidentiality documented in Section 7, paragraph 3 of [RFC3611] does not apply. However the gaps indicated within this block could be used to detect the timing of other events on the path between the sender and receiver. For example, a competing multimedia stream might cause a loss burst for the duration of the stream, allowing the receiver of this block to know when the competing stream was active. This risk is not a significant threat since the only information leaked is the timing of the loss, not the cause. Besides this, it is believed that this proposed RTCP XR report block introduces no other new security considerations beyond those described in [RFC3611].

8. Contributors

Geoff Hunt wrote the initial draft of this document.

9. Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge reviews and feedback provided by Bruce Adams, Philip Arden, Amit Arora, Bob Biskner, Kevin Connor, Claus Dahm, Randy Ethier, Roni Even, Jim Frauenthal, Albert Higashi, Tom Hock, Shane Holthaus, Paul Jones, Rajesh Kumar, Keith Lantz, Mohamed Mostafa, Amy Pendleton, Colin Perkins, Mike Ramalho, Ravi Raviraj, Albrecht Schwarz, Tom Taylor, Hideaki Yamada, Adam Roach, Dan Romascanu,Chris Lonvick, Alfred C.,Morton Jr., Pete Resnick, Ted Lemon, Stephen Farrell, Richard Barnes, Benoit Claise.

10. References

10.1. Normative References

10.2. Informative References

Appendix A. Metrics represented using RFC6390 Template

RFC EDITOR NOTE: please change XXXX in [RFCXXXX] by the new RFC number, when assigned.

1. Threshold Metric
   
   
   • Metric Name: Threshold in RTP
     
     
   • Metric Description: The Threshold is equivalent to Gmin in [RFC3611], i.e. the number of successive RTP packets that must be received prior to and following a lost RTP packet in order for this lost RTP packet to be regarded as part of a gap.
     
     
   • Method of Measurement or Calculation: See section 3.2, Threshold definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Units of Measurement: See section 3.2, Threshold definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Point(s) with Potential Measurement Domain: See section 3, 1st paragraph [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Timing: See section 3, 2nd paragraph [RFCXXXX] for measurement timing and section 3.2 [RFCXXXX] for Interval Metric flag.
     
     
   • Use and applications: See section 1.4 [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Reporting model: See RFC3611.
     
     
2. Sum of Burst Durations Metric
   
   
   • Metric Name: Sum of Burst Durations in RTP
     
     
   • Metric Description: The total duration of bursts of lost RTP packets in the period of the report.
     
     
   • Method of Measurement or Calculation: See section 3.2, Sum of Burst Durations definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Units of Measurement: See section 3.2, Sum of Burst Durations definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Point(s) with Potential Measurement Domain: See section 3, 1st paragraph [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Timing: See section 3, 2nd paragraph [RFCXXXX] for measurement timing and section 3.2 [RFCXXXX] for Interval Metric flag.
     
     
   • Use and applications: See section 1.4 [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Reporting model: See RFC3611.
     
     
3. Packets lost in bursts Metric
   
   
   • Metric Name: RTP Packets lost in bursts
     
     
   • Metric Description: The total number of RTP packets lost during loss bursts.
     
     
   • Method of Measurement or Calculation: See section 3.2, Packets lost in bursts definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Units of Measurement: See section 3.2, Packets lost in bursts definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Point(s) with Potential Measurement Domain: See section 3, 1st paragraph [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Timing: See section 3, 2nd paragraph [RFCXXXX] for measurement timing and section 3.2 [RFCXXXX] for Interval Metric flag.
     
     
   • Use and applications: See section 1.4 [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Reporting model: See RFC3611.
     
     
4. Total packets expected in bursts Metric
   
   
   • Metric Name: Total RTP packets expected in bursts
     
     
   • Metric Description: The total number of RTP packets expected during loss bursts (that is, the sum of received RTP packets and lost RTP packets).
     
     
   • Method of Measurement or Calculation: See section 3.2, Total packets expected in bursts definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Units of Measurement: See section 3.2, Total packets expected in bursts definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Point(s) with Potential Measurement Domain: See section 3, 1st paragraph [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Timing: See section 3, 2nd paragraph [RFCXXXX] for measurement timing and section 3.2 [RFCXXXX] for Interval Metric flag.
     
     
   • Use and applications: See section 1.4 [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Reporting model: See RFC3611.
     
     
5. Number of bursts Metric
   
   
   • Metric Name: Number of bursts in RTP
     
     
   • Metric Description: The total duration of bursts of lost RTP packets in the period of the report.
     
     
   • Method of Measurement or Calculation: See section 3.2, Number of bursts definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Units of Measurement: See section 3.2, Number of bursts definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Point(s) with Potential Measurement Domain: See section 3, 1st paragraph [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Timing: See section 3, 2nd paragraph [RFCXXXX] for measurement timing and section 3.2 [RFCXXXX] for Interval Metric flag.
     
     
   • Use and applications: See section 1.4 [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Reporting model: See RFC3611.
     
     
6. Sum of Squares of Burst Durations Metric
   
   
   • Metric Name: Sum of Squares of Burst Durations in RTP
     
     
   • Metric Description: The sum of the squares of burst durations (where individual burst durations are expressed in ms) over in the period of the report.
     
     
   • Method of Measurement or Calculation: See section 3.2, Sum of Squares of Burst Durations definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Units of Measurement: See section 3.2, Sum of Squares of Burst Durations definition [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Point(s) with Potential Measurement Domain: See section 3, 1st paragraph [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Measurement Timing: See section 3, 2nd paragraph [RFCXXXX] for measurement timing and section 3.2 [RFCXXXX] for Interval Metric flag.
     
     
   • Use and applications: See section 1.4 [RFCXXXX].
     
     
   • Reporting model: See RFC3611.
     
     

Appendix B. Change Log

Note to the RFC-Editor: please remove this section prior to publication as an RFC.

B.1. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-11

The following are the major changes compared to previous version:

• Incorporated Ted's proposed change during IESG review.

B.2. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-10

The following are the major changes compared to previous version:

• IESG Review comments are addressed in this version.

B.3. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-09

The following are the major changes compared to previous version:

• IETF LC comments are addressed together with AD's comment on Normative language in this version.

B.4. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-08

The following are the major changes compared to previous version:

• Move RFC6709 as one informative reference.

B.5. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-07

The following are the major changes compared to previous version:

• Editorial changes based on comments in the WGLC.

B.6. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-06

The following are the major changes compared to previous version:

• SDP update based on SDP Directorate Review.
• Add some texts to get consistent with RFC6798 and Delay draft.

B.7. draft-ietf-xrblock-rtcp-xr-burst-gap-loss-04

The following are the major changes compared to previous version:

• Outdated reference update.
• Editorial changes based on comments that applied to PDV and Delay drafts.

Authors' Addresses