Port Highlighting via Visual Signaling for Network Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network administrators face difficulties in locating specific ports or cables within large networks due to the lack of effective visualization and highlighting methods, which hinders troubleshooting and reconfiguration processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a processor to receive a graphical element selection at a user interface, identify the corresponding port and network device, and transmit an instruction to change the signaling component's state, such as lighting, to differentiate it from other ports, allowing easy identification by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network administrators manually search for ports and cables in large networks, then they can locate specific components, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by causing a lighting component associated with a specific port to emit light in a different color or with different intensity compared to other ports. This visual differentiation allows network administrators to quickly locate specific ports and cables by selecting them on a graphical network topology display, eliminating manual searching and significantly reducing troubleshooting time.
2Ease of operation
If network administrators use traditional manual methods to identify ports, then they can locate components, but the process lacks effective visualization and highlighting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a graphical user interface displaying network topology and a lighting component controller. When a network administrator selects a port on the graphical display, the system translates this selection into a signal that activates the corresponding lighting component on the physical device, providing effective visualization and making port identification straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting component changes its light emission state (different color, intensity, or flashing pattern) to highlight the selected port, making it easily visible and distinguishable from other ports on the network device.
3Ease of operation
If all ports on a network device have the same signaling state, then the device operates normally, but individual ports cannot be distinguished or highlighted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling individual lighting components associated with specific ports to have different light emission states independently of other ports. This allows selective highlighting of particular ports while maintaining normal operation of the entire device, providing port differentiation without requiring fundamental changes to the device architecture.
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
Enables users to efficiently locate specific ports and cables by highlighting them through distinct lighting states or colors, simplifying network management and troubleshooting tasks.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting the instruction to the network device to cause a lighting component to have a different light emitting state from other lighting components associated with the other ports of the network device
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for highlighting a port of a network device in a network. The method includes receiving, by a processor, a selection of graphical element displayed at a graphical user interface. The network device is separate from the processor. The graphical element corresponds to a port of a network device in a network. The method further includes identifying, by the processor, the port and the network device at which the port is disposed, and transmitting an instruction to the network device to cause a specific signaling component associated with the port to have a different state from other signaling components associated with other ports of the network device in order to highlight the port at the network device to a user.