Overhaul client latency calculations.

The ping/pong orders are replaced with a dedicated
(and much smaller) Ping packet that is handled
directly in the client and server Connection wrappers.

This allows clients to respond when the orders are
processed, instead of queuing the pong order to be
sent in the next frame (which added an extra 120ms
of unwanted latency).

The ping frequency has been raised to 1Hz, and pings
are now routed through the server events queue in
preparation for the future dynamic latency system.

The raw ping numbers are no longer sent to clients,
the server instead evaluates a single ConnectionQuality
value that in the future may be based on more than
just the ping times.

OpenRA.Game/Network/Connection.cs

@@ -304,6 +304,14 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 					orderManager.ReceiveDisconnect(disconnect.ClientId, disconnect.Frame);
 				else if (OrderIO.TryParseSync(p.Data, out var sync))
 					orderManager.ReceiveSync(sync);
+				else if (OrderIO.TryParsePing(p.FromClient, p.Data, out var ping))
+				{
+					// The Ping packet is sent back directly without changes
+					// Note that processing this here, rather than in NetworkConnectionReceive,
+					// so that poor world tick performance can be reflected in the latency measurement
+					Send(ping);
+					record = false;
+				}
 				else if (OrderIO.TryParseAck(p, out var ackFrame))
 				{
 					if (!sentOrders.TryDequeue(out var q))

OpenRA.Game/Network/Order.cs

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ namespace OpenRA
 	public enum OrderType : byte
 	{
 		Ack = 0x10,
+		Ping = 0x20,
 		SyncHash = 0x65,
 		Disconnect = 0xBF,
 		Handshake = 0xFE,

OpenRA.Game/Network/OrderIO.cs

@@ -109,6 +109,27 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 			return true;
 		}
 
+		public static bool TryParsePing(int fromClient, byte[] packet, out byte[] ping)
+		{
+			// Valid Ping packets are only ever generated by the server
+			if (fromClient != 0 || packet.Length != 13 || packet[4] != (byte)OrderType.Ping)
+			{
+				ping = null;
+				return false;
+			}
+
+			// Valid Ping packets always have frame 0
+			var frame = BitConverter.ToInt32(packet, 0);
+			if (frame != 0)
+			{
+				ping = null;
+				return false;
+			}
+
+			ping = packet;
+			return true;
+		}
+
 		public static bool TryParseAck((int FromClient, byte[] Data) packet, out int frame)
 		{
 			// Ack packets are only accepted from the server

OpenRA.Game/Network/Session.cs

@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 	public class Session
 	{
 		public List<Client> Clients = new List<Client>();
-		public List<ClientPing> ClientPings = new List<ClientPing>();
 
 		// Keyed by the PlayerReference id that the slot corresponds to
 		public Dictionary<string, Slot> Slots = new Dictionary<string, Slot>();
@@ -60,10 +59,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 							session.Clients.Add(Client.Deserialize(node.Value));
 							break;
 
-						case "ClientPing":
-							session.ClientPings.Add(ClientPing.Deserialize(node.Value));
-							break;
-
 						case "GlobalSettings":
 							session.GlobalSettings = Global.Deserialize(node.Value);
 							break;
@@ -122,6 +117,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 
 		public enum ClientState { NotReady, Invalid, Ready, Disconnected = 1000 }
 
+		public enum ConnectionQuality { Good, Moderate, Poor }
+
 		public class Client
 		{
 			public static Client Deserialize(MiniYaml data)
@@ -142,6 +139,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 			public string IPAddress;
 			public string AnonymizedIPAddress;
 			public string Location;
+			public ConnectionQuality ConnectionQuality = ConnectionQuality.Good;
 
 			public ClientState State = ClientState.Invalid;
 			public int Team;
@@ -164,29 +162,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 			}
 		}
 
-		public ClientPing PingFromClient(Client client)
-		{
-			return ClientPings.SingleOrDefault(p => p.Index == client.Index);
-		}
-
-		public class ClientPing
-		{
-			public int Index;
-			public long Latency = -1;
-			public long LatencyJitter = -1;
-			public long[] LatencyHistory = { };
-
-			public static ClientPing Deserialize(MiniYaml data)
-			{
-				return FieldLoader.Load<ClientPing>(data);
-			}
-
-			public MiniYamlNode Serialize()
-			{
-				return new MiniYamlNode($"ClientPing@{Index}", FieldSaver.Save(this));
-			}
-		}
-
 		public class Slot
 		{
 			public string PlayerReference; // PlayerReference to bind against.
@@ -293,9 +268,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 			foreach (var client in Clients)
 				sessionData.Add(client.Serialize());
 
-			foreach (var clientPing in ClientPings)
-				sessionData.Add(clientPing.Serialize());
-
 			foreach (var slot in Slots)
 				sessionData.Add(slot.Value.Serialize());
 

OpenRA.Game/Network/UnitOrders.cs

@@ -292,24 +292,20 @@ namespace OpenRA.Network
 						break;
 					}
 
-				case "SyncClientPings":
+				case "SyncConnectionQuality":
 					{
-						var pings = new List<Session.ClientPing>();
 						var nodes = MiniYaml.FromString(order.TargetString);
 						foreach (var node in nodes)
 						{
 							var strings = node.Key.Split('@');
-							if (strings[0] == "ClientPing")
+							if (strings[0] == "ConnectionQuality")
-								pings.Add(Session.ClientPing.Deserialize(node.Value));
+							{
+								var client = orderManager.LobbyInfo.Clients.FirstOrDefault(c => c.Index == int.Parse(strings[1]));
+								if (client != null)
+									client.ConnectionQuality = FieldLoader.GetValue<Session.ConnectionQuality>("ConnectionQuality", node.Value.Value);
+							}
 						}
 
-						orderManager.LobbyInfo.ClientPings = pings;
-						break;
-					}
-
-				case "Ping":
-					{
-						orderManager.IssueOrder(Order.FromTargetString("Pong", order.TargetString, true));
 						break;
 					}
 

OpenRA.Game/Server/Connection.cs

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Concurrent;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Net;
 using System.Net.Sockets;
@@ -23,6 +25,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 	{
 		public const int MaxOrderLength = 131072;
 
+		// Cap ping history at 15 seconds as a balance between expiring stale state and having enough data for decent statistics
+		const int MaxPingSamples = 15;
+
 		public readonly int PlayerIndex;
 		public readonly string AuthToken;
 		public readonly EndPoint EndPoint;
@@ -36,6 +41,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 		long lastReceivedTime = 0;
 
 		readonly BlockingCollection<byte[]> sendQueue = new BlockingCollection<byte[]>();
+		readonly Queue<int> pingHistory = new Queue<int>();
 
 		public Connection(Server server, Socket socket, string authToken)
 		{
@@ -50,6 +56,17 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 			}.Start((server, socket));
 		}
 
+		static byte[] CreatePingFrame()
+		{
+			var ms = new MemoryStream(21);
+			ms.WriteArray(BitConverter.GetBytes(13));
+			ms.WriteArray(BitConverter.GetBytes(0));
+			ms.WriteArray(BitConverter.GetBytes(0));
+			ms.WriteByte((byte)OrderType.Ping);
+			ms.WriteArray(BitConverter.GetBytes(Game.RunTime));
+			return ms.GetBuffer();
+		}
+
 		void SendReceiveLoop(object s)
 		{
 			var (server, socket) = (ValueTuple<Server, Socket>)s;
@@ -61,6 +78,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 			var state = ReceiveState.Header;
 			var expectLength = 8;
 			var frame = 0;
+			var lastPingSent = Stopwatch.StartNew();
 
 			try
 			{
@@ -107,7 +125,19 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 
 								case ReceiveState.Data:
 								{
-									server.OnConnectionPacket(this, frame, bytes);
+									// Ping packets are sent and processed internally within this thread to reduce
+									// server-introduced latencies from polling loops
+									if (expectLength == 9 && bytes[0] == (byte)OrderType.Ping)
+									{
+										if (pingHistory.Count == MaxPingSamples)
+											pingHistory.Dequeue();
+
+										pingHistory.Enqueue((int)(Game.RunTime - BitConverter.ToInt64(bytes, 1)));
+										server.OnConnectionPing(this, pingHistory.ToArray());
+									}
+									else
+										server.OnConnectionPacket(this, frame, bytes);
+
 									expectLength = 8;
 									state = ReceiveState.Header;
 
@@ -121,6 +151,13 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 					if (sendQueue.IsCompleted)
 						return;
 
+					// Regularly check player ping
+					if (lastPingSent.ElapsedMilliseconds > 1000)
+					{
+						sendQueue.Add(CreatePingFrame());
+						lastPingSent.Restart();
+					}
+
 					// Send all data immediately, we will block again on read
 					while (sendQueue.TryTake(out var data, 0))
 					{

OpenRA.Game/Server/ProtocolVersion.cs

@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 		//   - Order-specific data - see OpenRA.Game/Server/Order.cs for details
 		// - 0x10: Order acknowledgement (sent from the server to a client in response to a packet with world orders)
 		//   - Int32 containing the frame number that the client should apply the orders it sent
+		// - 0x20: Ping
+		//   - Int64 containing the server timestamp when the ping was generated
 		//
 		// A connection handshake begins when a client opens a connection to the server:
 		// - Server sends:
@@ -71,6 +73,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 		// The protocol for server and world orders
 		// This applies after the handshake has completed, and is provided to support
 		// alternative server implementations that wish to support multiple versions in parallel
-		public const int Orders = 15;
+		public const int Orders = 16;
 	}
 }

OpenRA.Game/Server/Server.cs

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Concurrent;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 		ReplayRecorder recorder;
 		GameInformation gameInfo;
 		readonly List<GameInformation.Player> worldPlayers = new List<GameInformation.Player>();
+		Stopwatch pingUpdated = Stopwatch.StartNew();
 
 		public ServerState State
 		{
@@ -321,6 +323,11 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 			events.Add(new ConnectionPacketEvent(conn, frame, data));
 		}
 
+		internal void OnConnectionPing(Connection conn, int[] pingHistory)
+		{
+			events.Add(new ConnectionPingEvent(conn, pingHistory));
+		}
+
 		internal void OnConnectionDisconnect(Connection conn)
 		{
 			events.Add(new ConnectionDisconnectEvent(conn));
@@ -469,9 +476,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 						LobbyInfo.Clients.Add(client);
 						newConn.Validated = true;
 
-						var clientPing = new Session.ClientPing { Index = client.Index };
-						LobbyInfo.ClientPings.Add(clientPing);
-
 						Log.Write("server", "Client {0}: Accepted connection from {1}.", newConn.PlayerIndex, newConn.EndPoint);
 
 						if (client.Fingerprint != null)
@@ -487,9 +491,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 						if (Type != ServerType.Local)
 							SendMessage($"{client.Name} has joined the game.");
 
-						// Send initial ping
-						SendOrderTo(newConn, "Ping", Game.RunTime.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
-
 						if (Type == ServerType.Dedicated)
 						{
 							var motdFile = Path.Combine(Platform.SupportDir, "motd.txt");
@@ -893,37 +894,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 					case "Chat":
 						DispatchOrdersToClients(conn, 0, o.Serialize());
 						break;
-					case "Pong":
-						{
-							if (!OpenRA.Exts.TryParseInt64Invariant(o.TargetString, out var pingSent))
-							{
-								Log.Write("server", "Invalid order pong payload: {0}", o.TargetString);
-								break;
-							}
-
-							var client = GetClient(conn);
-							if (client == null)
-								return;
-
-							var pingFromClient = LobbyInfo.PingFromClient(client);
-							if (pingFromClient == null)
-								return;
-
-							var history = pingFromClient.LatencyHistory.ToList();
-							history.Add(Game.RunTime - pingSent);
-
-							// Cap ping history at 5 values (25 seconds)
-							if (history.Count > 5)
-								history.RemoveRange(0, history.Count - 5);
-
-							pingFromClient.Latency = history.Sum() / history.Count;
-							pingFromClient.LatencyJitter = (history.Max() - history.Min()) / 2;
-							pingFromClient.LatencyHistory = history.ToArray();
-
-							SyncClientPing();
-
-							break;
-						}
 
 					case "GameSaveTraitData":
 						{
@@ -995,12 +965,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 							foreach (var c in LobbyInfo.Clients)
 							{
 								if (c.Bot != null)
-								{
 									LobbyInfo.Clients.Remove(c);
-									var ping = LobbyInfo.PingFromClient(c);
-									if (ping != null)
-										LobbyInfo.ClientPings.Remove(ping);
-								}
 								else
 									c.Slot = null;
 							}
@@ -1033,7 +998,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 
 							SyncLobbyInfo();
 							SyncLobbyClients();
-							SyncClientPing();
 
 							break;
 						}
@@ -1041,6 +1005,36 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 			}
 		}
 
+		public void ReceivePing(Connection conn, int[] pingHistory)
+		{
+			// Levels set relative to the default order lag of 3 net ticks (360ms)
+			// TODO: Adjust this once dynamic lag is implemented
+			var latency = pingHistory.Sum() / pingHistory.Length;
+
+			var quality = latency < 240 ? Session.ConnectionQuality.Good :
+				latency < 360 ? Session.ConnectionQuality.Moderate :
+				Session.ConnectionQuality.Poor;
+
+			lock (LobbyInfo)
+			{
+				foreach (var c in LobbyInfo.Clients)
+					if (c.Index == conn.PlayerIndex || (c.Bot != null && c.BotControllerClientIndex == conn.PlayerIndex))
+						c.ConnectionQuality = quality;
+
+				// Update ping without forcing a full update
+				// Note that syncing pings doesn't trigger INotifySyncLobbyInfo
+				if (pingUpdated.ElapsedMilliseconds > 5000)
+				{
+					var nodes = new List<MiniYamlNode>();
+					foreach (var c in LobbyInfo.Clients)
+						nodes.Add(new MiniYamlNode($"ConnectionQuality@{c.Index}", FieldSaver.FormatValue(c.ConnectionQuality)));
+
+					DispatchServerOrdersToClients(Order.FromTargetString("SyncConnectionQuality", nodes.WriteToString(), true));
+					pingUpdated.Restart();
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
 		public Session.Client GetClient(Connection conn)
 		{
 			if (conn == null)
@@ -1068,7 +1062,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 				SendMessage($"{dropClient.Name}{suffix} has disconnected.");
 
 				LobbyInfo.Clients.RemoveAll(c => c.Index == toDrop.PlayerIndex);
-				LobbyInfo.ClientPings.RemoveAll(p => p.Index == toDrop.PlayerIndex);
 
 				// Client was the server admin
 				// TODO: Reassign admin for game in progress via an order
@@ -1137,6 +1130,10 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 
 				foreach (var t in serverTraits.WithInterface<INotifySyncLobbyInfo>())
 					t.LobbyInfoSynced(this);
+
+				// The full LobbyInfo includes ping info, so we can delay the next partial ping update
+				// TODO: Replace the special-case ping updates with more general LobbyInfo delta updates
+				pingUpdated.Restart();
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -1173,18 +1170,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 			}
 		}
 
-		public void SyncClientPing()
-		{
-			lock (LobbyInfo)
-			{
-				// TODO: Split this further into per client ping orders
-				var clientPings = LobbyInfo.ClientPings.Select(ping => ping.Serialize()).ToList();
-
-				// Note that syncing pings doesn't trigger INotifySyncLobbyInfo
-				DispatchServerOrdersToClients(Order.FromTargetString("SyncClientPings", clientPings.WriteToString(), true));
-			}
-		}
-
 		public void StartGame()
 		{
 			lock (LobbyInfo)
@@ -1362,6 +1347,23 @@ namespace OpenRA.Server
 			}
 		}
 
+		class ConnectionPingEvent : IServerEvent
+		{
+			readonly Connection connection;
+			readonly int[] pingHistory;
+
+			public ConnectionPingEvent(Connection connection, int[] pingHistory)
+			{
+				this.connection = connection;
+				this.pingHistory = pingHistory;
+			}
+
+			void IServerEvent.Invoke(Server server)
+			{
+				server.ReceivePing(connection, pingHistory);
+			}
+		}
+
 		class CallbackEvent : IServerEvent
 		{
 			readonly Action action;

OpenRA.Mods.Common/ServerTraits/LobbyCommands.cs

@@ -272,12 +272,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Server
 					{
 						server.LobbyInfo.Clients.Remove(occupant);
 						server.SyncLobbyClients();
-						var ping = server.LobbyInfo.PingFromClient(occupant);
-						if (ping != null)
-						{
-							server.LobbyInfo.ClientPings.Remove(ping);
-							server.SyncClientPing();
-						}
 					}
 					else
 					{
@@ -311,15 +305,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Server
 				// Slot may have a bot in it
 				var occupant = server.LobbyInfo.ClientInSlot(s);
 				if (occupant != null && occupant.Bot != null)
-				{
 					server.LobbyInfo.Clients.Remove(occupant);
-					var ping = server.LobbyInfo.PingFromClient(occupant);
-					if (ping != null)
-					{
-						server.LobbyInfo.ClientPings.Remove(ping);
-						server.SyncClientPing();
-					}
-				}
 
 				server.SyncLobbyClients();
 

OpenRA.Mods.Common/ServerTraits/PlayerPinger.cs

@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Server
 		static readonly int ConnReportInterval = 20000; // Report every 20 seconds
 		static readonly int ConnTimeout = 60000; // Drop unresponsive clients after 60 seconds
 
-		// TickTimeout is in microseconds
-		public int TickTimeout => PingInterval * 100;
-
 		long lastPing = 0;
 		long lastConnReport = 0;
 		bool isInitialPing = true;
@@ -40,13 +37,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Server
 				lock (server.LobbyInfo)
 					nonBotClientCount = server.LobbyInfo.NonBotClients.Count();
 
-				if (nonBotClientCount < 2 && server.Type != ServerType.Dedicated)
+				if (nonBotClientCount >= 2 || server.Type == ServerType.Dedicated)
-				{
-					foreach (var c in server.Conns.ToList())
-						if (c.Validated)
-							server.SendOrderTo(c, "Ping", Game.RunTime.ToString());
-				}
-				else
 				{
 					foreach (var c in server.Conns.ToList())
 					{
@@ -63,7 +54,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Server
 
 						if (c.TimeSinceLastResponse < ConnTimeout)
 						{
-							server.SendOrderTo(c, "Ping", Game.RunTime.ToString());
 							if (!c.TimeoutMessageShown && c.TimeSinceLastResponse > PingInterval * 2)
 							{
 								server.SendMessage(client.Name + " is experiencing connection problems.");

OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/Lobby/LatencyTooltipLogic.cs

@@ -34,9 +34,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Widgets.Logic
 					widget.Bounds.Width = latency.Bounds.X + latencyFont.Measure(latency.GetText()).X + rightMargin;
 			};
 
-			var ping = orderManager.LobbyInfo.PingFromClient(client);
+			latency.GetText = () => LobbyUtils.LatencyDescription(client);
-			latency.GetText = () => LobbyUtils.LatencyDescription(ping);
+			latency.GetColor = () => LobbyUtils.LatencyColor(client);
-			latency.GetColor = () => LobbyUtils.LatencyColor(ping);
 		}
 	}
 }

OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/Lobby/LobbyUtils.cs

@@ -306,34 +306,32 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Widgets.Logic
 			return AvailableSpawnPoints(spawnPoints, lobbyInfo).Count < lobbyInfo.Clients.Count(c => !c.IsObserver);
 		}
 
-		public static Color LatencyColor(Session.ClientPing ping)
+		public static Color LatencyColor(Session.Client client)
 		{
-			if (ping == null)
+			if (client == null)
 				return Color.Gray;
 
-			// Levels set relative to the default order lag of 3 net ticks (360ms)
+			switch (client.ConnectionQuality)
-			// TODO: Adjust this once dynamic lag is implemented
+			{
-			if (ping.Latency < 0)
+				case Session.ConnectionQuality.Good: return Color.LimeGreen;
-				return Color.Gray;
+				case Session.ConnectionQuality.Moderate: return Color.Orange;
-			if (ping.Latency < 300)
+				case Session.ConnectionQuality.Poor: return Color.Red;
-				return Color.LimeGreen;
+				default: return Color.Gray;
-			if (ping.Latency < 600)
+			}
-				return Color.Orange;
-			return Color.Red;
 		}
 
-		public static string LatencyDescription(Session.ClientPing ping)
+		public static string LatencyDescription(Session.Client client)
 		{
-			if (ping == null)
+			if (client == null)
 				return "Unknown";
 
-			if (ping.Latency < 0)
+			switch (client.ConnectionQuality)
-				return "Unknown";
+			{
-			if (ping.Latency < 300)
+				case Session.ConnectionQuality.Good: return "Good";
-				return "Good";
+				case Session.ConnectionQuality.Moderate: return "Moderate";
-			if (ping.Latency < 600)
+				case Session.ConnectionQuality.Poor: return "Poor";
-				return "Moderate";
+				default: return "Unknown";
-			return "Poor";
+			}
 		}
 
 		public static void SetupLatencyWidget(Widget parent, Session.Client c, OrderManager orderManager)
@@ -345,8 +343,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Widgets.Logic
 				block.IsVisible = () => visible;
 
 				if (visible)
-					block.Get<ColorBlockWidget>("LATENCY_COLOR").GetColor = () => LatencyColor(
+					block.Get<ColorBlockWidget>("LATENCY_COLOR").GetColor = () => LatencyColor(c);
-						orderManager.LobbyInfo.PingFromClient(c));
 			}
 
 			var tooltip = parent.Get<ClientTooltipRegionWidget>("LATENCY_REGION");