Dynamic Labeling of Patch Panel Ports

• US 20110008996A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brooks, George, Beihoff, David, Peluffo, Matias, Choi-Feng, Chin, Choudhury, G. Mabud, Pinn, Gregory, German, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,643,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A patch panel for a communications patching system includes a plurality of connector ports. Each connector port is configured to detect insertion and removal of a patch cord. A controller is electrically coupled to the connector ports and monitors patch cord interconnections. An electronic display is positioned adjacent the connector ports and displays port identification information and real-time patch cord connection information for each respective connector port. The displayed patch cord connection information is dynamically updated by the controller as a patch cord is inserted or removed from a respective connector port.

Claims

1. A patch panel for a communications patching system, comprising:

a plurality of connector ports, wherein each connector port is configured to detect insertion therein, and removal therefrom, of a patch cord connector;

a controller electrically coupled to the connector ports that monitors patch cord interconnections therewith; and

an electronic display positioned adjacent the connector ports that displays port identification information and real-time patch cord connection information for each respective connector port, wherein displayed patch cord connection information for each connector port is dynamically updated by the controller as a patch cord is inserted and removed from a respective connector port.

2. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising a user input device positioned adjacent to the electronic display, wherein the user input device is operably associated with the electronic display such that user manipulation of the user input device allows the user to scroll and view multiple lines of information via the electronic display.

3. The patch panel of claim 2, wherein the user input device comprises a rotatable scroll wheel.

4. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is integrated with or visible through a front surface of the patch panel.

5. The patch panel of claim 4, wherein the electronic display is configured to display port identification information and patch cord connection information for a connector port directly adjacent to the respective connector port.

6. The patch panel of claim 5, wherein the electronic display is configured to display port identification information and patch cord connection information for a connector port directly above the respective connector port.

7. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein each connector port is configured to read an identifier of a patch cord connector inserted therewithin.

8. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein patch cord connection information displayed by the electronic display comprises a patch cord identifier.

9. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to log patch cord connection information in data storage.

10. The patch panel of claim 8, wherein the controller communicates with at least one database to log patch cord connection information in data storage.

11. The patch panel of claim 9, wherein the at least one database comprises an internal database and an external database.

12. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is configured to display information contained in TIA/EIA 606A compliant labels.

13. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display has a length that is substantially the same as a length of the plurality of connector ports.

14. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

15. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arms extending outwardly away from a front surface of the patch panel, wherein the electronic display is attached to distal ends of the arms and positioned substantially in front of the connector ports.

16. The patch panel of claim 15, wherein the electronic display is configured to simultaneously display the port identification information and the real-time patch cord connection information for each connector port.

17. The patch panel of claim 4, wherein the electronic display comprises a plurality of adjacent, spaced-apart display portions.

18. A method of displaying patch cord connection information for a connector port of a patch panel in a communications patching system, comprising:

detecting insertion of a patch cord connector in a patch panel connector port;

detecting an identifier of the patch cord connector; and

displaying in real time, via an electronic display adjacent to the connector port, the detected patch cord connector identifier.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

detecting insertion of a connector at the opposite end of the patch cord in another patch panel connector port; and

displaying in real time, via the electronic display, an identification of the other connector port.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising displaying identifications of end points of a communications link associated with the connector port.

21. A patch panel system, comprising:

a frame configured to support equipment mounted thereto in a plurality of spaced-apart mounting locations;

one or more patch panels mounted to the frame in spaced-apart locations;

at least one controller associated with the one or more patch panels, wherein the at least one controller monitors and logs patch cord connectivity for the one or more patch panels; and

a display movably secured to the frame, wherein the display is configured to display patch cord connectivity information monitored by the at least one controller for the one or more patch panels, and wherein the display is movable along the frame.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the frame comprises first and second vertically oriented members in opposing spaced-apart relationship, and wherein the display is movably secured to at least one of the first and second members.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the display is movable along the frame and positionable adjacent each of the one or more patch panels, and wherein the display is configured to display patch cord connectivity information for a patch panel adjacent to the display.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the display is movable along the frame and positionable substantially in front of each of the one or more patch panels.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the one or more patch panels comprises a plurality of patch panels, and wherein the display is configured to simultaneously display patch cord connectivity information for a patch panel adjacent to the display and at least one other patch panel.

26. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a plurality of apertures oriented vertically in at least one of the first and second vertically oriented members, each aperture including a contact therewithin in communication with the at least one controller;

at least one rotatable wheel having a plurality of outwardly extending projections sized and configured to fit within the apertures, wherein the display is attached to the at least one wheel, and wherein each projection is configured to establish electronic communication between the display and the at least one controller when positioned within an aperture;

wherein, in operation, the wheel is rotated such that one of the projections fits within one of the apertures so as to vertically position the display adjacent a patch panel and wherein the display displays patch cord connectivity information for the patch panel.

27. A patch panel system, comprising:

a frame configured to support equipment mounted thereto in a plurality of spaced-apart mounting locations;

a plurality of patch panels mounted to the frame in spaced-apart locations;

at least one controller associated with the plurality of patch panels, wherein the at least one controller monitors and logs patch cord connectivity for the plurality of patch panels; and

a display removably secured to a side of the frame, wherein the display is configured to simultaneously display patch cord connectivity information monitored by the at least one controller for the plurality of patch panels.