Network Tap Battery-Assisted Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network taps are costly due to the requirement of optical switches for each port pair and lack flexibility in failover modes, as they either fail open or fail closed, limiting their utility.
Innovation Solution
A network tap with a processing element, optical-electrical transceivers, and a multiplexer/demultiplexer module that operates in a fail open mode when external power is lost, using internal power to bypass the processing element and implement loopback operations, and is programmable to operate in either fail open or fail closed modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical switches are provided for each ingress/egress port pair to provide automatic fail open capability, then traffic flow continuity is maintained during power loss, but the cost of the network tap greatly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the failover function from expensive optical switches and implements it using a combination of mechanical relay and optical bypass mechanisms. The relay controls switching between monitoring mode and bypass mode, while the optical bypass path provides direct signal transmission when monitoring is not needed, eliminating the need for costly optical switches while maintaining traffic flow continuity during power loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the optical switching function using available components. Instead of using actual optical switches, it implements the switching logic through a mechanical relay that controls electrical connections, and uses optical bypass paths that replicate the signal transmission function without requiring expensive optical switching hardware.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a large battery is used to fully power the tap for extended periods when external power is lost, then complete network monitoring functionality is maintained, but the battery size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by powering only the essential bypass functionality during power loss rather than maintaining full monitoring capabilities. The mechanical relay and optical bypass components consume minimal power to maintain traffic flow continuity, allowing extended operation with a small battery while sacrificing non-essential monitoring functions during the power loss event.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing power to different components with different priorities. During normal operation, all components are powered. During power loss, only the critical bypass path components (relay, optical bypass) receive power from the battery, while non-critical monitoring components are powered down, enabling extended operation with minimal battery capacity.
3Ease of operation
If network taps are designed to fail open or fail closed, then a simple failover mechanism is provided, but flexibility in failover operation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic failover capability where the failover mode can be changed based on operational requirements. The system can be configured to fail open (bypass mode) or fail closed (block mode) through programmable control logic that adjusts the relay switching behavior. This allows the same hardware to adapt to different operational scenarios while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical switching mechanism.
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
Reduces costs by eliminating the need for optical switches and provides flexibility in failover modes, allowing for continuous traffic flow or blocking, depending on the mode selected, while minimizing battery size by powering only necessary components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical-electrical transceiver for receiving an optical signal from a network and for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
a power source internal to the network tap for providing temporary power to optical-electrical transceiver and the multiplexer/demultiplexer module
Data Source
AI summary
A network tap with battery assisted and programmable failover is disclosed. The network tap includes a processing element, at least one optical-electrical transceiver, and at least one multiplexer/demultiplexer module. A backup battery provides power to the optical-electrical transceiver(s) and the multiplexer/demultiplexer module(s) but not the processing element when operating in a failover mode. The network tap is programmable to operate in a fail open mode in which traffic received from the network passes through the network tap during failover or a fail closed mode in which traffic receive from the network is blocked during failover.