Methods and devices for identifying telecommunications equipment

• US 7,203,303 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beasley, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr.; William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/252,263
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 379/247, 379/201.01, 709/250, 702/245, 702/203
• US Class Current: 379/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72

Abstract

Methods and devices provide identification for telecommunications equipment by displaying identification information on a display screen proximal to the equipment. The identification information may be entered through a user input device such as a keypad or may be pre-stored in memory of the telecommunications equipment, such as through a network connection used to maintain the equipment. The identification information may include a unique name of the equipment and/or a description of the function that the equipment performs. A technician may then determine information about the telecommunications equipment by approaching the equipment and viewing the information on the display screen.

Claims

1. A device for identifying telecommunications equipment wherein the device is attached to the telecommunications equipment, comprising:

an input device attached to the telecommunications equipment and that receives user input that identifies the telecommunications equipment;

a memory within the telecommunications equipment that stores the user input received through the input device;

a display screen attached to the telecommunications equipment that displays the user input to identify the telecommunications equipment; and

a processing device in communication with the input device, the memory, and the display screen, wherein the processing device is configured to receive the user input from the input device attached, store the user input in the memory, and display the user input stored in the memory on the display screen;

wherein the user input comprises entered characters that uniquely identify the telecommunications equipment.

2. Previously presented) The device of claim 1, wherein the input device attached is a keypad that includes:

a mode key to allow a user to select between an input mode and a display mode; and

a save key to allow the user to direct the processing device to store the entered characters in the memory.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the display screen is a liquid crystal display that displays a save selection to allow the user to direct the processing device to store the entered characters in the memory.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a unique equipment name.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a function description.

6. A device for identifying telecommunications equipment wherein the telecommunications equipment includes a memory that stores information that identifies the telecommunications equipment, the device comprising:

a display screen integral with the telecommunications equipment and that displays the information to identify the telecommunications equipment; and

an interface in communication with the memory of the telecommunications equipment and the display screen, wherein the interface is configured to receive the information via user input, store the information in the memory, access the information from the memory of the telecommunications equipment and display the information on the display screen;

wherein the device is integral with the telecommunications equipment and wherein the user input comprises characters entered by a user that uniquely identify the telecommunications equipment.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the display screen is a liquid crystal display.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the information comprises a unique equipment name.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the information comprises a function description.

10. A method for identifying telecommunications equipment, comprising:

receiving via a user input device attached to the telecommunications equipment, user input including identification information that identifies the telecommunications equipment;

storing via a processing device integral with the telecommunications equipment, the identification information in a memory within the telecommunications equipment;

accessing the identification information from the memory; and

displaying the identification information accessed from the memory on a display screen integral with the telecommunications equipment to the telecommunications equipment;

wherein the user input comprises entered characters that uniquely identify the telecommunications equipment.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user input device is a keypad that includes:

a mode key to allow a user to select between an input mode and a display mode; and

a save key to allow the user to direct the processing device to store the entered characters in the memory.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the identification information comprises a unique equipment name.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the identification information comprises a function description.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the display screen is a liquid crystal display.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the telecommunications equipment includes a port in communication with the memory, and wherein the method further comprises:

entering the identification information through the port; and

directing the identification information from the port to the memory of the telecommunications equipment when storing the identification information in the memory;

wherein the port comprises one of the following;

a parallel data output port;

a high-speed serial data output port;

a first generation universal serial port; and

a second generation universal serial port.