Electronic Patch Device for N:1 Network Backup Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network systems face interruptions and productivity losses due to the difficulty in configuring terminal switches in a dual structure, leading to communication disruptions when faults occur, especially since they are not standardized and require significant costs to dualize.
Innovation Solution
A network system with dualized terminal switches and an electronic patch device that monitors and switches between primary and backup network equipment, maintaining communication without interruption by using a distributor to connect network equipment and terminals, and includes features like signal detectors, switches, and circuit protectors to manage faults and power issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terminal switches are dualized to ensure continuous communication during faults, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple terminal switches (n switches) share a single backup switch instead of each having its own backup. The electronic patch device consolidates the backup resources, allowing one backup switch to serve multiple primary switches, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup switch is designed to be universal and can replace any of the n terminal switches when needed. The electronic patch device enables the backup switch to perform multiple functions by dynamically connecting it to different primary switches based on fault detection, maximizing resource utilization.
2Reliability
If terminal switches are dualized to maintain communication during faults, then reliability is improved, but installation cost increases due to significant resources required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backup resources for n terminal switches into a single shared backup switch. Instead of requiring n backup switches, the system uses one backup switch controlled by an electronic patch device that can dynamically route any primary switch to the backup, significantly reducing equipment quantity and installation cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup switch serves as a universal copy that can replace any primary terminal switch. Rather than creating dedicated copies for each switch, the system uses a single versatile backup that can assume the function of any failed primary switch through the electronic patch device's routing capabilities.
3Device complexity
If conventional single structure terminal switches are used to reduce complexity and cost, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity is lost due to communication interruptions during faults
Solution Approach 1:
The backup switch is prepared in advance and the electronic patch device continuously monitors the health of primary terminal switches. When a fault is detected, the system has already have the backup ready to immediately take over, minimizing interruption time and maintaining productivity without requiring complex dual structures for each switch.
4Quantity of substance
If n:1 backup system is implemented to reduce equipment quantity and cost, then installation cost is reduced, but system complexity increases due to monitoring and switching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic patch device acts as an intermediary between the n primary terminal switches and the single backup switch. It handles the complexity of monitoring, fault detection, and switching operations, while presenting a simple interface to the primary switches. This mediator absorbs the control complexity rather than distributing it across the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an electronic patch device, network system, and operation method in the network system. The network system includes n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1) network equipments, a backup network equipment used for backing up one of the n network equipments, n terminals connected to the n network equipments respectively, and a distributor connecting respective lines between the n network equipments and the n terminals and replacing one of the n network equipments with the backup network equipment according to necessity. Here, a plurality of the distributors are connected in parallel.