Network Device Auto-Configures Client Parameters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manual and time-consuming process of aligning a network configuration with a client device in IP and Ethernet networks requires significant resources and time, especially in enterprise settings like data centers.
Innovation Solution
A network device with a processing system that automatically determines the parameters of a client device by parsing network packets and sensing hardware connections, allowing for self-alignment of the network configuration using policies, templates, hints, or heuristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration process is used, then network configuration can be aligned with client device, but the process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The network device automatically determines client device parameters by parsing communications and sensing hardware connections, then self-configures the network configuration without manual intervention. The system serves itself by extracting parameters like IP address, port type, and cable type from incoming DHCP requests and physical port sensing, then automatically aligning the network configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device performs preliminary determination of client device parameters before final configuration alignment. By parsing communications and sensing hardware connections in advance, the system prepares all necessary parameter information (IP address, port type, cable type) before completing the network configuration alignment, reducing overall configuration time.
2Reliability
If manual configuration process is used, then network configuration can be aligned with client device, but significant resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The network device automatically determines client device parameters by parsing communications and sensing hardware connections, then self-configures the network configuration without manual intervention. The system serves itself by extracting parameters like IP address, port type, and cable type from incoming DHCP requests and physical port sensing, then automatically aligning the network configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical configuration process with an automated electronic system. The processing system uses electronic parsing of DHCP requests and electronic sensing of port connections to automatically determine parameters and align configuration, substituting human operators with automated electronic detection and configuration mechanisms.
3Loss of time
If automatic alignment is implemented, then configuration time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network device integrates multiple functions into a single processing system: parsing communications to extract parameters, sensing hardware connections to determine port and cable types, determining client device parameters, and aligning network configuration. This multi-functional integration reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines parameter determination and configuration alignment functions into a single integrated processing system within the network device. By merging the parsing, sensing, parameter determination, and configuration alignment operations into one unified system, the patent reduces the complexity that would arise from multiple separate systems working together.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device includes a housing, a plurality of ports mounted to the housing, at least one switch mounted to the housing and configured to provide switchable connections between ports in the plurality of ports, and a processing system. Each port has a physical port type, and each port is configured to connect to a type of network cable supported by the physical port type. The processing system is configured to determine, at least partly from a set of network packets received via a port of the plurality of ports, a set of parameters of a client device. The processing system is further configured to align a network configuration used for the client device with the set of parameters of the client device.