System for mapping connections using RFID function

• US 20080100456A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiber Mountain, Inc. (Green Lambda Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, Mark P., Nederlof, Leo, Downie, John D., Sutherland, James S., Wagner, Richard E., Whiting, Matthew S., Hemenway, Brewster R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,772,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches

Abstract

There is provided a system for identifying a plurality of components via an RFID reader with an associated database and processing element. The system includes a first component with an associated first RFID transponder and a second component with an associated second RFID transponder. A third RFID transponder may be associated with the first component, wherein either the first or third RFID transponder includes stored information relating to both transponders. The first and second RFID transponders are adapted to communicate with the RFID reader to enable identification of the connection of the first component to the second component. One of the RFID transponders may be adapted to identify the other RFID transponder and store the identification information for subsequent communication to the RFID reader of identification information for both RFID transponders and the associated components. The system is adapted to create a map of the two or more components, such as components of telecommunications equipment.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a plurality of components via an RFID reader with an associated database and processing element, the system comprising:

a first component;

a first RFID transponder associated with the first component, wherein the first RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder;

a second component adapted for selective connection to at least the first component; and

a second RFID transponder associated with the second component, wherein the second RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder;

wherein the first and second RFID transponders are adapted to communicate with the RFID reader to enable identification of a connection of the first component to the second component.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a fiber optic connector and the second component comprises a fiber optic adapter such that the system is adapted to map fiber optic connections.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein first component comprises a copper connector and the second component comprises a copper adapter such that the system is adapted to map copper connections.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a first integrated circuit chip and the second RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a second integrated circuit chip.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a third RFID transponder associated with the first component, wherein the first RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a first integrated circuit chip and the third RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a third integrated circuit chip, and wherein the database includes records correlating the unique identification number of the first RFID transponder with the unique identification number of the third RFID transponder.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the third RFID transponder comprises a memory that includes both the identification number of the first RFID transponder and the identification number of the third RFID transponder.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the first component comprises a fiber optic cable, and wherein the first RFID transponder is associated with a first fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable and the third RFID transponder is associated with a second fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the first fiber optic connector is optically connected to the second fiber optic connector.

9. A system according to claim 5, wherein the first component comprises a copper cable, and wherein the first RFID transponder is associated with a first copper connector of the copper cable and the third RFID transponder is associated with a second copper connector of the copper cable.

10. A system according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of RFID transponders associated with the first component, wherein the first component comprises at least one of a fiber optic patch panel and a fiber optic fanout assembly.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a third component adapted for selective connection to at least one of the first component and the second component, and comprising a third RFID transponder associated with the third component, wherein the third RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder and wherein the third RFID transponder is adapted to communicate with the RFID reader to enable identification of the connection of the third component to at least one of the first component and the second component.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder is adapted to identify the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder and to store the identity of the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder in a memory of at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder.

13. A system for identifying a plurality of components of telecommunications equipment in a network via an RFID reader with an associated database and processing element, the system comprising:

a first component of telecommunications equipment;

a first RFID transponder associated with the first component of telecommunications equipment, wherein the first RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder;

a second component of telecommunications equipment adapted for selective connection to at least the first component of telecommunications equipment; and

a second RFID transponder associated with the second component of telecommunications equipment, wherein the second RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder

wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder is adapted to identify the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder and to store the identity of the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder;

wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder is adapted to selectively communicate the identity of both the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder to the RFID reader to enable identification of a connection of the first component of telecommunications equipment to the second component of telecommunications equipment.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic connector and the second component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic adapter such that the system is adapted to map fiber optic connections.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper connector and the second component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper adapter such that the system is adapted to map copper connections.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the first RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a first integrated circuit chip and the second RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a second integrated circuit chip.

17. A system according to claim 13, further comprising a third RFID transponder associated with the first component of telecommunications equipment, wherein the first RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a first integrated circuit chip and the third RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a third integrated circuit chip, and wherein the database includes records correlating the unique identification number of the first RFID transponder with the unique identification number of the third RFID transponder.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic cable, and wherein the first RFID transponder is associated with a first fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable and the third RFID transponder is associated with a second fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the first fiber optic connector is optically connected to the second fiber optic connector.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper cable, and wherein the first RFID transponder is associated with a first copper connector of the copper cable and the third RFID transponder is associated with a second copper connector of the copper cable.

21. A system according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of RFID transponders associated with the first component of telecommunications equipment, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises at least one of a fiber optic patch panel and a fiber optic fanout assembly.

22. A system according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder is adapted to identify the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder and to store the identity of the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder in a memory of at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder.

23. An RFID system for identifying a plurality of components of telecommunications equipment in a network, the system comprising:

an RFID reader;

a database associated with the RFID reader;

a processing element associated with the RFID reader and database;

a first component of telecommunications equipment;

a first RFID transponder associated with the first component of telecommunications equipment, wherein the first RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder;

a second component of telecommunications equipment adapted for selective connection to at least the first component of telecommunications equipment; and

a second RFID transponder associated with the second component of telecommunications equipment, wherein the second RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder;

wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder are adapted to communicate with the RFID reader to enable identification of a connection of the first component of telecommunications equipment to the second component of telecommunications equipment.

24. An RFID system according to claim 23, further comprising a third RFID transponder associated with the first component of telecommunications equipment, wherein the first RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a first integrated circuit chip and the third RFID transponder includes a unique identification number written into a third integrated circuit chip, and wherein the database includes records correlating the unique identification number of the first RFID transponder with the unique identification number of the third RFID transponder.

25. An RFID system according to claim 24, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic cable, and wherein the first RFID transponder is associated with a first fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable and the third RFID transponder is associated with a second fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable.

26. An RFID system according to claim 24, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper cable, and wherein the first RFID transponder is associated with a first copper connector of the copper cable and the second RFID transponder is associated with a second copper connector of the copper cable.

27. An RFID system according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the third RFID transponder is adapted to identify the other of the first RFID transponder and the third RFID transponder and to store and communicate the identity of the other of the first RFID transponder and the third RFID transponder.

28. An RFID system according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder is adapted to identify the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder and to store and transmit the identity of the other of the first RFID transponder and the second RFID transponder.

29. An RFID system according to claim 23, wherein the first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic connector and the second component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic adapter such that the system is adapted to map fiber optic connections.

30. An RFID system according to claim 23, wherein first component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper connector and the second component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper adapter such that the system is adapted to map copper connections.

31. A system for identifying a plurality of components of telecommunications equipment in a network via an RFID reader with an associated database and processing element, the system comprising:

a plurality of RFID transponders associated with the plurality of components of telecommunications equipment, wherein at least one RFID transponder comprises a passive RFID transponder;

wherein at least one component of telecommunications equipment includes at least two associated RFID transponders, wherein at least one of the two associated RFID transponders includes in a memory an identification number for both of the two associated RFID transponders;

wherein at least one of the two associated RFID transponders is adapted to communicate the identity of the two associated RFID transponders to the RFID reader to enable identification of the at least one component of telecommunications equipment.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein at least one RFID transponder associated with a first component of telecommunications equipment is adapted to identify at least one RFID transponder associated with a second component of telecommunications equipment connected to the first component of telecommunications equipment and to communicate the identity of both RFID transponders to the RFID reader to enable identification of the connection of the components of telecommunications equipment.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the at least one RFID transponder associated with a first component of telecommunications equipment is adapted to store the identity of the other at least one RFID transponder associated with a second component of telecommunications equipment in a memory of the at least one RFID transponder associated with a first component of telecommunications equipment and to communicate the identity of both RFID transponders to the RFID reader to enable identification of the connection of the components of telecommunications equipment.

34. A system according to claim 31, wherein at least one component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic connector and at least one component of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic adapter.

35. A system according to claim 31, wherein the memory is physically included in an integrated circuit chip of the RFID transponder.

36. A system according to claim 31, wherein at least one component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper connector and at least one component of telecommunications equipment comprises a copper adapter.

37. A system according to claim 31, wherein a first component of the plurality of components of telecommunications equipment comprises at least one of a fiber optic laser card, a fiber optic receiver, a fiber optic attenuator, a fiber optic multiplexer, and other fiber optic components, and wherein a second component of the plurality of components of telecommunications equipment comprises a fiber optic component corresponding to the first component.

38. A system according to claim 31, wherein the system is adapted to create a map of the physical locations of the components of telecommunications equipment.

39. A system according to claim 31, wherein the system is adapted to create a map of the connectivity of the components of telecommunications equipment.