Multiplex communications – Diagnostic testing – Determination of communication parameters
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-17
2001-10-30
Vincent, David R. (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Diagnostic testing
Determination of communication parameters
C370S253000, C709S224000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06310860
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides traffic monitoring ports of a network switch which are control gates, each connected with a port of the network switch. The control gates also connect with a monitoring bus, and a configuration bus. The users can apply the control gates to dominate the traffic direction via the configuration bus, using the monitoring bus to transfer communication materials. This makes the traffic of any port monitored by the other port. This invention provides users with a simply operated network monitoring function, and a completed function of the monitoring port.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A network switch connects with the user devices through its connecting port. Sometimes there is a need to verify the traffic of a port, so that it can be monitored, such as when processing debugging and observing any port's data flow.
FIG. 1
shows the commonly used technique for monitoring the port traffic. The network switch
10
has connection ports
12
, which connect with user devices
14
. When the traffic monitoring is processed, as shown on the left side of the
FIG. 1
, the user device
14
is first disconnected. The repeater
16
connects with a port
12
, which is configured as a monitoring port. In addition, a sniffer
18
and the user device
14
, then connect with the repeater
16
, so that the traffic passing through the user device
14
is monitored by the sniffer
18
.
The above described method of monitoring the traffic must change the network connection to monitor it. The monitoring depends on the port's position, which is not easy to operate. This problem can be solved by using a fixed monitoring port instead of using a repeater
16
, as shown on FIG.
2
. Setting up a dedicated monitoring port
20
means sacrificing one port's ordinary function, wasting the cost by eliminating the port.
This general way of monitoring the network only monitors parts of the traffic, such as the result of transmission or reception which cannot perform the completed monitoring whole traffic. So the result does not reach its goal.
Anyhow the general technique of monitoring traffic of the network works only the receiving parts of the half duplex operation, and it does not work in full duplex operation. Based on the above mentioned factors, it is necessary to propose a more complete, easier to operate design, to improve the defects of the existing technique of network monitoring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide an easy to operate traffic monitoring port for network switches. By this device, monitoring traffic of any port of the network switch can be done by using another arbitrary port of the switch, without changing the original settings of the switch.
Another object of this invention is to provide traffic monitoring ports to monitor the full duplex operation of the network switch. This is achieved using a couple of ports, one for monitoring transmitted packets from the monitored port, and one for monitoring received packets to the monitored port.
A third object of this invention is to provide traffic monitoring ports to monitor the entire traffic of the network, and also the local traffic and error packet. This new method does not sacrifice a port's ordinary function when the port is not set on monitoring mode.
In order to achieved these objects, this invention uses control gates to connect every port of the network switch, and connects every control gate with the monitoring bus and configuration bus. The user devices interface can select a control gate to control the traffic direction through the configuration bus, utilizing the monitoring bus to transfer traffic materials. This allows the traffic of any port to be monitored by another port. dr
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, and wherein:
FIG. 1
shows the general technique of monitoring the traffic of a network switch by using repeaters.
FIG. 2
shows the general technique of monitoring the traffic of a network switch by using a fixed monitoring port.
FIG. 3
shows the theory of this invention.
FIG. 4
shows a good example of this invention.
FIG. 5
shows the block diagram of the invention.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS
10 network switch
12 port
14 user devices
16 repeater
18 sniffer
20 monitoring port
22 exhange engine
24 user devices
26 user configuration interface
28 configuration bus
30 monitoring bus
32 control gate
34 monitored module
36 monitoring module
38 PHY
40 sniffer
REFERENCES:
patent: 5079765 (1992-01-01), Yasuo
patent: 5315580 (1994-05-01), Phaal
patent: 5572352 (1996-11-01), Carbone, Jr. et al.
patent: 5627766 (1997-05-01), Beaven
patent: 5642217 (1997-06-01), Carbone, Jr. et al.
patent: 5892924 (1999-04-01), Lyon et al.
patent: 5905781 (1999-05-01), McHale et al.
patent: 5920705 (1999-07-01), Lyon et al.
Sheu Jeong-Fa
Tseng Ming-Jen
Accton Technology Corporation
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Vincent David R.
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