Intelligent concentrator usage

• US 7,023,809 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rubinstein, Alan, Wang, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US09/922,995
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/401, 370/353, 370/469, 370/490, 370/536, 370/537, 370/542, 370/532, 370/533, 370/534, 370/535, 370/442, 370/400, 370/260, 370/241, 370/242, 370/248, 370/250, 34031001-31006, 340/333, 340/310.07, 340/533, 340/538, 340/541, 340/452.2, 340/538.11, 340/870.18, 340/870.19, 340/870.31, 455/425.2, 455/522, 713/300, 713/310, 375/257, 709/224
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6427 Subscriber Access Module; Concentrator; Group equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6464 Priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1308 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13386 Line concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer network and a method for using the network The network and method employ powered multiplexing connection devices which electronically couple two or more network devices to the network. The signals from the network devices to the network are multiplexed at the powered multiplexing connection devices and the signals from the network to the network devices are demultiplexed at the powered multiplexing connection devices. The multiplexing enables the various work-center devices to communicate with the network and, in some cases, to receive power over the network connection. The intelligent electronic circuitry is also capable of aiding in network security and management and in monitoring the status of the network infrastructure. A primary advantage of the disclosed invention is an enormous reduction in the network administrator'"'"'s workload in that a significant portion of the labor involved in managing and modifying a network is alleviated or obviated by the powered, intelligent, multiplexing connection devices.

Claims

1. A computer network, comprising:

one or more work centers, each comprising work center devices;

one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices located at one or more of said work centers, said powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices communicatively coupled with said work center devices via cabling, said one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices providing an access control point, said one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices further automatically providing a tamper alert signal to a network management source in the event of a physical breach;

one or more network servers, each connected with one or more of said powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices, each connection via a single industry standard communications cable, wherein signals between said work center devices and said network servers are multiplexed in said cabling and said single industry standard communications cable; and

one or more network administrator consoles, each network administration console implementing and managing said access control point of said one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices.

2. The computer network described in claim 1, wherein said powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices are fixedly located at said work centers.

3. The computer network described in claim 1 wherein said work center devices comprise computers.

4. The computer network described in claim 1 wherein said work center devices comprise computer peripheral devices.

5. The computer network described in claim 1 wherein said work center devices comprise voice telephones.

6. The computer network described in claim 1 wherein said powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices are enabled to be coupled wirelessly to said work center devices.

7. The computer network described in claim 1 wherein said industry standard communications cabling is fiber-optic cabling.

8. The computer network described in claim 1 wherein said industry standard communications cabling is wire cabling.

9. A method for managing a computer network, wherein said computer network comprises one or more network servers and one or more work centers, said method comprising:

a) providing one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connectors, at one or more of said work centers, each of said one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing connectors providing a connection to one of said network servers via a single industry standard communications cable, said one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing connectors further providing an access control point, said one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices further automatically providing a tamper alert signal to a network management source in the event of a physical breach;

b) electronically coupling two or more network devices to said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connector;

c) multiplexing signals between said network and said network devices;

d) monitoring the status of the infrastructure of said network; and

,

e) communicating information of said status of said infrastructure to a management of said network, said management comprising one or more network administrator consoles, each network administration console implementing and managing said access control point of said one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing devices.

10. The method described in claim 9 wherein said step of providing one or more powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connectors is accomplished, by fixedly locating said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connectors at said work centers.

11. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of electronically coupling two or more network devices to said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connector is accomplished with modular cable connectors.

12. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of electronically coupling two or more network devices to said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connector comprises electronically coupling computers.

13. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of electronically coupling two or more network devices to said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connector comprises electronically coupling computer peripheral devices.

14. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of electronically coupling two or more network devices to said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connector comprises electronically coupling voice telephones.

15. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of multiplexing signals is capable of multiplexing network data signals.

16. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of multiplexing signals is capable of multiplexing device power.

17. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of multiplexing signals is accomplished in said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connectors.

18. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of monitoring the status of the infrastructure of said network is accomplished in part by the use of circuitry resident in said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connectors.

19. The method described in claim 9, wherein said step of communicating information of the status of said infrastructure of said network is accomplished in part by the use of circuitry resident in said powered, intelligent, multiplexing device connectors.