Evaluation Method of IP Geolocation Database Based on City Delay Characteristics

Despite the widespread use of IP geolocation databases, a robust and precise method for evaluating their accuracy remains elusive. This study presents a novel algorithm designed to assess the reliability of IP geolocation databases, leveraging the congruence of delay distributions across network segments and cities. We developed a fusion reference database, termed CDCDB, to facilitate the evaluation of commercial IP geolocation databases. Remarkably, CDCDB achieves an average positioning accuracy at the city level of 94%, coupled with a city coverage of 99.99%. This allows for an effective and comprehensive evaluation of IP geolocation databases. When compared to IPUU, CDCDB demonstrates an increase in the number of network segments by 18.7%, an increase in the number of high-quality network segments by 13.2%, and an enhancement in the coverage of city-level network segments by 20.92%. The evaluation outcomes reveal that the reliability of IP geolocation databases is not uniform across different cities. Moreover, distinct IP geolocation databases display varying preferences for cities. Consequently, we advise online service providers to select suitable IP geolocation databases based on the cities they cater to, as this could significantly enhance service quality.