Network revision system with local system ports

• US 7,370,106 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/992,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709224-226
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/18 End pieces terminating in a probe
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/229 Wire identification arrangements; Number assignment determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/144 Plugs used in distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2201/802 in data transmission systems

Abstract

A revision system for a network having a plurality of data ports, pairs of the data ports being connectable by a patch cord to place the pairs of data ports into communication with each other, the revision system including a computer processor, a scanner in communication with the computer processor, the scanner capable of polling at least some of the data ports for determining connective status information therefrom, a plurality of local system ports disposed at distinct physical locations within the system, the local system ports in communication with the computer processor, and a portable information module for connecting to respective ones of the plurality of local system ports, whereby when the portable information module is connected to one of the local system ports, the portable information module may be placed into communication with and display information about respective ones of the data ports in the system.

Claims

1. A method of inserting a patch cord into first and second data ports in a local area network (LAN) comprising a computer system that controls the LAN, a plurality of data ports, a plurality of local system ports in communication with the computer system, and a visual indicator adjacent to each data port, the method comprising:

the computer system determining whether instructions to insert the patch cord into the first data port have been correctly completed by analyzing a temporary connection formed by insertion of one end of the patch cord into one of the data ports and insertion of another end of the patch cord into one of the system ports;

of the visual indicators adjacent to the data ports, altering a state of only the visual indicator adjacent to the first data port after the computer system determines that the instructions have been correctly completed to indicate that the instructions have been correctly completed, the state being altered before subsequent instructions to insert the other end of the patch cord into the second data port have been completed, the patch cord having been removed from the one of the system ports, thereby terminating the temporary connection, before the subsequent instructions have been completed;

providing the subsequent instructions after the instructions have been correctly completed, the second data port belonging to the subset of the plurality of data ports; and

of the visual indicators adjacent to the data ports, altering a state of only the visual indicator adjacent to the second data port after the subsequent instructions have been correctly completed to indicate that the subsequent instructions have been correctly completed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising withholding the subsequent instructions until the instructions have been correctly completed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the state is altered only after the instructions have been correctly completed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the visual indicator associated the second data port only after the instructions have been correctly completed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the visual indicators adjacent to the first and second data ports prior to the patch cord being inserted into the first data port.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, of the visual indicators adjacent to the first and second data ports, activating only the visual indicator adjacent to the first data port prior to the patch cord being inserted into the first data port.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising altering the state differently depending on whether the instructions have been correctly or incorrectly completed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising altering a state of a visual indicator on the patch cord at least one of in same manner or at the same time as a visual indicator not on the patch cord.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of visual indicator states that are different from each other and that include a first visual indicator state before insertion into the first data port, a second visual indicator state before removal from the first data port, a third visual indicator state after correct insertion into the first data port, and a fourth visual indicator state after incorrect removal from the first data port.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising targeting only data ports having activated visual indicators, the targeting comprising:

scanning the data ports having activated visual indicators;

analyzing the data ports having activated visual indicators to determine whether the instructions or the subsequent instructions have been correctly or incorrectly completed; and

limiting at least one of the scanning and analyzing to only the data ports having activated visual indicators.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising initiating the targeting from scanning and analysis of at least all data ports using a manually-activated input.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically terminating the targeting and returning to scanning and analysis of at least all data ports.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing directions to a general location of the first data port; and

altering the state of the visual indicator adjacent to the first data port only after an end of the patch cord is inserted into a local system port at the general location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the end of the patch cord inserted into the local system port at the general location and an end of the patch cord inserted into the first data port are different.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing additional directions to the first data port only after the end of the patch cord is inserted into the local system port at the general location.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating determination of whether the instructions have been correctly completed using a manually-activated input.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting directions to the first data port to a general location until a manually-activated input is activated.

18. A method of inserting a patch cord into first and second data ports in a system comprising a visual indicator and a local area network (LAN) containing a computer system that controls the LAN, a plurality of data ports, a plurality of local system ports in communication with the computer system, the visual indicator separable from the data ports, the method comprising:

the computer system determining whether instructions to insert the patch cord into the first data port have been correctly completed by analyzing a temporary connection formed by insertion of one end of the patch cord into one of the data ports and insertion of another end of the patch cord into one of the system ports;

altering a state of the separable visual indicator in response to the computer determining that the instructions have been correctly completed to indicate that the instructions have been correctly completed, the state being altered before subsequent instructions to insert the other end of the patch cord into the second data port have been completed, the patch cord having been removed from the one of the system ports, thereby terminating the temporary connection, before the subsequent instructions have been completed;

withholding the subsequent instructions until the instructions have been correctly completed;

providing directions to a general location of at least one of the first or second data port; and

providing further directions to the at least one of the first or second data port in response to an end of the patch cord being inserted into a local system port at the general location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the patch cord comprises the separable visual indicator.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a portable device comprises the separable visual indicator, the portable device further comprising a display and a manually-activated input.