Communication Proxy Port Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing communication systems, the physical ports of provider devices cannot be separated from those of access devices, leading to operational burdens and hidden safety risks, particularly in managing and maintaining network services across different providers.

Innovation Solution

A communication proxy method and system that separates physical ports from logic ports, allowing for conversion and management of packets between provider and access devices, enabling transparent updates and maintenance, enhanced storage efficiency, and improved safety by using a communication proxy device with a packet receiving unit, port mapping unit, and packet sending unit to manage logic ports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical ports of provider devices are directly connected to access devices, then communication functionality is achieved, but system safety deteriorates and operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem safetyVSAvoidport management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication proxy device as an intermediary between provider devices and access devices. The proxy device includes a reception unit that receives packets from provider devices, a conversion unit that converts physical port identifiers to logic port identifiers using mapping information, and a transmission unit that transmits converted packets to access devices. This intermediary structure isolates provider devices from direct access to physical ports, improving system safety while maintaining communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the port identification system into two distinct layers: physical port identifiers that represent actual hardware interfaces, and logic port identifiers that represent virtual communication endpoints. The conversion unit maintains mapping information between these two layers, allowing packets to be routed through the proxy device without exposing the physical port structure to provider devices. This segmentation reduces operational complexity by abstracting away physical port management details.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If physical ports are separated from logic ports through a communication proxy, then system safety and maintainability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance easeVSAvoidcommunication proxy structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the port identification system through logic port identifiers that mirror the structure and function of physical port identifiers. The conversion unit maintains mapping information that acts as a copy of the physical-to-logic port correspondence. This copying approach allows the system to maintain detailed port mapping information without requiring provider devices to directly access or understand physical port structures, thereby improving maintenance ease while containing the complexity within the proxy device itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If mapping information between physical ports and logic ports is stored centrally, then port conversion efficiency is improved, but storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveport conversion efficiencyVSAvoidmapping information storage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The conversion unit in the communication proxy device is designed to handle multiple conversion scenarios using a single centralized mapping information storage structure. The same mapping information serves multiple purposes: converting physical port identifiers to logic port identifiers for downstream transmission, enabling the proxy device to act as an L2CP proxy, and supporting various provider devices connecting to multiple access devices. This multi-functional use of the mapping information reduces the need for separate storage structures for different conversion scenarios, thereby improving conversion efficiency while minimizing storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3208975B1Method, device and system for communication proxy
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3208975B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3208975B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3208975B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method, device and system for communication proxy are provided. After receiving an interactive message between a provider device and an access device, performing a converting process between a physical port and a logical port on the physical port information or logical port information in the received message, according to the obtained predetermined mapping information between the physical port and the logical port, thereby the physical port between the provider device and the access device is isolated.