System for monitoring connection pattern of data ports

• US 6,574,586 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2002
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Forrad, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: David, Solomon I., Pela, Peter Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): WACHSMAN, HAL D
• Application Number:
  US09/937,983
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 702/183, 702/118, 702/120, 702/122, 702/124, 702/126, 702/182, 702/186, 702/188, 702/189, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.134, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.170, 702/FOR.171, 709/220-222, 709/224, 370/248, 370/241, 324/538, 324/66, 340/687, 340/686.1, 375/257, 375/258, 345/736, 345/969, 345/966, 439/49, 439/488, 439/489, 439/489.2, 439/490, 439/491, 439/912.1, 439/912.2, 439/913, 439/955, 439/188, 379/25, 379/27.01, 379/27.04, 379/26.01
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/67 Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/52 mounted in or to a panel or structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/149 Wireguides in connector blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/915 Auxiliary device for existing plug

Abstract

The present invention determines and monitors the connection pattern of data ports which are connected by multiconductor cables. An adapter jacket having an external contact is placed over a standardized cable such as an RJ45 cable which connects the data ports. An adapter board having a plurality of socket contacts is placed adjacent a plurality of data ports. An output and input module are coupled to the socket contacts. A micro-processor which is coupled to the output and input module scans the socket contacts to determine the connection pattern of the data ports.

Claims

1. A system for determining connection pattern of data ports which are interconnected by a multiconductor cable, said data ports each having a socket, and said multiconductor cable having a jack at each end of the cable which mates with said sockets, said system comprising:

a socket contact positioned adjacent to each of said sockets,

an external contact provided for each jack, said external contacts making electrical connection with said socket contacts when said jacks are mated with said sockets;

at least one output signal driver electrically coupled to and being operative to send a signal to at least one of said socket contacts;

at least one input signal receiver electrically coupled to at least one of said socket contacts for receiving said signal sent by said output signal driver;

a micro-processor coupled to said output signal driver and said input signal receiver for controlling said signal sent by said output signal driver and for detecting said signal received by said input signal receiver, said micro-processor interpreting said signal to determine the connection pattern of said data ports; and

an output indicator coupled to said micro-processor for indicating the connection pattern of said data ports as determined by said micro-processor.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said micro-processor determines the connection pattern of said data ports by a process comprising sending a signal to at least one socket contact and determining which of said at least one input signal receivers have received said signal, and repeating said process for every socket contact.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said multiconductor cable is a standardized cable.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said multiconductor cable is an RJ45 cable.

5. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said multiconductor cable is an RJ11 cable.

6. A system for determining connection pattern of data ports which are interconnected by standardized multiconductor cables, said data ports each having a standardized socket, and said standardized multiconductor cables each having a standardized jack at each end which mates with said standardized sockets, said system comprising:

a socket contact positioned adjacent to each of said standardized sockets,

an external contact provided for each standardized jack, said external contacts making electrical connection with said socket contacts when said standardized jack is mated with said standardized sockets;

an output signal driver uniquely coupled to each socket contact, said output signal driver being operative to send a signal to said socket contacts;

an input signal receiver uniquely coupled to each said socket contact for receiving said signal sent by said output signal driver;

a micro-processor coupled to said output signal driver and said input signal receiver for controlling said signal sent by said output signal driver and for detecting signals received by said input signal receiver, said micro-processor interpreting said signals to determine the connection pattern of said data ports; and

an output indicator coupled to said micro-processor for indicating the connection pattern of said data ports as determined by said micro-processor.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein said micro-processor determines the connection pattern of said data ports by a process comprising sending a signal to at least one of said socket contacts and determining which of the input signal receivers have received said signal, and repeating said process for every socket contact.

8. A system for determining connection pattern of data ports, said data ports each having a socket, said system comprising:

a socket contact positioned adjacent to said sockets;

a plurality of multiconductor cables interconnecting said data ports, said multiconductor cables each having a jack at each end of the cable which mates with one of said sockets, each of said jacks having an external contact, said external contacts making electrical connection with said socket contacts when the jack is mated with said sockets;

output signal drivers uniquely coupled to each socket contact, said output signal drivers being operative to send a signal to said socket contacts;

input signal receivers uniquely coupled to each said socket contact for receiving said signal sent by said output signal drivers;

a micro-processor coupled to said output signal drivers and said input signal receivers for controlling said signals sent by said output signal drivers and for detecting signals received by said input signal receivers, said micro-processor interpreting said signals to determine the connection pattern of said data ports; and

an output indicator coupled to said micro-processor for indicating the connection pattern of said data ports as determined by said micro-processor.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said micro-processor determines the connection pattern of said data ports by a process comprising sending a signal to a socket contact and determining which of the input signal receivers have received said signal, and repeating said process for every socket contact.

10. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said multiconductor cable is a standardized cable.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said standardized cable is an RJ45 connectorized cable.

12. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said standardized cable is an RJ11 connectorized cable.

13. A system for determining connection pattern of a first and second data port which are interconnected by a multiconductor cable, said first data port having a first socket and said second data port having a second socket, and said multiconductor cable having a jack at each end which mates with said first and second sockets, said system comprising:

a first socket contact positioned inside said first socket and a second socket contact positioned inside said second socket,

an external contact provided for each jack, said external contacts making electrical connection with said first and second socket contacts when said jacks are mated with said first and second sockets;

an output signal driver uniquely coupled to said first and second socket contacts, said output signal driver being operative to send a signal to said first and second socket contacts;

an input signal receiver uniquely coupled to said first and second socket contacts for receiving said signal sent by said output signal driver;

a micro-processor coupled to said output signal driver and said input signal receiver for controlling said signal sent by said output signal driver and for detecting said signal received by said input signal receiver, said micro-processor interpreting said signal to determine the connection pattern of said first and second data ports; and

an output indicator coupled to said micro-processor for indicating the connection pattern of said first and second data ports as determined by said microprocessor.