Method and apparatus for patch panel patch cord documentation and revision

• US 20060094291A1
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Nordin, Ronald A., Caveney, Jack E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/540.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for monitoring and reporting cable connectivity such as patch panel port-level connectivity on a real-time basis. For patch panel systems, the approach is based upon a distributed architecture that may be modularly scalable and may reduce, if not eliminate, the need for a centralized signal processor and complex cabling between patch panels and the centralized signal processor. Each patch panel may determine port level connectivity independently. Polling delays and polling-related overhead processing may be reduced or eliminated by supporting real-time monitoring of port connectivity at the port level. The approach provides improved real-time reporting of patch panel connectivity with reduced cabling complexity, increased reliability, and decreased maintenance costs. In addition, the approach is compatible with (i.e., may communicate with and be controlled by) a multipurpose network management system (NMS). In addition, a compatible revision system is provided.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a cable connection, comprising:

transmitting a local device identifier and a local port identifier associated with a local device;

receiving a remote device identifier and a remote port identifier associated with a remote device;

determining a status of the cable connection based upon the received remote device identifier and the received remote port identifier; and

transmitting a status update message to a network management system that includes the local device identifier, the local port identifier, the remote device identifier, the remote port identifier, and the status of the cable connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the local device and the remote device are patch panels.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising comparing the received remote device identifier with a stored previously received remote device identifier and a stored previously received remote port identifier and notifying a device controller upon determining that a change in the status of the cable connection has occurred.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting a status update message to a network management system comprises transmitting said status update message via a daisy-chain network connection connecting a plurality of devices to the network.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising storing a plurality of managed data items in a data store within at least one of said local and remote devices in accordance with a defined SNMP management information base.

6. An apparatus for monitoring a cable connection between two patch panels, comprising:

a local patch panel having a transmitter that transmits a local patch panel identifier and a local port identifier associated with a port of the local patch panel and also having a receiver that receives a remote patch panel identifier and a remote port identifier associated with a port of a remote patch panel;

a port controller that determines a status of the cable connection between the local patch panel and the remote patch panel based upon the received remote patch panel identifier and the received remote port identifier and generates a port status update upon determining that a change in the status of the cable connection has occurred; and

a device controller that receives the port status update and transmits an update to a network management system that includes the local patch panel identifier, the local port identifier, the remote patch panel identifier, the remote port identifier, and the status of the cable connection.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said port controller further comprises a comparison module that compares the received remote patch panel identifier and the received remote port identifier with a previously stored received remote patch panel identifier and a previously stored received remote port identifier.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said local patch panel further comprises a network module that communicates with the network management system.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said local patch panel and said remote patch panel are connected to each other in a daisy chain configuration via daisy chain network cables.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said local patch panel and said remote patch panel have patch panel power modules, said patch panel power modules being connected to each other and being further connected to a shared power source via a daisy chain power connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said local patch panel and said remote patch panel further comprises a data-store module that stores a plurality of managed data items within a data store within each of the patch panels.

7. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transmitter and the receiver of the local patch panel respectively transmit and receive signals upon an out-of-band channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said cable connection between said two patch panels comprises a cable completing an eight-conductor electrical connection and wherein said out-of-band channel comprises at least one extra conductor of said cable.

14. An apparatus for monitoring a cable connection between two patch panels comprising:

a first patch panel comprising a plurality of first patch panel ports, each of said first patch panel ports comprising an in-band communication channel connector and an out-of-band communication channel contact, said first patch panel further comprising a first port controller module connected to said out-of-band communication channel contact of at least one of said first patch panel ports, said first patch panel further comprising a first patch panel controller module in communication with said first port controller module; and

a second patch panel comprising a plurality of second patch panel ports, each of said second patch panel ports comprising an in-band communication channel connector and an out-of-band communication channel contact, said second patch panel further comprising a second port controller module connected to said out-of-band communication channel contact of at least one of said second patch panel ports, said second patch panel further comprising a second patch panel controller module in communication with said second port controller module;

wherein said first port controller module is adapted to communicate via said out-of-band communication channel contact with said second port controller module.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first port controller module is under the control of said first patch panel controller module and said second port controller module is under the control of said second patch panel controller module.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising at least one indicator light associated with each of said first patch panel ports and said second patch panel ports.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first patch panel further comprises primary and secondary first patch panel network connector ports and said second patch panel further comprises primary and secondary second patch panel network connector ports;

wherein the primary first patch panel network connector port is connected to one of said second patch panel network connector ports, and the secondary first patch panel network connector port is connected to a network management system.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first patch panel controller module comprises a network interface module, a panel processor module, and a data storage module.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said in-band communication channel connectors are electrical connectors.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said in-band communication channel connectors are optical connectors.