Network Device Status Display via Segmented LED Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in diagnosing network connectivity issues within local area networks due to the lack of visual indicators on devices like modems and routers, making it challenging to determine the source of problems without additional displays or audio features.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating adjustable light sources on network devices, such as LEDs or lasers, to display status configurations through various combinations of on/off states and blinking rates, allowing users to diagnose connectivity issues without network interaction, using a preset sequence of actions during the boot-up phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If additional display or audio features are added to network devices to indicate status, then diagnostic capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the status indication function into multiple independent light sources (LEDs) that can be individually controlled. Each light source can represent a different status condition, allowing complex diagnostic information to be conveyed through simple, discrete visual elements without requiring a full display screen or audio components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes different colors of light sources (e.g., green, yellow, red) to indicate different network status conditions. This allows the device to convey multiple types of diagnostic information using the same physical component, improving diagnostic capability without adding device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light sources are used to display detailed status information, then diagnostic precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the status indication system into multiple segmented light sources, where each light source or combination of light sources represents specific status conditions. This segmentation allows precise diagnostic information to be conveyed through simple on/off or color-changing LED elements, achieving high diagnostic precision without complex display hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The light sources serve multiple functions: they can indicate different status conditions through individual activation, combine to show compound states, and potentially indicate different types of events (errors, warnings, operational status). This multi-functionality allows precise diagnostics to be achieved with a small number of universal components rather than dedicated indicators for each possible state.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject technology relate to displaying of a status of a network device. A performance of a preset sequence of actions can be initiated, where the preset sequence of actions includes a first action. A determination can be made as to whether the first action is performed successfully. Characteristics of the light sources can be set based on the determination of whether the first action is performed successfully.