Gigabits zero-delay tap and methods thereof

• US 8,902,735 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keysight Technologies Singapore (Holdings) Pte. Limited. (Keysight Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Net Optics Incorporated (Keysight Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matityahu, Eldad, Shaw, Robert, Carpio, Dennis, Le, Ky Hong, Fung, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAYA, TEJIS A
• Application Number:
  US13/034,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A gigabits zero-delay arrangement for enabling continuous monitoring of data traversing through a network in a high-speed Ethernet environment is provided. The arrangement includes a high-speed network device configured for monitoring the data flowing through the network. The arrangement also includes a primary power source for providing a first power to circuitry of the gigabits zero-delay arrangement. The arrangement further includes a sensor controller configured for monitoring power flowing into the high-speed network device and for establishing an alternative communication link.

Claims

1. A gigabits zero-delay arrangement for enabling continuous monitoring of data traversing through a network in a high-speed Ethernet environment, comprising:

a high-speed network device configured for monitoring said data flowing through said network wherein said high-speed network device is a gigabits network tap;

an external primary power source for providing a first power to circuitry of said high-speed network device of said gigabits zero-delay arrangement; and

a sensor controller configured for monitoring power flowing into said high-speed network device and for establishing an alternative communication link, said sensor controller is configured for establishing said alternative communication link when said first power of said external primary power source is below a predefined threshold.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said sensor controller is configured for

activating a set of capacitor modules to provide temporary power to said gigabits network tap when said first power is below said predefined threshold, and

switching a set of relays from an opened position to a close position to establish said alternative communication link.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said gigabits network tap includes a set of physical layer interfaces (PHYs) configured for establishing communication links with at least one network device.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein a master-slave relationship is established between said gigabits network tap and said network device to control the direction of network traffic flowing between said gigabits network tap and said network device.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 further including a secondary power source for providing a secondary power to said high-speed network device when said primary power source is not available.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said sensor controller is configured for monitoring said secondary power source, wherein a portion of said first power flowing from said primary power source is diverted to said secondary power source if power level of said secondary power source is below a predefined threshold,

7. The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said secondary power source is a battery.

8. The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said sensor controller is configured for activating said secondary power source when said first power of said primary power source is below a predefined threshold.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said sensor controller is configured for

activating a set of capacitor modules to provide temporary power to said high-speed network device when said first power is below said predefined threshold, and

switching a set of relays from an opened position to a close position to activate said secondary power source.

10. A method for establishing an alternative communication link between network devices in a high-speed Ethernet environment, comprising:

monitoring a first power flowing from an external primary power source to a high-speed network device, wherein said high-speed network device is a gigabits zero-delay tap;

comparing a power level of said first power against a predefined threshold; and

if said power level is below said predefined threshold, establishing said alternative communication link before said first power is unable to maintain current communication link.

11. The method of claim 10 further including activating a secondary power source in establishing said alternative communication link.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said secondary power source is a battery.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said establishing of said alternative communication link includes

activating a set of capacitor modules to provide temporary power to said high-speed network device when said first power is below said predefined threshold, and

switching a set of relays from an opened position to a close position to establish said alternative communication link.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said establishing of said alternative communication link includes

activating a set of capacitor modules to provide temporary power to said high-speed network device when said first power is below said predefined threshold, and

switching a set of relays from an opened position to a close position to establish said alternative communication link.

15. The method of claim 10 further including employing a set of physical layer interfaces (PHYs) to establish a communication link between said network devices.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said communication link is established by creating a master-slave relationship, wherein said master-slave relationship is established to control the direction of network traffic flowing between said high-speed network device and said network devices.

17. A gigabits zero-delay arrangement for enabling continuous monitoring of data traversing through a network in a high-speed Ethernet environment, comprising:

a high-speed network device configured for monitoring said data flowing through said network;

a primary power source for providing a first power to circuitry of said gigabits zero-delay arrangement; and

a set of direction passive couplers configured for directing network traffic to said high-speed network device, wherein said set of direction passive couplers is configured for

receiving a copy of said network traffic,

determining the direction of said network traffic, and

routing said network traffic along a designated path.