Methods and systems to monitor physical layer connections

• US 20070238343A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Siemon Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Siemon Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Velleca, Frank, Burdette, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/188
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2475 Means facilitating correct wiring, e.g. marking plates, identification tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

A system for deriving connectivity information among telecommunications devices. The system includes a system including a database identifying the telecommunications devices and ports associated with each of the telecommunications devices. A bus master consolidation point (BMCP) is in communication with the system over a network. A data and power consolidation point (DPCP) is in communication with the BMCP over a first bus connection. A patch panel is in communication with the DPCP over a second bus connection, the patch panel including a controller for transmitting and receiving port identification data. The patch panel forwards received port identification data to the DPCP over the second bus connection, the DPCP forwards receiving port identification data to the BMCP over the first bus connection and the BMCP the forwards port identification data to the system over the network. The system correlates received port identification data with the database to determine connectivity among the telecommunications devices.

Claims

1. A system for deriving connectivity information among telecommunications devices in a network, the system comprising:

a system including a database identifying the telecommunications devices and ports associated with each of the telecommunications devices;

a bus master consolidation point (BMCP) in communication with the system over a network;

a data and power consolidation point (DPCP) in communication with the BMCP over a first bus connection;

a patch panel in communication with the DPCP over a second bus connection, the patch panel including a controller for transmitting and receiving port identification data;

the patch panel forwarding received port identification data to the DPCP over the second bus connection, the DPCP forwarding receiving port identification data to the BMCP over the first bus connection and the BMCP the forwarding port identification data and their associated connections to the system over the network;

the system receiving port identification data and connection information and using said data to determine connectivity among the telecommunications devices in the network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the controller in the patch panel transmits the port identification data at a predetermined time.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

the patch panel includes a plurality of ports;

the controller in the patch panel transmits a signal during a time slot, each time slot uniquely associated with one of the ports.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein:

the controller in the patch panel transmits a pulse during a pair of time slots, each pair of time slots uniquely associated with one of the ports.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the patch panel includes a plurality of patch panels, the patch panels being connected in series from a single connection at the DPCP.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a redundant connection from one of the patch panels in series to another connection at the DPCP.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the patch panel includes a plurality of patch panels, the patch panels being connected in a first series from a first connection at the DPCP and a second series from a second connection at the DPCP.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a redundant connection from one of the patch panels in the first series to one of the patch panels in the second series.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the first bus connection transmits power and data using a single cable.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the second bus connection transmits power and data on a single cable.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the patch panel receives port identification data from another patch panel.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the patch panel receives port identification data from active equipment.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the active equipment is a switch.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the active equipment includes an identification chip generating an identification code, the port identification data corresponding to the identification code.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a capacitor coupled to the identification chip for providing power to the identification chip.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the patch panel includes a first contact pad associated with a first port;

the active equipment including a second contact pad associated with a second port;

a patch cord establishing electrical connection between the first port and the second port to provide power to charge the capacitor.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein:

power to the capacitor is interrupted when the identification chip transmits the identification code.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the DPCP includes a plurality of DPCPs in communication with the BMCP over multiple first bus connections; and

the patch panel includes a plurality of patch panels in communication with the plural DPCPs over multiple second bus connections.

19. A system for deriving connectivity information among telecommunications devices in a network, the system comprising:

a system including a database identifying the telecommunications devices and ports associated with each of the telecommunications devices;

a patch panel in communication with the system over a bus connection, the patch panel transmitting and receiving port identification data;

the patch panel forwarding received port identification data to the system over the bus connection;

the system correlating received port identification data and connection information and using said data to determine connectivity among the telecommunications devices in the network;

wherein the patch panel transmits the port identification data at a predetermined time, the patch panel includes a plurality of ports and the controller in the patch panel transmits a signal during a time slot, each time slot uniquely associated with one of the ports.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the patch panel includes a controller that transmits a pulse during a pair of time slots, each pair of time slots uniquely associated with one of the ports.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein:

the controller in the patch panel transmits a pulse during a pair of time slots, each pair of time slots uniquely associated with one of the ports.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the bus connection transmits power and data using a single cable.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the controller is mounted on a circuit board, the circuit board removable from the patch panel.

24. A system for deriving connectivity information among telecommunications devices in a network, the system comprising:

a system including a database identifying the telecommunications devices and ports associated with each of the telecommunications devices;

an identification element associated with one of a patch cord, patch panel and sensor strip, the identification element generating a unique identification code;

the system receiving the identification code to determine connectivity among the telecommunications devices in the network.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the identification element is an identification chip.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the identification chip is movably mounted on a panel.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the identification element is a controller.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the controller transmits the identification code to a contact movably mounted on a panel.

29. A system for deriving connectivity information among telecommunications devices in a network, the system comprising:

a system including a database identifying the telecommunications devices and ports associated with each of the telecommunications devices;

an identification element associated with a patch panel, the identification element generating a unique identification code;

a capacitor coupled to the identification chip for providing power to the identification element;

the system receiving the identification code to determine connectivity among the telecommunications devices in the network.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein:

power to the capacitor is interrupted when the identification element transmits the identification code.

31. A system for deriving connectivity information among telecommunications devices in a network, the system comprising:

a system including a database identifying the telecommunications devices and ports associated with each of the telecommunications devices;

an identification element associated with a patch panel, the identification element generating a unique identification code;

the patch panel includes a plurality of patch panels, the patch panels being connected in series from a single connection at the DPCP;

the system receiving the identification code to determine connectivity among the telecommunications devices in the network; and

a redundant connection providing an alternate bus connection to the series of patch panels.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein:

the redundant connection extends from one of the patch panels in series to another connection at the DPCP.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein:

the patch panels are connected in the first series from the first connection at the DPCP and a second series from a second connection at the DPCP.

34. The system of claim 33 further comprising:

a redundant connection from one of the patch panels in the first series to one of the patch panels in the second series.