Out-of-band control of communication protocol in an in-line device
First Claim
1. In a communication network including a link between first and second nodes communicating with each other using a network protocol selectable by the first and the second nodes by sending a network data stream from the first node to the second using a first network protocol and determining if the network data stream has been recognized by the second node, a method for controlling selection of the network protocol, the method comprising:
- (a) placing a network diagnostic component in-line between the first and the second nodes, wherein the network data stream is available to the network diagnostic component;
(b) initiating sending of the network data stream from the first to the second node using the first network protocol;
(c) using the network diagnostic component to modify the network data stream of step (b), so as to make the network data stream not recognizable by the second node, thereby forcing the first node to initiate sending of the network data stream from the first to the second node using a second network protocol, andwherein in step (c), the modification of the network data stream includes changing at least a portion of the network data stream into a D.C. idle portion by blocking the portion of the network data stream, such that the blocked portion is not passed to the second node.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for a network diagnostic component that is placed in-line between two nodes in a network to control the protocol with which two nodes communicate. The network diagnostic component receives a network data stream from a first node for communication with a second node. The network data stream is received by a receive component or module. The network data stream includes a portion that conforms with at least a first network protocol. The diagnostic component then determines that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node. This determination is performed by a determine component or module. The diagnostic component modifies the network data stream so that the network data stream is in a form that is no longer recognized by the second node as being in accordance with the first network protocol. The modification is performed by a modification component or module.
8 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a communication network including a link between first and second nodes communicating with each other using a network protocol selectable by the first and the second nodes by sending a network data stream from the first node to the second using a first network protocol and determining if the network data stream has been recognized by the second node, a method for controlling selection of the network protocol, the method comprising:
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(a) placing a network diagnostic component in-line between the first and the second nodes, wherein the network data stream is available to the network diagnostic component; (b) initiating sending of the network data stream from the first to the second node using the first network protocol; (c) using the network diagnostic component to modify the network data stream of step (b), so as to make the network data stream not recognizable by the second node, thereby forcing the first node to initiate sending of the network data stream from the first to the second node using a second network protocol, and wherein in step (c), the modification of the network data stream includes changing at least a portion of the network data stream into a D.C. idle portion by blocking the portion of the network data stream, such that the blocked portion is not passed to the second node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A network diagnostic device for placing in-line between first and second nodes in a communication network, the first and the second nodes communicating with each other using a network protocol selectable by the first and the second nodes by sending a network data stream from the first node to the second using a first network protocol and determining if the network data stream has been recognized by the second node, the network diagnostic device comprising:
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a first component configured to receive the network data stream from the first node for communication with the second node, a portion of the network data stream conforming with at least a first network protocol; a second component configured to determine that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node; a third component configured to change the network data stream portion into a D.C. idle portion, so as to make the network data stream not recognizable by the second node, thereby forcing the first node to initiate sending of the network data stream from the first to the second node using a second network protocol, and wherein the third component is configured to perform the change of the network data stream portion into the D.C. idle portion by blocking the data stream portion, such that the blocked portion is not passed to the second node. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A diagnostic network comprising:
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a first node; a second node; a network diagnostic component placed in-line between the first and second nodes, the network diagnostic component comprising; a receive module configured to receive a network data stream from the first node for communication with the second node, a portion of the network data stream conforming with at least a first network protocol; a determine module configured to determine that the first network protocol is not to be used to communicate with the second node; a modify module configured to change one or more data stream portions of the network data stream conforming with the first network protocol into D.C. idle portions, so as to make the network data stream not recognizable by the second node, thereby forcing the first node to initiate sending of the network data stream from the first to the second node using a second network protocol, and wherein the modify module is configured to perform the chance of the one or more data stream portions into the D.C. idle portions by blocking the one or more data stream portions, such that the blocked one or more data stream portions are not passed to the second node. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification