VOIP telephone location system

• US 20030154276A1
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A documentation system for a network having a source device which is connected to a network path which is in turn connected to a destination device, the documentation system comprising a data port which includes an electronic module with an identification code on the network path, the destination device including an electronic module with an identification code, the source device sending query signals along the network path addressed to a data port and destination device corresponding to the network path, the electronic module of the data port responding to the query addressed to the data port by transmitting its identification code to the source device, and the electronic module of the destination device responding to the query by transmitting its identification code to the source device, and a processor and a switch in communication with the source device, the processor and switch for directing the source device to send the query signals and to interpret the responses, the electronic modules corresponding to the data port and to the destination device being powered by a local power source and patch cord. A patch cord may be adapted to provide power from the local power source both to the destination device and to the data port.

Claims

1. A system for locating devices within a network having a source device which is connected to at least one network path having a destination device attached thereto, said system comprising:

a port which includes an electronic module with an identification code on said at least one network path;

said destination device including an electronic module with an identification code;

a local power source providing power to said electronic module of said port and to said electronic module of said destination device;

said source device having the capability to send a query signal along said at least one network path addressed to said port and said destination device corresponding to said at least one network path;

said electronic module corresponding to said port responding to said query addressed to said port by transmitting in a port transmission its identification code to said source device; and

said electronic module of said destination device responding to said query addressed to said destination device by transmitting in a destination device transmission its identification code to said source device.

2. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said port is a patch panel port.

3. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said port is an outlet port directly connected to said destination device.

4. The documentation system of claim 3 wherein said outlet port is a wall outlet jack.

5. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said source device is adapted to re-send said query signal if both said port transmission and said destination device transmission are not received at said source device.

6. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said local power source is a power adapter, further comprising a power patch cable conveying power to said electronic module of said destination device and said electronic module of said port.

7. A documentation system for a network having a source device connected to a plurality of network paths, said documentation system comprising:

a port corresponding to at least one of said network paths;

a destination device coupled to said port along said at least one network path;

an electronic module associated with said port, said electronic module having an identification code;

an electronic module associated with said destination device, said electronic module having an identification code;

a transmitter associated with said source device for transmitting query signals along respective ones of said network paths;

a receiver associated with said source device for receiving response signals from said respective ones of said network paths; and

a local power source providing power to said electronic module of said port and to said electronic module of said destination device.

8. The documentation system of claim 7 wherein said port is a patch panel port.

9. The documentation system of claim 7 wherein said port is an outlet port.

10. The documentation system of claim 9 wherein said outlet port is a wall outlet jack.

11. The documentation system of claim 7 wherein said source device is adapted to re-send said query signal if both said port transmission and said destination device transmission are not received at said source device.

12. The documentation system of claim 7 wherein said local power source is a power adapter, further comprising a power patch cable conveying power to said electronic module of said destination device and said electronic module of said port.

13. A method for identifying and locating devices within a network comprising:

sending a query from a source device along a network path having a port in communication with said source device and a destination device connected to said port, said port having a port electronic module associated therewith, said destination device having a destination device electronic module associated therewith, each of said electronic modules having an identification code associated therewith;

providing power to said electronic module associated with said port and to said electronic module associated with said destination device using a local power source;

receiving said query at said port;

responding to said query by sending from said port to said source device a port response signal containing said identification code associated with said port electronic module;

receiving said query at said destination device;

responding to said query by sending from said destination device to said source device a destination device response signal containing said identification code associated with said destination device electronic module; and

monitoring said port response signal and said destination device response signal at said source device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of responding to said query by sending said port response signal is completed before said step of responding to said query by sending said destination device response signal.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of responding to said query by sending said destination device response signal is completed before said step of responding to said query by sending said port response signal.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said port is a patch panel port.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said port is a wall outlet jack.

18. A method for documenting network systems having a network path with source device at a first end, a port having a port electronic module along said network path, and a destination device having a destination device electronic module at a second end comprising:

sending a query signal from said source device;

providing power to said port electronic module and said destination device electronic module using a local power source and a power patch cord; and

monitoring at said source device a port response signal comprising a port identification code from said port and a destination device response signal comprising a destination device identification code from said destination device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said port is a patch panel port.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said port is an outlet port.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said outlet port is a wall outlet jack.

22. A network documentation system comprising:

a source device for sending a query signal;

a network path for carrying said query signal;

a port along said network path, said port comprising a port electronic module storing a port identification code associated with said port, said port electronic module adapted to respond to said query signal by sending to said source device along said network path a port response signal comprising said port identification code;

a destination device in communication with said port, said destination device comprising a destination device electronic module storing a destination device identification code associated with said destination device, said destination device electronic module adapted to respond to said query signal by sending to said source device along said network path a destination device response signal comprising said destination device identification code;

a local power source providing power to said port electronic module and said destination device electronic module; and

a patch cord conveying said power from said local power source to said port electronic module and to said destination device electronic module.

23. The network documentation system of claim 22 wherein said port is located in a patch panel.

24. The network documentation system of claim 22 wherein said port is an outlet port connected to said destination device.

25. The network documentation system of claim 24 wherein said outlet port is a wall outlet jack.

26. The network management system of claim 22 wherein said destination device is a voiceover-internet-protocol phone.

27. The network management system of claim 22 wherein said source device is adapted to re-send said query signal if no response signals are received at said source device following a query.

28. A patch cord for supplying power to and transferring data between a port and a destination device in a network comprising:

a local port termination having comprising local port data conductors and local port power conductors;

a destination device data termination comprising destination device data conductors in communication with said local port data conductors;

a destination device power termination comprising destination device power conductors; and

a power supply termination comprising power supply power conductors, said power supply power conductors being connected to said local port power conductors and said destination device power conductors for providing power to said local port power conductors and to said destination device power conductors.

29. The patch cord of claim 28 wherein said local port termination comprises eight local port data conductors and two local port power conductors.

30. The patch cord of claim 29 wherein said destination device data termination comprises eight destination device data conductors in communication with said eight local port data conductors.

31. The patch cord of claim 30 wherein said destination device power termination comprises two destination device power conductors.

32. The patch cord of claim 31 wherein said power supply termination comprises two power supply power conductors.