High Performance Three-Port Switch For Managed Ethernet Systems

• US 20110211456A1
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Nordin, Ronald A., Caveney, Jack E.
• Application Number:
  US13/103,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211456A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0659 by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/555 Error detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for isolating and analyzing segments of a deployed, operational cable plant from a remote location. Individual cables, or segments, within an operationally deployed cable plant infrastructure may be isolated and analyzed without requiring a technician to physically inspect and perform an on-site analysis. The approach allows a cable segment to be isolated and analyzed without physically disconnecting the cable from the deployed infrastructure. By isolating and analyzing selected cable plant segments, an entire deployed cable plant infrastructure may be discretely analyzed and specific problems within the cable plant infrastructure may be identified. The approach allows the analyses to be performed from a remote location and is compatible with and may be integrated within a multipurpose network management system.

Claims

1. A diagnostics system for a communications network comprising:

a network cable;

a first network device connected to a first end of the network cable, the first network device having a first port and a first toggle switch associated with the first port, the network cable connected to the first network device at the first port, the first toggle switch configured to reversibly the first end of the network cable to a first network management port;

a second network device connected to a second end of the network cable, the second network device having a second port and a second toggle switch associated with the second port, the network cable connected to the second network device at the second port, the second toggle switch configured to reversibly connect the second end of the network cable to a second network management port; and

a network management system in communication the first and second network management ports and configured to isolate and run at least one diagnostics check on the network cable.

2. The diagnostics system of claim 1 wherein the first port is an RJ45 port and the second port is a punch-down port.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first toggle switch comprises a relay module which is capable of redirecting the connectivity of a single pair of wire connectors connected thereto.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the toggle switch comprises a micro electronic mechanical system (MEMS) switch that includes a substrate and overlapping first and second conductive plates, the first and second conductive plates in electrical contact with each other when the MEMS switch is actuated and isolated from each other when the MEMS switch is not actuated.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the MEMS switch further comprises:

a third conductive plate; and

an insulating layer disposed between the first and third conductive plates, the first and third conductive plates in electrical contact with each other when the MEMS switch is not actuated and isolated from each other when the MEMS switch is actuated.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the second network device comprises a wall-plate jack.

7. A method for running diagnostic checks for a network cable in a communication system comprising:

selecting a network cable to be diagnosed;

providing a first network device connected to a first end of the network cable, the first network device having a first port and a first toggle switch associated with the first port, the network cable connected to the first network device at the first port, the first toggle switch configured to reversibly connect the first end of the network cable to the a first network management port;

providing a second network device connected to a second end of the network cable, the second network device having a second port and a second toggle switch associated with the second port, the network cable connected to the second network device at the second port, the second toggle switch configured to reversibly connect the second end of the network cable to a second network management port;

providing a network management system in communication the first and second network management port and configured to isolate and run diagnostics checks on the network cable;

switching the connection of the first network device at the first port from the network cable to the first network management port;

switching the connection of the second network device at the second port from the network cable to the second network management port; and

running diagnostics checks on the network cable.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising determining whether the cable passes the diagnostic checks.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising generating a trouble ticket if the network cable does not pass the diagnostic checks.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the network cable is selected based upon an analysis of previously collected and maintained network connectivity information.