Systems and methods of identifying patch cord connections in a communications patching system using common mode transmission
First Claim
1. A method of identifying the physical location of first and second patch cord connectors of a patch cord in a communications patching system, wherein the first patch cord connector is inserted within a first patch panel connector port and the second patch cord connector is inserted within a second patch panel connector port, the method comprising:
- transmitting a signal from the first patch panel connector port to the second patch panel connector port over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord; and
identifying the first and second patch panel connector ports based at least in part on the transmitted signal.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications patching system includes first and second patch panels, each having a plurality of connector ports, and a patch cord that is configured to selectively interconnect a connector port in the first patch panel with a connector port in the second patch panel. Each patch panel includes a port identification circuit that is electrically coupled with the connector ports of the respective patch panel. The port identification circuit of each patch panel is configured to transmit a signal to a connector port of the other patch panel over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord. The first and second connector ports connected by the patch cord are identified from the signal path.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of identifying the physical location of first and second patch cord connectors of a patch cord in a communications patching system, wherein the first patch cord connector is inserted within a first patch panel connector port and the second patch cord connector is inserted within a second patch panel connector port, the method comprising:
transmitting a signal from the first patch panel connector port to the second patch panel connector port over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord; and identifying the first and second patch panel connector ports based at least in part on the transmitted signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
6. A method of identifying the physical location of patch cord connectors in a communications patching system, wherein the communications patching system includes a first patch panel having a plurality of connector ports and a first port identification circuit electrically coupled with the first patch panel connector ports, a second patch panel having a plurality of connector ports and a second port identification circuit electrically coupled with the second patch panel connector ports, and a patch cord having one connector inserted within a connector port in the first patch panel and an opposite connector inserted within a connector port in the second patch panel, the method comprising:
-
transmitting, via the first port identification circuit, a signal from the first patch panel connector port to the second patch panel connector port over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord; and identifying the first and second patch panel connector ports from the signal path. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A communications patching system, comprising:
-
a first patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports and a port identification circuit electrically coupled with the first patch panel connector ports; a second patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports and a port identification circuit electrically coupled with the second patch panel connector ports; and a patch cord configured to selectively interconnect a connector port in the first patch panel with a connector port in the second patch panel; wherein the port identification circuit of each patch panel is configured to transmit a signal to a connector port of the other patch panel over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord, wherein the first and second connector ports connected by the patch cord are identified from the signal path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of transmitting signals through a communications patching system that comprises one or more patch panels and at least one patch cord, the method comprising:
-
transmitting a differential signal over a pair of conductive paths in the communications patching system; and simultaneously transmitting a first common mode signal over the pair of conductive paths. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification