Active Response Network Tap for Full-Duplex Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network taps do not support full-duplex monitoring and communication, requiring separate channels for monitoring devices to interact with other network devices, which is inefficient, especially when devices are far apart.
Innovation Solution
An active response communications network tap that enables full-duplex monitoring and communication by using a tap structure with device and monitor interface terminals, memory for burst traffic storage, and a first-in first-out (FIFO) technique to aggregate and inject data into network traffic, allowing monitors to communicate directly with other devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional network taps transmit traffic in two half-duplex streams, then monitoring is enabled, but full-duplex monitoring and communication cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The network tap is divided into multiple functional components including a first monitor interface terminal, second monitor interface terminal, first device interface terminal, second device interface terminal, and a tap structure. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific traffic streams independently, enabling full-duplex monitoring where one interface pair handles transmit traffic while another handles receive traffic simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The tap structure acts as an intermediary device that receives traffic from network devices, processes it through memory buffering with FIFO technique, and forwards it to monitor devices. This intermediary function enables the monitor to insert data back into the network traffic flow, providing two-way communication capability that conventional taps lack.
2Ease of operation
If conventional network taps require separate communication channels for monitors to interact with other network devices, then communication is possible, but system complexity and inefficiency increase especially when devices are far apart
Solution Approach 1:
The network tap provides multi-functionality by enabling monitors to both passively monitor traffic and actively insert data into the network traffic flow through the same tap structure. This eliminates the need for separate communication channels, as the tap structure itself serves as both the monitoring interface and the communication interface, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the monitoring function and the active response communication function into a single integrated tap structure. The same physical interface and processing path used for monitoring traffic also enables data insertion from monitors back into the network, combining multiple functions that conventional taps handled separately.
3Productivity
If network taps provide high-bandwidth active responses, then communication efficiency improves, but data collisions may occur without proper buffering
Solution Approach 1:
The tap structure incorporates memory that pre-buffers incoming network traffic before it is processed and forwarded to monitors. This preliminary buffering action ensures that when monitors insert high-bandwidth active responses, the data is queued and transmitted in an organized sequence using FIFO technique, preventing data collisions and maintaining integrity during high-speed operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory component provides a cushioning buffer zone between the high-speed network traffic flow and the monitor processing. This buffer absorbs traffic bursts and regulates data flow, preventing collisions that would occur if monitors attempted to insert data directly into high-speed traffic without intermediate buffering and sequencing.
Data Source
AI summary
An active response network tap for use in monitoring a network comprises a first device interface terminal, a second device interface terminal, a first monitor interface terminal, and a second monitor interface terminal. A tap structure is coupled to the first device interface terminal, second device interface terminal, first monitor interface terminal and second monitor interface terminal. A memory is coupled to the tap structure and configured to store data. In one aspect, the tap structure is configured to communicate full-duplex traffic between the tap structure and a monitor device coupled to a monitor interface terminal. In another aspect, the tap structure is configured to insert data from a monitor coupled to the first monitor interface into the traffic between the first device and the second device. Advantages of the invention include the ability to provide monitor access to a network while also supporting communication with other network devices.