Efficient network probing for deterministic wireless networks

1. A method, comprising:

informing, by a path computation device, a network management device of a plurality of possible probing profiles, wherein nodes of a computer network receive the plurality of possible probing profiles from the network management device;

determining, by the path computation device, that particular information is desired from one or more particular nodes of the nodes of the computer network;

selecting, by the path computation device, one or more particular probing profiles of the plurality of possible probing profiles based on the particular information, the one or more particular probing profiles specifying a type of probing that is required;

instructing, by the path computation device, the one or more particular nodes to probe one or more particular destination nodes according to the one or more particular probing profiles;

receiving probing reports from the one or more particular nodes;

adjusting overbooking of one or more links within the computer network based on the probing reports; and

relaxing path computation constraints at the path computation device based on the probing reports.

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

selecting the plurality of possible probing profiles for the computer network as a subset of a larger set of available probing profiles.

3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein instructing comprises:

unicasting instructions to the one or more particular nodes.

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

receiving probing reports from the one or more particular nodes.

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

instructing one or more specific nodes within the computer network to compress the probing reports.

6. The method as in claim 4 , wherein the received probing reports are one of either unicasted reports or reports piggybacked on a routing protocol message.

7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the overbooking is adjusted either globally to all links of the computer network or locally to one or more specific links of the computer network.

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

adjusting the overbooking of each of the one or more links based on criticality of respective per-link traffic flows.

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

incrementally relaxing the path computation constraints based on subsequent probing reports.

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

relaxing the path computation constraints only when allowed by a corresponding path computation requesting device.

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

informing a path computation requesting device of the relaxing of the path computation constraints and that the relaxing is acceptable based on the probing reports.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces;

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

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

inform a network management device of a plurality of possible probing profiles, wherein nodes of a computer network receive the plurality of possible probing profiles from the network management device;

determine that particular information is desired from one or more particular nodes of the nodes of the computer network;

select one or more particular probing profiles of the plurality of possible probing profiles based on the particular information, the one or more particular probing profiles specifying a type of probing that is required;

instruct the one or more particular nodes to probe one or more particular destination nodes according to the one or more particular probing profiles;

receive probing reports from the one or more particular nodes as a path computation device;

adjust overbooking of one or more links within the computer network based on the probing reports; and

relax path computation constraints based on the probing reports,

wherein the apparatus is a path computation device.

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

select the plurality of possible probing profiles for the computer network as a subset of a larger set of available probing profiles.

14. A method, comprising:

registering with a network management device;

receiving, during the registering, a plurality of possible probing profiles from the network management device;

receiving instructions from a path computation device to probe one or more particular destination nodes according to one or more particular probing profiles of the plurality of possible probing profiles, the one or more particular probing profiles specifying a type of probing that is required;

probing the one or more particular destination nodes according to the one or more particular probing profiles of the instructions;

returning probing reports to the path computation device; and

receiving updated probing instructions based on the probing reports received at the path computation device,

wherein the updated probing instructions are received when the path computation device adjusts overbooking of one or more links within the computer network based on the probing reports, and

wherein the updated probing instructions are received when the path computation device relaxes path computation constraints based on the probing reports.

15. The method as in claim 14 , further comprising:

wherein the probing reports are one of either unicasted reports or reports piggybacked on a routing protocol message.

16. The method as in claim 14 , further comprising:

compressing received probing reports; and

forwarding the compressed probing reports to the path computation device.

17. The method as in claim 16 , further comprising:

waiting to receive a known plurality of probing reports prior to compressing the received probing reports.

18. The method as in claim 16 , wherein the received probing reports are received from either a same probing node or different probing nodes.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces;

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

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

register with a network management device;

receive, during the registering, a plurality of possible probing profiles from the network management device;

receive instructions from a path computation device to probe one or more particular destination nodes according to one or more particular probing profiles of the plurality of possible probing profiles, the one or more particular probing profiles specifying a type of probing that is required;

probe the one or more particular destination nodes according to the one or more particular probing profiles of the instructions;

return probing reports to the path computation device; and

receive updated probing instructions based on the probing reports received at the path computation device,

wherein the updated probing instructions are received when the path computation device adjusts overbooking of one or more links within the computer network based on the probing reports, and

wherein the updated probing instructions are received when the path computation device relaxes path computation constraints based on the probing reports.