Apparatus, system, and method for indicating a level of network activity

• US 7,030,737 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dove, Daniel Joseph, Neal, Kenneth Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/087,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 340/331, 340/286.01, 340/286.02, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 709/224, 709/203, 709/250, 709/225, 709/220, 709/223, 709/248, 345/969, 345/39, 345/46, 345/82, 327/142, 327/20, 370/449, 370/254, 370/241, 370/246, 370/901, 370/401, 370/445, 370/463, 370/222, 370/252, 710/18, 713/100
• US Class Current: 340/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks

Abstract

A controller generates a signal to control network activity-indicator devices based upon activity-level information provided by the central processing unit of a network component. This shifts the significant burden of controlling the indicator device from the central processing unit to the controller. The activity indicator-flashing pattern may change non-linearly relative to changes in the activity level to improve the quality of the information provided to network administrators. In addition, the flashing may also be randomized to provide a perception of actual network traffic patterns, and to reduce any appearance of correlated or synchronized flashing when multiple activity indicators are displayed.

Claims

1. An activity-level indicator comprising:

a controller disposed in a network component and operable to receive an activity level of a port from a processor disposed in the network component and associated with the port and to generate a signal that is related to the activity level; and

an indicator device coupled to the controller and operable to indicate the activity level in response to the signal.

2. The activity-level indicator of claim 1, wherein there is a finite number of activity levels.

3. The activity-level indicator of claim 1, wherein the indicator device indicates activity by flashes.

4. The activity-level indicator of claim 1, wherein the indicator device is a light emitting diode.

5. An activity-level indicator comprising:

a controller operable to receive an activity level of a port from a processor associated with the port and to generate a signal that is related to the activity level, the signal comprising a series of separated pulses, the separation between pulses being a non-linear function of the activity level; and

an indicator device coupled to the controller and operable to indicate the activity level in response to the signal.

6. The activity-level indicator of claim 5, wherein there is a finite number of activity levels.

7. The activity-level indicator of claim 5, wherein the indicator device indicates activity by flashes.

8. The activity-level indicator of claim 5, wherein the indicator device is a light emitting diode.

9. An activity-level indicator comprising:

a controller operable to receive an activity level of a port from a processor associated with the port, and to generate a signal that is related to the activity level, the signal comprising a series of separated pulses, the length of a separation being randomized within a predetermined range for that activity level; and

an indicator device coupled to the controller and operable to indicate the activity level in response to the signal.

10. The activity-level indicator of claim 9, wherein the controller is further operable to generate a randomized number, and the separation is a function of the activity level and the randomized number generated for that separation.

11. The activity-level indicator of claim 9, wherein there is a finite number of activity levels.

12. The activity-level indicator of claim 9, wherein the indicator device indicates activity by flashes.

13. The activity-level indicator of claim 9, wherein the indicator device is a light emitting diode.

14. A system for indicating the activity level of a port, comprising:

a processor operable to receive port activity information and determine a port activity level;

a controller operable to receive the port activity level, and to generate a signal that is related to the activity level; and

an indicator device coupled to the controller and operable to indicate the activity level in response to the signal.

15. A system for indicating the activity level of a port, comprising:

a processor operable to receive port activity information, and determine a port activity level;

a controller operable to receive the port activity level and to generate a signal that is related to the activity level, the signal comprising a series of separated pulses, the separation between pulses being a non-linear function of the activity level; and

an indicator device coupled to the controller and operable to indicate the activity level in response to the signal.

16. A system for indicating the activity level of a port to a user, comprising:

a processor operable to receive port activity information, and determine a port activity level;

a controller operable to receive an activity level of a port, to generate a randomized number, and to generate a signal that is related to the activity level, the signal comprising a series of separated pulses, the length of a separation being randomized within a predetermined range for that activity level; and

an indicator device coupled to the controller and operable to indicate the activity level in response to the signal.

17. A method of representing the activity level of a port, comprising the steps of:

receiving port activity information with a processor disposed in a network component;

determining a port activity level with the processor;

generating a signal related to the port activity level with a controller that is separate from the processor and disposed in the network component; and

indicating the activity level with an indicator device coupled to the controller and driven by the signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the same processor receives the port activity information and determines the port activity level.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining the port activity level as a non-linear function of the port activity.

20. A method of representing the activity level of a port, comprising the steps of:

receiving port activity information with a processor;

determining a port activity level with a processor;

generating a signal related to the port activity level with a controller that is separate from the processor, the signal comprising a series of separated pulses, the separation between pulses being a non-linear function of the activity level; and

indicating the activity level with an indicator device coupled to the controller and driven by the signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the same processor receives the port activity information and determines the port activity level.

22. A method of representing the activity level of a port, comprising the steps of:

receiving port activity information with a processor;

determining a port activity level with a processor;

generating a signal related to the port activity level with a controller that is separate from the processor, the signal comprising a series of separated pulses, the length of a separation being randomized within a predetermined range for that activity level; and

indicating the activity level with an indicator device coupled to the controller and driven by the signal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the same processor receives the port activity information and determines the port activity level.

24. An activity-level indicator comprising:

means disposed in a network component for receiving an activity level of a port from a processor disposed in the network component and associated with the port and generating a signal that is related to the activity level; and

means for indicating the activity level in response to the signal.