Communication Apparatus Replacement Management via Port Speed Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems cannot determine whether communication apparatuses are replaceable with predefined conditions met, particularly when communication apparatuses have different communication capacities or port speeds, leading to uncertainty in cable connection requirements during replacement.

Innovation Solution

A replacement management apparatus that includes a detection unit to assess communication speeds of physical ports and a replacement determination unit to calculate communication capacity, ensuring that the communication capacity of the replacement apparatus is equal to or greater than the apparatus being replaced, thereby determining replaceability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If communication apparatuses with different communication capacities are replaced, then the communication capacity may increase, but it cannot be determined whether the replacement meets predefined conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidreplacement condition verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by detecting and comparing specific parameters (communication speeds of physical ports) between the apparatus to be replaced and the replacement apparatus. The system derives communication capacity as a sum of these speeds and uses this derived parameter to determine whether replacement conditions are met, enabling precise verification despite capacity differences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If communication apparatuses with different port speeds are replaced, then flexibility in replacement options increases, but it becomes impossible to determine cable connection requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplacement option flexibilityVSAvoidcable connection determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects communication speeds of individual physical ports as parameters, then derives the overall communication capacity as a sum. This derived parameter serves as the basis for determining cable connection requirements, enabling the system to handle apparatuses with different port speeds while maintaining operational clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If manual determination of replacement conditions is performed, then operator control is maintained, but time consumption and error risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator controlVSAvoidreplacement determination time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The replacement management apparatus performs self-service by automatically detecting communication speeds, deriving communication capacities, and determining whether replacement conditions are met. This automated process eliminates manual calculation and verification, reducing time consumption and error risk while maintaining operational accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by detecting actual communication speeds and comparing them against predefined replacement conditions. This feedback mechanism enables automatic determination of whether the replacement apparatus satisfies the required conditions, streamlining the replacement process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11722363B2Exchange management apparatus, exchange management method, and program

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A replacement management apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect, for both a communication apparatus to be replaced and a communication apparatus for replacement, communication speeds of physical ports used for connection, in units of communication apparatuses that are connection destinations, and a replacement determination unit configured to derive, for both the communication apparatus to be replaced and the communication apparatus for replacement, a communication capacity that is a sum of the communication speeds for each of the communication apparatuses that are connection destinations, and determine, for all of the communication apparatuses that are connection destinations, in a case in which the communication capacity of the communication apparatus for replacement is equal to or greater than the communication capacity of the communication apparatus to be replaced, that the communication apparatus to be replaced is replaceable with the communication apparatus for replacement.