Ethernet Line Fault Detection Through Wireless Cooperative Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diagnosing faults in wired connections with external networks is resource-intensive and often leads to unnecessary device returns and down time due to difficulties in identifying the cause of connection failures, which can be caused by installation errors, hardware defects, or software issues.

Innovation Solution

Network devices equipped with both wired and wireless communication modules can connect to other devices wirelessly to perform fault detection and generate fault determination data, enabling cooperative troubleshooting to identify the cause of connection issues without physical inspection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If wired connection fault diagnosis is performed through physical inspection and specialist tasks, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and loss of energy increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoiddown time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs self-diagnosis by automatically detecting faults in its wired connection and initiating wireless communication with further network devices for cooperative troubleshooting, eliminating the need for external specialist intervention and reducing downtime

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary fault detection and diagnosis actions automatically upon connection failure, establishing wireless connections and gathering diagnostic data before specialist intervention is required, thereby reducing the overall time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If wired connection fault diagnosis is performed through physical inspection and specialist tasks, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy and resource expenditure increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidresource expenditure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network device autonomously performs fault detection and diagnosis, generating fault determination data without requiring external specialist resources, thereby reducing energy consumption and resource expenditure associated with manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Wireless communication serves as an intermediary mechanism that enables remote diagnostic capabilities without requiring physical presence or specialized equipment, reducing the resources needed for fault diagnosis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If wired connection faults are suspected to be device defects, then measurement precision is improved, but device returns and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault cause identificationVSAvoidnetwork availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network device automatically identifies whether faults are caused by device defects or external factors through self-diagnosis and cooperative troubleshooting with further network devices, enabling on-site correction and preventing unnecessary device returns that would reduce productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system generates fault determination data that provides feedback on the actual cause of connection failures, allowing operators to take appropriate corrective actions based on accurate diagnosis rather than assuming device defects, thereby maintaining higher productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4607874A1Ethernet line fault detection
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 CAMBIUM NETWORKS
  • EP4607874A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4607874A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4607874A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of identifying faults in wired connections between network devices and an external network is provided. The method involves detecting a fault in a wired connection between a first network device and a second network device, establishing a wireless connection between the first and second network devices, testing the first network device using the second network device, and generating fault determination data representing the cause of the fault. A network device for implementing at least part of the method is also provided. The network device is configured to detect a fault, connect to a further network device, enable the further network device to test the network device, and to generate fault detection data.