Dual Bypass Module FPGA Heartbeat Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network security systems are costly and may leave data traffic unsecured during transitions between primary and secondary monitoring systems, exposing networks to external attacks when one or both intrusion prevention systems (IPS) fail, leading to potential financial detriment.
Innovation Solution
A dual bypass module with a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) manages data traffic, performing a sequential heartbeat diagnostic test to determine monitoring system conditions and automatically switch between IPS, providing secured alternative paths and resource sharing across network arrangements, reducing the need for redundant hardware and maintaining network security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two independent network arrangements with IPS are deployed to ensure network security and availability, then network reliability and security are improved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two independent network arrangements into a single unified system with a dual bypass module that manages both primary and secondary IPS. This merging reduces system complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of having redundant security paths, as the module consolidates control logic and switching functions into one integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual bypass module serves multiple functions: it manages traffic routing between primary and secondary IPS, performs heartbeat diagnostic tests, and provides automatic failover capabilities. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control systems for each network arrangement, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high availability.
2Reliability
If two independent network arrangements with IPS are deployed to ensure continuous security, then network protection is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges resource management for two network arrangements into a single dual bypass module, allowing shared control logic and switching mechanisms. This reduces the quantity of expensive security hardware needed while maintaining the availability benefits of redundant IPS paths.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of deploying two complete independent security systems, the patent uses a single dual bypass module that manages access to both primary and secondary IPS. This copying approach allows one control module to serve multiple security paths, reducing overall system cost while maintaining high availability.
3Reliability
If automatic switching between primary and secondary IPS is implemented, then network security continuity is improved, but switching latency and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dual bypass module continuously performs heartbeat diagnostic tests on both primary and secondary IPS before failover is needed. This preliminary monitoring ensures that the status of backup systems is always known, enabling immediate switching when primary IPS fails without requiring diagnostic delays during the actual failover event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses heartbeat packets to continuously monitor IPS status and provides real-time feedback to the dual bypass module. This feedback mechanism enables automatic detection of IPS failures and triggers immediate switching to secondary IPS, maintaining security continuity with minimal latency.
4Measurement precision
If sequential heartbeat diagnostic tests are performed to monitor IPS status, then detection accuracy is improved, but time consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dual bypass module performs heartbeat diagnostic tests at regular periodic intervals rather than continuously or on-demand. This periodic approach provides sufficient detection accuracy to monitor IPS status while minimizing time consumption and system complexity compared to continuous monitoring methods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dual bypass module for managing an integrated secured network environment is provided. The module includes network ports that receive and transmit data traffic flowing through the network. The module also includes a set of monitoring ports that is configured for transmitting the data traffic between the dual bypass module and a set of monitoring systems. The module further includes a set of relays configured for controlling the flow of data through the dual bypass module. The module yet also includes a configurable integrated circuit. The configurable integrated circuit includes at least one of a first logic arrangement for determining conditions of the set of monitoring systems, a second logic arrangement for redirecting the data traffic through a secured alternate path when a monitoring system is unavailable, and a third logic arrangement for redirecting the data traffic through a secured alternate path when a communication path becomes unavailable.