Infrastructure Management Device for Accurate Cable Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of cables and connections in distributed networks increases, network personnel face difficulties in accurately installing and managing correct connections, leading to challenges in reliability and troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
An infrastructure management device that uses a processor to obtain and display port status and networking device status, allowing users to input data on cable characteristics and compare them to defined work orders, providing real-time notifications on cable mismatches and facilitating accurate cable insertion and work order completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of cables and connections in distributed networks increases, then network coverage and connectivity are improved, but the difficulty of accurately installing and managing correct connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual representation (copy) of the physical network infrastructure through virtual networking devices that mirror physical networking devices. This virtual model allows personnel to manage connections through software interfaces rather than physically tracing cables, dramatically simplifying connection management as network规模 increases. The virtual device display shows port status and cable connections in a manageable visual format.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an infrastructure management device as an intermediary between network personnel and the physical network infrastructure. This device automatically discovers physical connections, tracks cable characteristics, and presents this information through a user interface, mediating the complex interaction between humans and the expanding network infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If manual cable installation and management is performed without automated tracking, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of network connections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The infrastructure management device performs automatic discovery and tracking of cable connections without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by automatically detecting cable characteristics, mapping connections between ports, and maintaining accurate records, thereby improving reliability while adding minimal complexity to the existing network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and provides feedback about cable connection status, port availability, and connection accuracy. This feedback mechanism allows network personnel to verify connections and correct errors, significantly improving reliability compared to manual tracking methods.
3Productivity
If real-time monitoring of cable status is implemented, then network troubleshooting capability is improved, but use of energy and system resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrastructure management device periodically updates the status of ports and networking devices rather than continuously monitoring every change in real-time. This periodic polling approach provides sufficient troubleshooting information while consuming fewer system resources and energy compared to continuous real-time monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An infrastructure management device comprises a processor configured to obtain port status and networking device status for each of one or more physicals networking devices in a system. The device also comprises a display unit coupled to the processor and configured to display one or more virtual networking devices, and a user input element configured to provide user input to the processor. The port status indicates that a cable is inserted into the first port and the processor obtains cable data identifying one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port. The processor is configured to compare the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port with one or more characteristics defined in the work order. The processor is configured to provide a notification to a user indicating whether the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable comply with the work order.