Wireless Network Tap for 802.11ad Packet Brokering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network visibility systems are not compatible with wireless network protocols, limiting network visibility in wireless local area networks, as they are designed for wired networks and cannot effectively monitor or broker packets in wireless protocols like 802.11ad.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for network tapping and packet brokering in wireless networks that includes a wireless network tap to determine the validity of signals, demodulate valid signals into compatible formats, and generate indications for invalid signals, allowing the creation of packets compatible with network tapping and packet brokering systems, enabling transmission to these systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network tapping and packet brokering systems are designed for wired networks, then they can effectively monitor and broker packets in wired networks, but they cannot monitor packets in wireless networks due to protocol incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a wireless network tap as an intermediary device between wireless networks and wired network visibility systems. This tap converts wireless protocol packets into wired protocol packets, enabling compatibility between the two different network types. The intermediary translates the protocol format so that existing wired network monitoring tools can process wireless network traffic without modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the protocol parameter format by converting packets from wireless protocol (802.11ad) format to wired protocol (802.3 Ethernet) format. This parameter transformation allows the same packet data to be interpreted differently by various network visibility tools, enabling universal compatibility across protocol boundaries.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless network monitoring devices are designed for specific wireless protocols, then they can demodulate and monitor packets according to those protocols, but they cannot interface with network tapping and packet brokering systems that expect wired network packet formats
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless network tap is designed with multi-functionality to handle both wireless protocol demodulation and wired protocol packet generation. This single device performs multiple functions: capturing wireless signals, demodulating them according to wireless protocols, converting to wired protocol formats, and transmitting to wired network visibility systems. This eliminates the need for separate devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless network tap serves as a bridge between wireless monitoring capabilities and wired network visibility infrastructure. It receives packets in wireless protocol format from the wireless medium and outputs packets in wired protocol format to wired network devices, enabling seamless integration without requiring complex multi-device setups.
3Ease of operation
If optical and electrical network tap devices are placed in line between wired network devices, then they can copy packets traveling between devices, but they cannot tap packets in wireless networks without physical connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical connection requirement with a wireless signal-based tapping mechanism. Instead of requiring physical insertion into network cables like traditional wired taps, the wireless network tap uses radio frequency signal capture and demodulation to obtain packets wirelessly. This substitutes mechanical connectivity with electromagnetic field-based interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless network tap combines multiple functions into a single device: wireless signal capture, protocol demodulation, packet formatting conversion, and wired network interface. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate physical tap devices and wireless monitoring devices, simplifying deployment while maintaining packet copying capability.
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
This solution extends network visibility into wireless networks by allowing the monitoring and tapping of packets across multiple devices without physical connections, enabling automatic monitoring of new devices and efficient data transmission in formats compatible with existing network tapping and packet brokering systems.
Implementation Method 1
a demodulator for, responsive to a determination that the signal is a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol, demodulating the signal into a sequence of bits arranged according to the wireless network protocol
Data Source
AI summary
A method for network tapping and packet brokering in wireless networks includes tapping a signal in a wireless network and determining whether the signal is a valid signal according to a wireless network protocol. In response to determining that the signal is a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol, the signal is demodulated into a sequence of bits arranged according to the wireless network protocol. In response to determining that the signal is not a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol, an indication that the signal is not a valid signal according to the wireless network protocol is generated. A packet in a format compatible with a network tapping and packet brokering system is generated. At least some of the bits or the indication is inserted in the packet. The packet is transmitted to the network tapping and packet brokering system.