Network Fault Location via Distributed Traffic Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network traffic analysis technologies fail to accurately identify the location of network errors or faults within the network, making troubleshooting complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a traffic analysis computing device that sends requests to network devices to capture information, receives network reporting files, determines the fault location using source IP addresses, and performs corrective actions at the identified location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing network traffic analysis technologies are used, then network traffic can be monitored and analyzed, but the exact location of network faults or errors cannot be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple monitored zones with distributed agents deployed at different network devices. Each agent independently captures and analyzes traffic in its local segment, identifying faults at specific locations rather than treating the network as a monolithic system. This segmentation enables precise location identification by isolating faults to particular network segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces location information as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between traffic analysis and fault identification. Each network agent embeds its location identifier (such as device ID, IP address, or geographic location) with captured traffic data, allowing the central server to map anonymous traffic anomalies back to specific physical or logical locations in the network.
2Reliability
If comprehensive network traffic capture is performed across all network devices, then more fault information can be collected, but the complexity of analyzing and locating faults increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex network monitoring task into smaller segments by deploying distributed agents at different network devices. Each agent handles only the traffic and faults in its local segment, reducing the complexity of analysis. The central server receives segmented data with location identifiers, making it easier to process and act upon specific faults without being overwhelmed by comprehensive network data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling network agents to automatically capture traffic, identify faults, and report them with location information to the central server. The system performs self-diagnosis and self-reporting, reducing the need for manual troubleshooting and simplifying the overall complexity of fault management while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and traffic analysis computing device for analyzing network traffic comprising sending to one or more network devices a request to capture one or more network information upon identifying a fault within a network. Next, one or more network reporting files comprising the captured one or more network information is received from each of the one or more network devices. Upon receiving the network reporting files, a location at which the identified fault occurred within the network is determined. Based on the determination, one or more corrective actions is performed at the location of the identified fault within the network.