Patent ID: 7613837

Claim:
A network tap that permits an attached device to communicate with a node of a network, the node of the network communicating with a network cable transmitting network data thereon, the network cable having a first segment and a second segment, the network tap comprising: a first and second tap port, at least one of which is configured to receive a copy of network data obtained from the network cable, wherein the attached device can be selectively connected to at least one of the first and second tap ports and at least one of the first and second tap ports is configured to receive device data from the attached device, the first and second tap ports being capable of operating in a plurality of modes, each being defined by enabling or disabling the ability of the first and second tap ports to receive network data and device data; means for inserting device data from the attached device into the network cable without disrupting the flow of network data in the network cable, wherein the means for inserting device data coordinates transmission of the device data in the network cable with the network data flowing therein to avoid data collisions; and means for selecting one of the plurality of modes in which the first and second tap ports operate.