Network Fault Localization via Dynamic Baud Rate Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network fault localization methods fail to accurately and automatically identify physical network faults, such as interrupted electrical lines or short circuits, at runtime in wired networks, leading to difficulties in differentiating directly and indirectly affected connections and pinpointing the fault location.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves detecting communication disruptions between network participants, reducing baud rates stepwise to establish connections, measuring signal transit times, and storing information on reachability to differentiate directly and indirectly affected connections, thereby pinpointing the physical network fault locally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the baud rate is reduced to restore communication with affected network participants, then communication reliability is improved, but transmission speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The baud rate is dynamically adjusted from an initial high value to a lower value when communication disruptions are detected. The system transitions from a static baud rate configuration to a dynamic one that adapts based on communication quality, allowing restoration of communication with indirectly affected participants while maintaining higher speeds where possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission parameter (baud rate) in response to detected communication disruptions. By modifying this physical parameter, the system resolves the contradiction between maintaining high transmission speed and ensuring reliable communication, allowing it to operate at optimal speed under normal conditions and switch to lower speed when faults are present.
2Measurement precision
If signal transit time is measured to calculate distance to the fault, then fault localization precision is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex physical fault location methods with an electronic measurement approach. Instead of using time-domain reflectometry or other complex electrical measurement techniques, the invention uses simple timestamp-based transit time measurement of data packets, substituting a sophisticated measurement system with a computationally simple time-stamping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The network participants themselves perform the measurement function by embedding timestamps in their own transmitted and received packets. Each participant independently measures the transit time without requiring external measurement equipment, allowing the system to self-diagnose fault locations using the existing communication infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If stepwise baud rate reduction is performed to determine the degree of involvement, then fault localization accuracy is improved, but communication interruption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a stepwise baud rate reduction, testing at multiple intermediate values between the initial high baud rate and the final low baud rate. This partial action approach allows the system to identify the threshold at which communication becomes possible, providing information about the degree of involvement of indirectly affected participants. The process balances the need for accurate fault localization with the desire to minimize interruption time by systematically narrowing down the critical baud rate threshold.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the restoration of communication with network participants affected by physical faults, prevents erroneous interpretations, and accurately localizes the fault by distinguishing between directly and indirectly affected connections, allowing for precise fault identification.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a time interval until a reflection of the signal is received
Implementation Method 2
measuring a time interval until a reflection of the signal is received. The interval between the signal-transmitting network participant and the physical network fault can be calculated by determining the signal transit time
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for localizing a physical network fault in a network having a plurality of network participants. The method comprises detecting by a first network participant and a second network participant that communication with a third network participant and the respective further participant of the first and second network participants is disrupted. In response to the detecting, the first network participant and second network participant automatically reduce their baud rate. The method comprises further establishing a connection between the first network participant and second network participant with use of the reduced baud rate, detecting by the first network participant and/or the second network participant that communication with the third network participant is not possible with use of the reduced baud rate, and storing information on the impossibility of communication with the third network participant.