METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOCUMENTING NETWORK PATHS

• US 20060262727A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for documenting network path connectivity are described that allow a network management system/revision management system (NMS/RMS) to determine what equipment and ports support a network path by interrupting and restoring Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) service on the network path. Upon detecting a loss of PoE service, communication active jacks that support network path connectivity may activate an internal switch that interrupts downstream connectivity. Each communication active jack along the network path may then begin broadcasting a unique message in the upstream direction that is addressed to the NMS/RMS. Upon receiving a unique active jack message, the NMS/RMS may record the information contained within and instruct the communication active jack to reestablish connectivity to the next downstream device. In this manner, as each device along a network path regains connectivity the network path information stored within the NMS/RMS is updated until a complete view of the network path is documented.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

an upstream network path cable connection having a plurality of pairs of leads;

a downstream network path cable connection;

a broadcast controller connectable to the upstream network path cable connection, the broadcast controller configured to transmit a broadcast signal from the upstream network path cable connection;

a switch configured to connect the upstream network path cable connection and one of;

the downstream network path cable connection, or

the broadcast controller; and

a switch controller that controls the switch.

2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) detector connected with the upstream network path cable connection and the switch controller, the PoE detector configured to detect a predetermined change in power supplied to the upstream network path cable connection and to provide a switch signal to the switch controller in response thereto.

3. The connector of claim 2, further comprising a PoE controller configured to supply PoE power to the downstream network path cable connection.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the PoE controller is configured to receive power through a pair of the pairs of leads.

5. The connector of claim 3, wherein the PoE controller is configured to receive power from a power supply other than through the upstream network path cable connection.

6. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a detector connected with the upstream network path cable connection and the switch controller, the detector configured to detect a predetermined change in an Ethernet signal at the upstream network path cable connection and to provide a switch signal to the switch controller in response thereto.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the broadcast controller is configured to transmit the broadcast signal until after a response to the broadcast signal is received by the connector, and the switch controller is configured to connect the upstream network path cable connection and the downstream network path cable connection after the response is received by the connector.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the connector is configured to receive the response through a pair of the pairs of leads.

9. The connector of claim 7, wherein the connector is configured to receive the response from a network path other than the upstream network path cable connection.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein a plurality of switches are connected between the upstream network path cable connection and the broadcast controller, each switch connected to a unique pair of the pairs of leads.

11. A network system comprising:

a patch panel;

a wall plate connected to the patch panel via a patch cord; and

a network device,

wherein the network device, the patch panel, and wall plate are connected in a network, and

wherein at least one of the patch panel, the wall plate, or the network device contains a connector that includes;

an upstream network path cable connection having a plurality of pairs of leads;

a downstream network path cable connection;

a broadcast controller connectable to the upstream network path cable connection, the broadcast controller configured to transmit a broadcast signal from the upstream network path cable connection;

a switch configured to connect the upstream network path cable connection and one of;

the downstream network path cable connection, or the broadcast controller; and

a switch controller that controls the switch.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the connector further comprises a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) detector connected with the upstream network path cable connection and the switch controller, the PoE detector configured to detect a predetermined change in power supplied to the upstream network path cable connection and to provide a switch signal to the switch controller in response thereto.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the connector further comprises a PoE controller configured to supply PoE power to the downstream network path cable connection.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a motherboard connected to the connector, the connector further comprising a PoE controller configured to receive power from a power supply on the motherboard.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the connector further comprises a PoE controller configured to receive power from a pair of the pairs of leads.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a detector connected with the upstream network path cable connection and the switch controller, the detector configured to detect a predetermined change in an Ethernet signal at the upstream network path cable connection and to provide a switch signal to the switch controller in response thereto.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a motherboard connected with the connector, the motherboard including a memory that contains a unique identifier associated with the connector, the broadcast controller configured to receive the unique identifier and incorporate the unique identifier into the broadcast signal.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one of a network management system (NMS) or a revision management system (RMS), the at least one of the NMS or the RMS configured to receive the broadcast signal and to provide a response thereto, wherein the switch controller is configured to connect the upstream network path cable connection and the downstream network path cable connection after the response is received by the connector.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a motherboard connected to the connector, the motherboard comprising a network interface connected with the at least one of the NMS or the RMS via a network connection other than the upstream network path cable connection, the network interface connected with the switch controller and configured to control the switch controller as a result of the network interface receiving the response via the network connection.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the connector is configured to receive the response through a pair of the pairs of leads.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein a plurality of switches are connected between the upstream network path cable connection and the broadcast controller, each switch connected to a unique pair of the pairs of leads.

22. A method of documenting a network system comprising at least one of a network management system (NMS) or a revision management system (RMS) and comprising a connector that contains an upstream network path cable connection having a plurality of pairs of leads and a downstream network path cable connection having pairs of leads corresponding to the plurality of pairs of leads of the upstream network path cable connection, the method comprising:

(a) monitoring a signal provided to the connector;

(b) disconnecting a pair of leads of the upstream network path cable connection from the corresponding pair of leads of the downstream network path cable connection after a predetermined change in the signal has been detected by the connector;

(c) connecting a transmitter in the connector to the pair of leads of the upstream network path cable connection after the predetermined change in the signal has been detected by the connector;

(d) transmitting a broadcast signal from the upstream network path cable connection;

(e) the at least one of the NMS or the RMS receiving the broadcast signal and providing a response thereto;

(f) terminating transmission of the broadcast signal after the response to the broadcast signal has been received by the connector;

(g) disconnecting the transmitter from the pair of leads of the upstream network path cable connection after the response has been received by the connector; and

(h) reconnecting the pair of leads of the upstream network path cable connection with the pair of leads of the downstream network path cable connection after the response has been received by the connector.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the connector monitors Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) power supplied to the upstream network path cable connection.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the connector monitors an Ethernet signal supplied to the pair of leads of the upstream network path cable connection.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising supplying PoE power to the connector, the connector managing the PoE power to operate the circuitry within the connector.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the connector receives the response via a network connection other than the upstream network path cable connection.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the connector receives the response via the upstream network path cable connection.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the system comprises a plurality of the connectors connected such that the downstream network path cable connection of an upstream connector is connected to the upstream network path cable connection of a downstream connector, the method being repeated from the connector furthest upstream sequentially to the connector furthest downstream.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein more than one pair of leads of the upstream network path cable connection is connectable to and disconnectable from:

the corresponding pairs of leads of the downstream network path cable connection and the transmitter.