Method of planning, installing, and verifying a set of electrical cables in a building
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of utilizing a computer and a compatible portable test instrument system to plan, install, and verify a set of electrical cables in a building, comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing an installation plan, comprising a floor plan with specified port locations and corresponding cables terminating at those locations, and required performance characteristics for the cables;
(b) storing the installation plan in the computer and displaying it on the computer screen;
(c) copying the installation plan from the computer into the portable test instrument system;
(d) after the installation is completed, testing performance of each cable of the completed installation against its specific intended use at that location, and storing the test results in the portable test instrument system;
(e) comparing the test results for each cable against the installation plan requirements for that cable;
(f) storing results of the comparisons in the portable test instrument system;
(g) uploading the comparison test results from the test instrument system back into the computer; and
(h) then utilizing the computer to print out for a business purpose both the installation plan and the comparison test results.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A business method for comprehensively planning the installation into a building of various dissimilar types of electrical cables. A feature of the method is that each individual cable, when installed in place, is then tested for the level of performance which will be required of that cable in that location.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A method of utilizing a computer and a compatible portable test instrument system to plan, install, and verify a set of electrical cables in a building, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) preparing an installation plan, comprising a floor plan with specified port locations and corresponding cables terminating at those locations, and required performance characteristics for the cables; (b) storing the installation plan in the computer and displaying it on the computer screen; (c) copying the installation plan from the computer into the portable test instrument system; (d) after the installation is completed, testing performance of each cable of the completed installation against its specific intended use at that location, and storing the test results in the portable test instrument system; (e) comparing the test results for each cable against the installation plan requirements for that cable; (f) storing results of the comparisons in the portable test instrument system; (g) uploading the comparison test results from the test instrument system back into the computer; and (h) then utilizing the computer to print out for a business purpose both the installation plan and the comparison test results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A comprehensive method of planning, installing, and verifying a set of electrical cables in a building, comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating a computer database model, comprising a graphic display of existing room layouts in the building, ports for proposed cable terminations, representations of the cable types selected to be connected to respective ports, and a representation of the plan for intended use of each cable;
(b) selecting a portable test instrument system which has data processing capability compatible with the computer so that it can both receive data from the computer and transfer data back into the computer;
(c) downloading the computer database model into the portable test instrument system;
(d) utilizing the portable test instrument system to make tests on each cable that are application specific tests for the intended use of that particular cable, rather than industry standard tests for that cable type; and
(e) then uploading test result data back into the computer for a business purpose. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- (a) creating a computer database model, comprising a graphic display of existing room layouts in the building, ports for proposed cable terminations, representations of the cable types selected to be connected to respective ports, and a representation of the plan for intended use of each cable;
-
7. A method of utilizing a computer and a compatible portable test instrument system to plan, install, and verify a set of electrical cables in a building, comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a plan for the installation, and then displaying the plan on a computer;
(b) copying the installation plan from the computer into the portable test instrument system;
(c) after the installation is made, utilizing the installation plan as stored in the portable test instrument system to test the individual cables of the installation on the basis of their planned physical location and intended method of use, rather than the electrical specifications of the cables themselves;
(d) uploading test result information from the portable test instrument system back into the computer; and
(e) then utilizing the computer to print out for a business purpose the installation plan accompanied by the test result information.
- (a) preparing a plan for the installation, and then displaying the plan on a computer;
-
8. A method of planning, installing, and verifying a data cable in a building, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
selecting a remote terminal unit to connect to the remote end of the cable;
selecting a pair of ports in the building where the cable is to be terminated;
establishing the data flow capacity desired for the cable on the basis of its planned physical location and intended method of use, rather than the electrical specifications of the cable itself;
installing the cable between the ports; and
then testing the cable performance by applying signals from the portable test instrument through the cable to the remote terminal unit.
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
-
9. A method of planning, installing, and verifying a data cable in a building, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
selecting a remote terminal unit to connect to the remote end of the cable;
selecting a pair of ports in the building where the cable is to be terminated;
establishing the data flow capacity desired for the cable to have in its intended method of use;
installing the cable between the ports; and
then testing the cable performance by applying signals from the portable test instrument through the cable to the remote terminal unit, wherein the test signals are a bit stream at the data flow rate desired for the cable performance, the bit stream received by the remote terminal unit is fed back to the cable input end, and a measurement of error rate is made by the portable test instrument.
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
-
10. A method of planning, installing, and verifying a data cable in a building, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
selecting a remote terminal unit to connect to the remote end of the cable;
selecting a pair of ports in the building where the cable is to be terminated;
establishing the data flow capacity desired for the cable to have in its intended method of use;
installing the cable between the ports; and
then testing the cable performance by applying signals from the portable test instrument through the cable to the remote terminal unit, wherein the test signals are analog signals at a predetermined frequency, and the signal-to-noise ratio of cable operation at that frequency is measured by the portable test instrument in conjunction with the remote terminal unit.
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
-
11. A method of planning, installing, and verifying a data cable in a building, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
selecting a remote terminal unit to connect to the remote end of the cable;
selecting a pair of ports in the building where the cable is to be terminated;
establishing the data flow capacity desired for the cable to have in its intended method of use;
installing the cable between the ports; and
then testing the cable performance by applying signals from the portable test instrument through the cable to the remote terminal unit, wherein a bit stream and an analog signal are applied separately to the input end of the cable, and the cable performance is measured separately for each.
- selecting a portable test instrument to connect to the input end of the cable;
-
12. A method of planning, installing, and verifying the performance of an electrical cable in a building, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) creating a computer data base with a graphic display of a room layout in the building, ports for the proposed termination of the cable, a selected cable type to be connected to the respective ports, and a corresponding test routine to be performed on that cable at a particular port; (b) selecting a portable test instrument system which has data processing capability compatible with the computer so that it can receive data from the computer; (c) downloading into the portable test instrument system the computer data representing both a particular port to which the selected cable type is to be connected and the corresponding test routine to be performed at that particular port; (d) after the cable has been installed, connecting the portable test instrument system to at least the near end of the cable at that port; and (e) then actuating the portable test instrument system by pushing a selected control button to perform the corresponding test routine for that cable at that particular port location and produce a report of the test results. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of testing cables installed in a structure, comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing information identifying a list of cables and their intended locations in a portable test instrument, and displaying the list on the portable test instrument;
(b) connecting the portable test instrument to a particular cable;
(c) selecting the corresponding cable from the visibly displayed list; and
(d) activating the portable test instrument by pushing a button to apply a test routine to that cable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
- (a) storing information identifying a list of cables and their intended locations in a portable test instrument, and displaying the list on the portable test instrument;
-
20. A method of installing an electrical cable in a structure and testing its electrical performance, comprising the steps of:
- (a) planning a test routine for the cable upon the basis of the cable location and its intended use;
(b) downloading the test routine into a portable test instrument;
(c) after the cable is installed, connecting the portable test instrument to the cable; and
(d) applying that test routine to the cable to measure its performance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- (a) planning a test routine for the cable upon the basis of the cable location and its intended use;
-
26. A method of using a computer to create a computer database model of a proposed installation of a set of electrical cables in a building, including a floor plan, cable port locations on that floor plan, corresponding cables which are to terminate at respective port locations, and a listing of the specific type and desired performance characteristics for each of the individual cables, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) transferring the computer database model into a portable test instrument; (b) installing the cables such that they terminate at respective port locations in accordance with the computer database model; (c) moving the portable test instrument from one port location to another; and (d) at each port location, using the portable test instrument to make application-specific tests for the specific type of cable or cables terminating at that location in accordance with the performance requirements of the computer database model at that location. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A method of using a computer to create a computer database model of a proposed installation of a set of electrical cables in a building, including a floor plan, cable port locations, corresponding cables which are to terminate at the respective port locations, and a listing of specific types and desired performance characteristics for the individual cables, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) creating a listing of the selected cables that is automatically supplemented by the computer as the computer database model is developed; (b) transferring the completed computer database model to a portable test instrument; (c) using the portable test instrument to test the installed cables; and (d) transferring test result information from the portable test instrument back into the computer. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
Specification