Wireless Pluggable Test Modules for Network Device Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network testing methods require extensive cabling and high electrical power to connect test equipment to network devices, leading to increased costs and time for setup and potential performance impact on the network being tested.
Innovation Solution
The use of in-band, wireless, and low-bandwidth pluggable test modules that communicate with a test manager via the network device, reducing the need for physical cables and power consumption by receiving electrical power from the network device, allowing for efficient generation and analysis of test traffic without adding significant load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional test equipment is connected to network devices using physical cables and power connections, then reliable testing can be performed, but setup time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. Test modules communicate with network devices via wireless signals (e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth) instead of physical Ethernet cables, eliminating the time-consuming cable plugging and configuration process while maintaining testing reliability through wireless protocol-based data exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication interface as an intermediary between test modules and network devices. This intermediary enables indirect communication without direct physical connections, allowing test equipment to connect to network devices through wireless signals rather than requiring physical cable infrastructure for each connection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If extensive cabling is used to connect test equipment to network devices, then stable connections are achieved, but costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical cabling infrastructure by implementing wireless communication. Instead of requiring physical cables for each test connection, the system uses wireless protocols to establish connections, thereby reducing cabling complexity while maintaining connection stability through wireless signal transmission and reception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the physical cabling layer from the testing system architecture. By taking out the cable connection requirement, the system achieves simplified device complexity while maintaining functional stability through alternative wireless communication mechanisms that do not require physical infrastructure.
3Power
If high electrical power is consumed by test equipment, then sufficient operation is achieved, but overall system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service power management where test modules draw electrical power from the network devices they are testing. Instead of requiring separate high-power power supplies and power cables, the test modules utilize the existing power infrastructure of the network devices, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining sufficient operational power for testing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the network device power infrastructure serve dual purposes: both powering the network device operations and powering the test modules. This multi-functional use of the existing power system eliminates the need for additional power delivery infrastructure, reducing energy loss while ensuring sufficient power availability for testing operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional testing methods are used, then comprehensive network testing is possible, but performance impact on the network increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using low-bandwidth wireless communication channels for test data exchange instead of full-bandwidth physical connections. The test modules transmit and receive test traffic through wireless signals that consume minimal bandwidth compared to traditional cable connections, thereby reducing the performance impact on the network while maintaining sufficient testing capability through optimized protocol design.
Data Source
AI summary
There are disclosed a system, a test module and a method for testing a network device. One or more test modules may be plugged into respective ports of the network device in replacement of respective pluggable transceiver modules. Each test module may include at least one of a traffic generator and a traffic receiver to transmit and receive, respectively, test traffic via the network device.