Multi-port network tap
First Claim
1. A network tap configured to communicate with network data carried on a plurality of network cables, comprising:
- a plurality of port sets configured to selectively connect a plurality of network cables to the network tap, each of the plurality of port sets comprising;
a first port that can receive an end of a first segment of a network cable, and a second port that can receive an end of a second segment of a network cable such that when the first segment and the second segment of a network cable are received, network data is permitted to be communicated between the first segment and the second segment;
a plurality of couplers, each coupler being connected to each of the first ports and the second ports, wherein each coupler is configured to receive a network data signal and generate a plurality of duplicate network data signals;
and an integrated circuitry in communication with a duplicate network data signal from each coupler.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for network taps capable of connecting to a plurality of communication cables. The network taps provide one or more levels of multiplexers which allow network data signals from a particular communication cable to be delivered to an attached device in order to monitor the activity of the communication cable. The network taps also include integrated circuitry which control the various functions and components of the network tap. Embodiments of the network taps include ones in which network data signals from each communication cable are communicated to the integrated circuitry to allow the integrated circuitry to monitor across all communication cables; network taps having switches to provide for different port configurations; network taps having switches which allow attached devices to transmit data into the network tap; network taps having ports which allow for cascade configurations; and network taps having integrated circuitry which can communicate with a remote client device to provide additional functionality.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A network tap configured to communicate with network data carried on a plurality of network cables, comprising:
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a plurality of port sets configured to selectively connect a plurality of network cables to the network tap, each of the plurality of port sets comprising;
a first port that can receive an end of a first segment of a network cable, and a second port that can receive an end of a second segment of a network cable such that when the first segment and the second segment of a network cable are received, network data is permitted to be communicated between the first segment and the second segment;
a plurality of couplers, each coupler being connected to each of the first ports and the second ports, wherein each coupler is configured to receive a network data signal and generate a plurality of duplicate network data signals;
and an integrated circuitry in communication with a duplicate network data signal from each coupler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A network tap that permits an attached device to communicate with network data carried on a plurality of network cables, comprising:
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a plurality of port sets configured to selectively connect a plurality of network cables to the network tap, each of the plurality of port sets comprising;
a first port configured to transmit a network data signal, the first port configured to receive an end of a first segment of a network cable, a second port configured to transmit a network data signal, the second port configured to receive an end of a second segment of a network cable such that when the first segment and the second segment of a network cable are received, network data is permitted to be communicated between the first segment and the second segment; and
at least one tap port through which a copy of the network data of one network cable can be transmitted to an attached device, the at least one tap port being configured to receive device data from the attached device and to communicate the received device data through at least one of the first port and the second port of at least one of the plurality of port sets. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A network tap that permits an attached device to communicate with network data carried on a plurality of network cables, comprising:
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a plurality of port sets configured to selectively connect a plurality of network cables to the network tap, each of the plurality of port sets comprising;
a first port that can receive an end of a first segment of a network cable, and a second port that can receive an end of a second segment of a network cable such that when the first segment and the second segment of a network cable are received, network data is permitted to be communicated between the first segment and the second segment;
a plurality of couplers, each coupler being connected to each of the first ports and the second ports, wherein each coupler is configured to receive a network data signal and generate a plurality of duplicate network data signals;
a first level of multiplexers connected to the plurality of couplers comprising;
a first series of multiplexers connected to the couplers corresponding to the first ports, and a second series of multiplexers connected to the couplers corresponding to the second ports;
at least one tap port through which a network data signal from at least one of the first series of multiplexers and the second series of multiplexers can be transmitted to an attached device; and
an integrated circuitry disposed in communication with the first level of multiplexers for controlling which of the network data signals from the first and second series of multiplexers is sent to the at least one tap port. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system of network taps configured to operate in a cascading configuration, each of the network taps being configured to communicate with network data carried on a plurality of network cables, comprising:
a first and second network tap configured to connect in series, each network tap comprising;
a plurality of port sets configured to selectively connect a plurality of network cables to the network tap, each of the plurality of port sets comprising;
a first port that can receive an end of a first segment of a network cable;
a second port that can receive an end of a second segment of a network cable such that when the first segment and the second segment of a network cable are received, network data is permitted to be communicated between the first segment and the second segment;
at least one tap port through which a copy of the network data of one network cable can be transmitted to an attached device;
at least one cascading network port configured to be selectively connected to the at least one tap port of another network tap and to transmit network data of the other network tap to the at least one tap port; and
means for controlling which network data signal is delivered to the at least one tap port. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
Specification