Portable LED Receiver for Network Switch Port Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network switch operators face challenges in viewing the status of LEDs due to obstruction by cabling, limited viewing angles, and LED light pollution, especially when switches are positioned high or low in a rack, making it difficult to track port status accurately.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a portable LED receiver device that can be paired with network switches via Bluetooth or NFC, allowing users to view LED status from a more convenient location and providing a flexible and customizable way to track port activity, decoupling LEDs from the switch hardware and design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If network switches are positioned high or low in a rack to save space, then rack space utilization is improved, but LED visibility and viewing convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverack space utilizationVSAvoidLED viewing convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A portable receiver device is introduced as an intermediary between the network switch and the user. The receiver wirelessly receives LED status data from the switch and displays it on a portable device, allowing users to view port status without needing to physically approach and visually inspect the LEDs on the switch front panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If multiple LEDs are placed on the network switch front panel to indicate port status, then port status information completeness is improved, but LED light pollution and difficulty in focusing on the correct port increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport status information completenessVSAvoidport identification ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The portable receiver creates a digital copy of the LED status information from the network switch and displays it on a portable device. This copy can be presented in a more organized and easier-to-interpret format, allowing users to quickly identify the status of specific ports without being overwhelmed by the visual clutter of multiple physical LEDs on the switch panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If cabling is added to connect devices to network switch ports, then connectivity functionality is improved, but obstruction of LED visibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity functionalityVSAvoidLED status detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical/visual inspection method of directly viewing LEDs on the switch front panel is replaced with a wireless electronic system. The portable receiver wirelessly communicates with the network switch to retrieve and display LED status information, eliminating the need for direct line-of-sight to the physical LEDs and thus removing the obstruction problem caused by cabling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If fixed LED indicators are integrated into the network switch hardware, then device functionality is improved, but hardware complexity and design flexibility increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidhardware and software complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The LED indication functionality is extracted from the network switch hardware and implemented as a separate portable receiver device. This extraction removes the complexity of integrating multiple LEDs and their control circuitry into the switch, while maintaining the ability to display port status information. The switch only needs to provide the data, which the portable device handles for display and interpretation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11818233B2Portable LED receiver

Publication Date: 2023.11.14 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Described herein are embodiments for tracking status of switch ports in network switches using portable LED receivers (PLRs). LED data for a switch port may be transmitted from the network switch to a paired PLR. An electronic device, such as a smartphone, may be used to facilitate the pairing process. The electronic device connects to a network switch via an out of band management network like and pairs with a PLR using a management-plane BLE connection. A user may use an application operating in the electronic device to select a switch port of a network switch, logically associate the selected switch port to the PLR. Upon successful pairing, the PLR establishes a connection to the network switch and receive timestamped and sequenced LED data to drive LEDs on the PLR. The PLRs may enable disaggregation of LEDs from switch ports and provide more user flexibility and convenience.