MANAGED CONNECTIVITY DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

• US 20100211697A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Anderson, John P., Raza, Mohammad H., Coffey, Joseph C., Patel, Kamlesh G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,129,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/24 using dedicated network management hardware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/26 using dedicated tools for LAN [Local Area Network] management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/15 Interconnection of switching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment is directed to an end node that includes functionality to read information stored on or in a segment of physical communication media that is attached to the end node and to communicate the read information over a network (for example, to an aggregation point). Another exemplary embodiment is directed a wall outlet that includes functionality to read information stored on or in a segment of physical communication media connected to it and communicate at least a portion of the information read from the segment of physical communication media to an aggregation point. Another exemplary embodiment is directed a wall outlet that includes a switch and functionality to read information stored on or in a segment of physical communication media connected to it and to communicate at least a portion of the information read from the segment of physical communication media to an aggregation point.

Claims

1. An end node comprising:

an interface to couple the end node to a network, the interface comprising a port to attach to a segment of physical communication media; and

a programmable processor configured to execute software, wherein the software comprises physical layer information (PLI) functionality; and

wherein the PLI functionality is configured to read information stored on or in the segment of physical communication media that is attached to the port and to communicate the read information over the network.

2. The end node of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a media reading interface to read the information stored on or in the segment of physical communication media that is attached to the port.

3. The end node of claim 1, wherein the end node comprises at least one of a computer, server computer, laptop, desktop computer, special-purpose computing device, IP telephone, multi-media device, or storage device.

4. The end node of claim 1, wherein the PLI functionality is configured to communicate the read information over the network to an aggregation point that is communicatively coupled to the network, wherein the aggregation point is configured to store at least some of the information sent by the end node to the aggregation point.

5. The end node of claim 4, wherein the PLI functionality is further configured to communicate to the aggregation point at least one of information about the end node, information about the location of the end node, a media access control (MAC) address associated with the end node, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the end node.

6. The end node of claim 1, wherein the information comprises information about the segment of physical communication media.

7. The end node of claim 6, wherein the information about the segment of physical communication media comprises information about a connector attached to the segment of physical communication media.

8. The end node of claim 1, wherein the information comprises information related to at least one of an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical communication media, a part number associated with the physical communication media, a connector type associated with the physical communication media, a media type associated with the physical communication media, a length associated with the physical communication media, a serial number associated with the physical communication media, a cable polarity, a date of manufacture associated with the physical communication media, a manufacturing lot number associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with a connector attached to the physical communication media, an insertion count associated with the physical communication media, an Enterprise Resource Planning system, test data associated with the physical communication media, media quality data associated with the physical communication media, and performance data associated with the physical communication media.

9. The end node of claim 1, wherein the end node includes a physical layer device configured to communicate over the segment of physical communication media attached to the end node and further configured to read the information stored in or on the segment of physical communication media.

10. The end node of claim 1, wherein the information stored in or on the segment of physical communication media attached to the end node is stored in a storage device.

11. The end node of claim 10, wherein the storage device comprises a non volatile memory device.

12. A system comprising:

an end node communicatively coupled to a network by at least one segment of physical communication media attached to the end node, wherein the end node is configured to read information stored on or in the segment of physical communication media attached to the end node; and

an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the network;

wherein the end node is configured to send at least a portion of the information read from the segment of physical communication media attached to the end node to the aggregation port; and

wherein the aggregation point is configured to receive the information sent to the aggregation point by the end node and to store at least some of the information sent by the end node.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the end node comprises a media reading interface to read the information stored on or in the segment of physical communication media that is attached to the end node.

14. The system node of claim 12, wherein the end node comprises at least one of a computer, server computer, laptop, desktop computer, special-purpose computing device, IP telephone, multi-media device, or storage device.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the end node is further configured to communicate to the aggregation point at least one of information about the end node, information about the location of the end node, a media access control (MAC) address associated with the end node, and an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the end node.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the information comprises information about the segment of physical communication media.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the information about the segment of physical communication media comprises information about a connector attached to the segment of physical communication media.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the information comprises information related to at least one of an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical communication media, a part number associated with the physical communication media, a connector type associated with the physical communication media, a media type associated with the physical communication media, a length associated with the physical communication media, a serial number associated with the physical communication media, a cable polarity, a date of manufacture associated with the physical communication media, a manufacturing lot number associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with a connector attached to the physical communication media, an insertion count associated with the physical communication media, an Enterprise Resource Planning system, test data associated with the physical communication media, media quality data associated with the physical communication media, and performance data associated with the physical communication media.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the end node includes a physical layer device configured to communicate over the segment of physical communication media attached to the end node and further configured to read the information stored in or on the segment of physical communication media.

20. A wall outlet comprising:

at least one port to connect to at least one segment of physical communication media;

wherein the wall outlet is configured to read information stored on or in the segment of physical communication media connected to the wall outlet, wherein the wall outlet is configured to communicate at least a portion of the information read from the segment of physical communication media to an aggregation point.

21. The wall outlet of claim 20, wherein the information stored in or on the segment of physical communication media connected to the wall out is stored in a storage device.

22. The wall outlet of claim 21, wherein the storage device comprises a non volatile memory device.

23. The wall outlet of claim 20, wherein the information comprises information about the segment of physical communication media.

24. The wall outlet of claim 23, wherein the information about the segment of physical communication media comprises information about a connector attached to the segment of physical communication media.

25. The wall outlet of claim 20, wherein the information comprises information related to at least one of an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical communication media, a part number associated with the physical communication media, a connector type associated with the physical communication media, a media type associated with the physical communication media, a length associated with the physical communication media, a serial number associated with the physical communication media, a cable polarity, a date of manufacture associated with the physical communication media, a manufacturing lot number associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with a connector attached to the physical communication media, an insertion count associated with the physical communication media, an Enterprise Resource Planning system, test data associated with the physical communication media, media quality data associated with the physical communication media, and performance data associated with the physical communication media.

26. A wall outlet comprising:

a plurality of downstream ports;

at least one upstream port; and

a switch communicatively coupled to the downstream ports and the at least one upstream port;

wherein the wall outlet is configured to read information stored on or in physical communication media that is connected to the ports and to communicate the read information over the at least one upstream port.

27. The wall outlet of claim 26, wherein the information stored in or on the physical communication media connected to the ports is stored in a storage device.

28. The wall outlet of claim 27, wherein the storage device comprises a non volatile memory device.

29. The wall outlet of claim 26, wherein the information comprises information about the physical communication media.

30. The wall outlet of claim 29, wherein the information about the physical communication media comprises information about a connector attached to the physical communication media.

31. The wall outlet of claim 26, wherein the information comprises information related to at least one of an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical communication media, a part number associated with the physical communication media, a connector type associated with the physical communication media, a media type associated with the physical communication media, a length associated with the physical communication media, a serial number associated with the physical communication media, a cable polarity, a date of manufacture associated with the physical communication media, a manufacturing lot number associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with the physical communication media, a visual attribute associated with a connector attached to the physical communication media, an insertion count associated with the physical communication media, an Enterprise Resource Planning system, test data associated with the physical communication media, media quality data associated with the physical communication media, and performance data associated with the physical communication media.