PTPv2-based network load estimation

We make the case for utilizing the recently standardized IEEE 1588-2008 Precision Time Protocol (PTPv2) to achieve real-time, delay-based, network load estimation. We design and implement a load estimation service which builds upon our measurement-driven scheme for correlating path delay and network load, showing it to minimize estimation error to less than 11% for realistic traffic workloads. Such a service has multiple applications; we demonstrate how it can be utilized to achieve rate-adaptive delivery of multimedia content.