Single-LED Port Status Signaling for Multi-Lane Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of LEDs required for networking devices with multi-lane ports leads to design, manufacturing, and cost challenges, along with unnecessary energy consumption and e-waste, as traditional solutions either add more LEDs or reduce visual indication.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a single multi-color capable LED with a defined flashing sequence to convey the status of multiple lanes, using a programmable processor to control the LED based on a stored flash definition, allowing synchronization and power-saving modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple LEDs are used to indicate status of each lane in multi-lane ports, then visual indication of status is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple status indication functions into a single LED per port. The LED uses different flashing patterns (e.g., different flash rates, sequences, or modes) to represent different lane statuses, thereby eliminating the need for multiple separate LEDs while maintaining comprehensive status visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic flashing patterns to the static LED indicator. By varying the flash rate, sequence, or pattern of the single LED, the system can convey multiple status states over time, allowing one LED to replace multiple static indicators.
2Ease of operation
If multiple LEDs are used for each lane, then troubleshooting capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple LED indicators into a single LED that uses temporal patterns (flashing sequences) to convey information about multiple lanes. This reduces the total number of active components and their associated energy consumption while preserving troubleshooting capabilities through pattern recognition.
3Loss of information
If multiple LEDs are used per port, then status information completeness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple LED components into a single LED per port, reducing component count and assembly complexity. The single LED conveys complete status information through coded flashing patterns, eliminating the need for multiple discrete indicators and their associated mounting, wiring, and configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The single LED serves multiple functions by displaying different flashing patterns for different status conditions. This multi-functional approach allows one component to replace several specialized indicators, reducing overall system complexity and manufacturing cost.
4Loss of information
If more LEDs are added to networking devices, then status indication capability is improved, but e-waste and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple LED indicators into a single LED per port, directly reducing the quantity of electronic components that will eventually become e-waste. The single LED maintains full status indication capability through intelligent flashing patterns, thereby minimizing material consumption and environmental impact.
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 system complexity, manufacturing costs, and energy consumption while maintaining troubleshooting capabilities, minimizing resource wastage and e-waste.
Implementation Method 1
light emitting diodes (LEDs) would be used as tell-tales to signal the state of a port to a local operator
Data Source
AI summary
A flash definition specifying a flashing sequence for a status indicator of a multi-lane port is stored on a device. In operation, the status indicator is lit, following the flashing sequence, to indicate a current lane state (in a Port/Lane Signaling Mode) or interface/channel state (in an Interface/Channel Signaling Mode). The flashing sequence may begin with a preamble, indicating a start of the flashing sequence. The device may have different multi-lane ports, each having one or more status indicators configured for indicating states of multiple lanes or a state of an interface having a multiple of component lanes. Flashing sequences for these ports are synchronizable (to the port having the largest number of lanes or, in the Interface/Channel Signaling Mode, the largest number of configured interfaces on that port). The lanes of a multi-lane port may operate at the same or different speeds and may be bundled into interfaces/channels.