Suppressible RFID Tags for Network Device Status Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network management applications face challenges in differentiating between device failure and network failure when a device fails to respond, leading to potential incorrect diagnoses and the need for costly secondary networks or power tap techniques that only provide limited status information.
Innovation Solution
The use of suppressible RFID tags and simulated RFID tags to determine device status when the network is unreachable, allowing for selective response to queries based on control signals and enabling comprehensive status reporting beyond power supply health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a second separate network is provided to carry status information, then device status can be determined when the primary network fails, but the system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RFID tags as an intermediary communication mechanism between the device and network management application. Instead of building a complete secondary network infrastructure, the RFID tag serves as a simple mediator that can transmit device status information when the primary network is unavailable, resolving the contradiction by providing reliability through a low-cost intermediary rather than expensive network redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the communication function using RFID technology. Rather than implementing a full duplicate network protocol stack, the system uses RFID tags that emulate basic status reporting capabilities, providing sufficient reliability for status determination while avoiding the complexity and cost of a complete secondary network
2Loss of information
If power tap techniques are used to sense electrical power draw, then some status information can be obtained when network queries fail, but the information is limited to power supply health only
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tag is designed to perform multiple functions: it can report power supply status, device operational state, and other diagnostic information. This multi-functional approach replaces the limited single-function power tap technique, reducing information loss while maintaining measurement precision through the tag's ability to provide comprehensive status data
Solution Approach 2:
The device itself generates and transmits status information through the RFID tag, rather than relying on external power tap measurements. This self-service mechanism allows the device to report its own comprehensive status including power health, operational state, and error conditions, providing both complete and accurate information without external intervention
3Reliability
If suppressible RFID tags are used to report device status, then accurate status information can be obtained without additional networks or power taps, but the device complexity increases due to the RFID tag integration
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tag functionality is merged with the existing device structure, combining status reporting capabilities with the device's power supply and processing units. This integration approach provides reliable status information while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating functions rather than adding separate independent systems
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and computer program products for managing a device connected to a network include querying the device using the network, querying the device using a simulated RFID tag, and querying the device using a suppressible RFID tag to determine status information about the device. A system for managing a device connected to a network comprises means for monitoring status of the device using the network, for receiving status information about the device reported by a simulated RFID tag, and for receiving status information about the device reported by a suppressible RFID tag.