Network Diagnostics via Secondary Communications Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
In network diagnostics, technicians face challenges such as limited information availability and increased travel time and costs due to the need for on-site visits, especially when the problematic equipment is owned by a different company or requires specialized materials or personnel.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a secondary communications medium for network diagnostics, which includes network diagnostic devices capable of wireless transmission and reception, enabling remote diagnosis and corrective actions through network access devices that can connect multiple network mediums, and a method for isolating and addressing network issues using unique identifiers and encryption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If technicians travel to on-site locations to diagnose network problems, then they can directly inspect and repair equipment, but travel time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the network environment by capturing raw network traffic data and presenting it in a formatted, analyzed view at the technician's location. This allows the technician to remotely access and analyze network data as if physically present at the problem site, eliminating the need for travel while maintaining diagnostic capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a network traffic capture and analysis device as an intermediary between the network problem source and the technician. This intermediary captures, formats, and transmits network data to the technician's display device, enabling remote diagnosis without direct physical presence at the network location
2Ease of repair
If technicians carry repair materials and equipment, then they can perform repairs on-site, but the equipment and materials become cumbersome and specialized repairs require additional resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the diagnostic and analysis functions from the physical repair equipment and concentrates them in a remote network traffic analysis system. The technician's device displays formatted network data and enables diagnosis without requiring physical proximity to the network equipment or carrying specialized repair materials
Solution Approach 2:
The network traffic capture and analysis device serves multiple functions: capturing raw network traffic, formatting the data for display, analyzing network problems, and enabling remote diagnosis. This multi-functional system replaces the need for multiple specialized repair tools and materials
3Reliability
If multiple personnel and equipment are sent to the location, then comprehensive diagnostics and repairs can be performed, but delays and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physically transporting technicians and equipment to the network problem location with an electronic information transmission system. Network traffic data is captured, formatted, and transmitted electronically to the technician's display device, enabling comprehensive diagnostics without physical deployment of personnel and equipment
Data Source
AI summary
A method, comprising detecting a problem associated with a network communications link of a primary communications medium, performing one or more actions on a first network element communicatively coupled to the network communications link in response to detection of the problem, and transmitting data associated with the problem from the first network element to a second network element utilizing a secondary communications medium.