Network communications system

• US 6,780,047 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bauder, James R., Laity, Ian, McLinn, Franklin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US09/534,888
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 439/501, 439/535, 439/652, 439/4
• US Class Current: 439/501
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A network communications system is provided for allowing a group of computer users in a conference room or similar small work environment to access an Ethernet local area network (LAN) and to provide peer-to-peer group networking without connection to a backbone network.

The system includes multiple (for example, 4 or 8) client computer ports each including a removable spring loaded cable dispenser carrying an extendible/retractable Category 5 LAN cable terminated with an RJ-45 plug for connection to a client computer'"'"'s network adapter. Combined power/Ethernet LAN cables connect the system to an enterprise network and to a source of electrical power, and permit cascading of up to three 8-port systems.

In use, a computer user pulls out the cable from one of the client ports and inserts the RJ-45 plug into the RJ-45 jack on the network adapter carried by the computer. After completion of the networking session, the user unplugs the cable which is automatically retracted by the spring loaded cable reel. A cable management system is thereby provided which eliminates the tangle or clutter of multiple cables encountered in existing systems.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

multiport circuitry having a plurality of ports to interconnect a plurality of computers in a network;

a plurality of network communications cable dispensing devices; and

a plurality of network communications cables each communications cable having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the communications cable having an extremity including a first connector adapted to be coupled to one of the ports of the multiport circuitry, the second portion of the communications cable being extendible from and retractable into a cable dispensing device and having an extremity including a second connector adapted to be coupled to one of the computers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiport interconnecting circuitry includes a network switching circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the communications cable is retractable into the cable dispensing device under a spring load.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the communications cable comprises flat, Category 5 compliant LAN cable including two twisted wire pairs; and

the connector at the extremity of each of the first and second portions of the communications cable comprises an RJ-45 modular plug.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a combined power/network cable for connecting the multiport circuitry to a local area network and to a source of electrical power.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiport circuitry includes a connector for coupling the system to a second network communications system in daisy chain fashion.

7. A system, as defined in claim 1, in which:

the cable dispensing devices are removable latched in place in the system.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing having a base including a side wall and defining a plurality of internal wells, the side wall of the base defining a plurality of client computer ports, each client port communicating with one of the wells; and

a plurality of standard, modular LAN jacks mounted in the housing and corresponding in number to the number of recesses, each LAN jack being adapted to receive a standard modular LAN plug; and

wherein the network communication cable dispensing devices are removably mounted within each of the wells;

wherein the first portion of the communications cable is fixed relative to the cable dispensing device;

a standard modular LAN plug adapted to be received by one of the LAN jacks; and

wherein the second connector comprises a standard modular LAN plug adapted to be received by a corresponding jack on one of the computers.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interconnection circuitry comprises a LAN switch, and the standard modular LAN jacks and plugs are of the RJ-45 type.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the multiport interconnection circuitry further includes a port adapted to be connected to the multiport interconnection circuitry of a cascaded network communications system.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a combined power/LAN cable having a first set of conductors for connecting the multiport interconnection circuitry to a source of electrical power and a second set of conductors for carrying network signals between the system and the LAN.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the housing includes a cover having an outer surface;

the multiport circuitry includes light emitters for indicating the status of the computer ports; and

the cover carries light pipes positioned relative to the light emitters so as to transmit light from the light emitters to the outer surface of the cover to provide a visual indication to a user of client port status.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein each cable dispensing device includes an upper surface carrying a handle facilitating removal of the device from the associated well.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the second connector includes a resilient pad for absorbing shock resulting from the sudden release of the second portion of the cable from an extended position.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications cables comprise:

a first group of conductors comprising two twisted wire pairs for transmitting Ethernet LAN signals, the first connector being adapted to be connected to an Ethernet LAN;

a second group of conductors extending generally parallel with the first group of conductors extending generally parallel with the first group of conductors and comprising two twisted wire pairs for transmitting electrical power, the second group of conductors having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second group of conductors being adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power;

wherein the second connector comprises an insulative jacket enclosing the first and second groups of conductors; and

an RJ-45 modular connector terminating the second end of the second group of conductors, the RJ-45 connector having at least eight contact positions, the conductors of the first group of conductors being connected to a first group of four of the contact positions of the RJ-45 connector and the conductors of the second group of conductors being connected to a second group of four of the contact positions of the RJ-45 connector.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first group of conductors comprise Category 5 compliant conductors extending generally parallel with the second group of conductors, the system further comprising an insulative jacket enclosing the first and second groups of conductors;

an electrical power cord; and

a Category 5 compliant cable terminated with a second RJ-45 modular plug for connection to a LAN; and

an enclosure attached to the first and second groups of conductors, the electrical power cord and the Category 5 compliant cable, the enclosure containing;

conductors interconnecting the Category 5 compliant cable and the first end of the first group of conductors; and

a power supply interconnecting the power cord and the first end of the second group of conductors.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first group of conductors comprise Category 5 compliant conductors extending generally parallel with the second group of conductors, the system further comprising an insulative jacket enclosing the first and second groups of conductors, the system further comprising:

an electrical power cord; and

a Category 5 compliant cable terminated with a second RJ-45 modular plug for connection to LAN; and

an enclosure attached to the first and second groups of conductors, the electrical power cord and the Category 5 compliant cable, the enclosure containing conductors interconnecting the Category 5 compliant cable and the first end of the first group of conductors, and a power supply interconnecting the power cord and the first end of the second group of conductors.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a first EMI/RFI shield enclosing the first group of conductors.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a second EMI/RFI shield surrounding the first shield, the second group of conductors being disposed between the first and second shields.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the RJ-45 modular connector has ten contact positions 1-10, the conductors of the first group of conductors being connected to contact positions 1-4 and the conductors of the second group of conductors being connected to contact positions 7-10.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein intermediate contact positions 5 and 6 of the RJ-45 connector are devoid of electrical contacts to provide electrical isolation between the first and second groups of conductors.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the first connector comprises a second RJ-45 modular connector terminating the second group of conductors at the first end thereof, the second RJ-45 connector having at least eight contact positions, the conductors of the first group of conductors being connected to a first group of four of the contact positions of the second RJ-45 connector and the conductors of the second group of conductors being connected to a second group of four of the contact positions of the second RJ-45 connector.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second RJ-45 connector has ten contact positions 1-10, the conductors of the first group of conductors being connected to contact positions 1-4 and the conductors of the second group of conductors being connected to contact positions 7-10.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein intermediate contact position 5 and 6 of the second RJ-45 connector are devoid of electrical contacts to provide electrical isolation between the first and second groups of conductors.

25. A LAN cable dispensing device comprising:

a casing; and

a flat, Category 5 compliant LAN cable having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the LAN cable being fixed relative to the casing and having an extremity including a first RJ-45 modular plug and the second portion of the LAN cable being extendible from and retractable under spring load into the casing and having an extremity including a second RJ-45 plug;

wherein the casing includes a surface for receiving the second RJ-45 modular plug when the second portion of the LAN cable is fully retracted; and

the second RJ-45 modular plug includes a shock absorber for engaging said casing surface.

26. The cable dispensing device of claim 25, wherein the shock absorber comprises a resilient pad.

27. The cable dispensing device of claim 25, wherein:

the casing includes a top surface; and

a handle projects from the top surface to facilitate lifting of the dispensing device.