Network Switch Port Speed Control for Endpoint Overload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telephony-capable endpoints connected to network switches are prone to processor overload due to excessive packet traffic, which existing technologies fail to mitigate effectively without constraining other connected devices.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced network switch dynamically sets data port speeds based on the capabilities of connected devices, prioritizing the lowest rate for devices with limited processor power to prevent overload, while allowing higher rates for upstream devices with greater processing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the network switch operates all ports at the highest possible data rate, then overall network throughput is maximized, but telephony-capable endpoints with limited processor power become overloaded by excessive packet traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating data rate allocation across different port types. Upstream ports connected to high-capability devices (routers, switches) operate at maximum negotiated speeds, while downstream ports connected to telephony-capable endpoints operate at constrained speeds. This localized differentiation allows the network switch to optimize throughput for capable devices while protecting vulnerable endpoints from processor overload.
2Reliability
If the network switch constrains data rates for all connected devices, then processor overload at telephony endpoints is prevented, but data exchange efficiency for other devices is unnecessarily reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network switch functionality into distinct port categories: upstream ports and downstream ports. Each segment operates under different data rate policies. Upstream ports maintain full-speed operation for high-capability devices, while downstream ports implement speed constraining specifically for telephony endpoints. This segmentation allows protective measures to be applied only where needed without compromising overall network performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the network switch uses auto-negotiation to determine port speeds, then connection compatibility is maximized, but telephony endpoints are exposed to traffic rates they cannot handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by proactively constraining data rates on downstream ports before packet floods can occur. The switch identifies telephony-capable endpoints and preemptively limits their data rates to safe levels, preventing processor overload before it happens. This anticipatory measure counteracts the potential harmful effect of auto-negotiation selecting speeds that the endpoint cannot handle.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed that enables the avoidance of a processor overload of a telecommunications endpoint device that is susceptible to traffic floods. An enhanced network switch sets the speed on one of its data ports as a specific function of the speeds of the devices that are connected to one or more of its other data ports. This behavior is different from that of network switches in the prior art, in which the data rate of a port in the prior art is auto-negotiated to the highest speed that can be supported by the network elements at either end of the port's connection, regardless of the other devices present. By considering the specific devices that are connected, the enhanced network switch is able to limit the amount of traffic that is directed by an upstream device, such as a router, towards a device with limited processor capability, such as a packet-based phone.