Controller-Based Cable Locking for Data Center Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern cloud service providers and data centers, managing the connections of numerous cables to computers is time-consuming and prone to errors, leading to potential malfunctions and failures during maintenance or repairs.
Innovation Solution
A system with locking elements and a controller that manage the insertion and removal of cables into computing resources, allowing only authorized users to plug or unplug cables based on defined rules associated with user IDs, ensuring secure and proper operation of computing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual management of cable connections is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but reliability deteriorates due to potential malfunctions and errors during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cable management with an automated electronic control system. The locking element, controlled by a controller that receives commands from external devices, substitutes human hands and decision-making in the cable connection process. This automation improves reliability by ensuring proper locking while maintaining ease of operation through remote or automated control commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element provides self-service functionality by automatically locking or unlocking cables based on controller commands. The system serves itself by autonomously managing cable connections without requiring manual intervention for each connection event, thereby improving reliability while simplifying operation through automated self-management.
2Reliability
If automated locking elements are introduced, then reliability improves by preventing unauthorized access, but device complexity increases due to additional locking mechanisms and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable management function into distinct modular components: the locking element, the controller, and the external commanding device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving reliability through specialized design while managing complexity by creating replaceable, standardized modules that can be implemented in different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element and controller system is designed with universality in mind, capable of managing multiple cable connections across different computing resources through a standardized interface. The external device that commands the locking element can serve multiple purposes and control multiple locks, thereby improving reliability through consistent control mechanisms while reducing overall system complexity by avoiding dedicated control systems for each individual lock.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided. The system includes a computing resource, a cable insertable into the computing resource, a locking element and a controller. The locking element is configured to assume a locked condition in which the cable is locked to the computing resource or prevented from insertion into the computing resource and an unlocked condition in which the cable is removable from the computing resource and permitted to be inserted into the computing resource. The controller is configured to define rules for users. The rules are associated with respective identifiers (IDs) of each of the users and establish criteria associated with each user for causing the locking element to assume one of the locked and unlocked conditions.