VOIP telephone location system

• US 7,376,734 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Caveney, Jack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nano; Sargon N
• Application Number:
  US10/366,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/238, 709/245, 370/245, 370/248, 715/734
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A documentation system for a network a provided. The system has a data port and a destination device, each of which includes an electronic module with an identification code. A source device sends query signals along a network path addressed to the data port and destination device. Each of the data port and destination device electronic modules responds to the query addressed to the data port and destination device by transmitting its identification code to the source device. A processor and switch in communication with the source device direct the source device to send the query signals and to interpret the responses. The data port and destination device electronic modules powered by a local power source and patch cord. A patch cord may be adapted to provide power from the local power source both to the destination device and to the data port.

Claims

1. A documentation system for locating devices within a network having a source device which is connected to at least one network path having a destination device attached thereto, said system comprising:

a physical port which includes an physical electronic module with an identification code on said at least one network path;

said destination device including an physical electronic module with an identification code;

a local power source providing power to said electronic module of said port and to said electronic module of said destination device;

said source device having the capability to send a query signal along said at least one network path addressed to said port and said destination device corresponding to said at least one network path;

said electronic module corresponding to said port responding to said query addressed to said port using a port transmission containing the identification code corresponding to the port to be transmitted to said source device; and

said electronic module of said destination device responding to said query addressed to said destination device using a destination device transmission containing the identification code corresponding to the destination device to be transmitted to said source device.

2. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said port is a patch panel port.

3. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said port is an outlet port directly connected to said destination device.

4. The documentation system of claim 3 wherein said outlet port is a wall outlet jack.

5. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said source device is adapted to resends said query signal if both said port transmission and said destination device transmission are not received at said source device.

6. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said local power source is a power adapter,the system further comprising a power patch cable conveying power to said electronic module of said destination device and said electronic module of said port.

7. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said local power source is proximate to said destination device.

8. The documentation system of claim 1 wherein said local power source is proximate to said port.

9. A documentation system for a network having a source device connected to a plurality of network paths, said documentation system comprising:

a physical port corresponding to at least one of said network paths;

a destination device coupled to said port along said at least one network path;

a physical electronic module associated with said port, said electronic module having an identification code;

a physical electronic module associated with said destination device, said electronic module associated with said destination device having an identification code;

a transmitter associated with said source device transmitting query signals along respective ones of said network paths;

a receiver associated with said source device receiving response signals from said respective ones of said network paths; and

a local power source providing power to said electronic module of said port and to said electronic module of said destination device.

10. The documentation system of claim 9 wherein said port is a patch panel port.

11. The documentation system of claim 9 wherein said port is an outlet port.

12. The documentation system of claim 11 wherein said outlet port is a wall outlet jack.

13. The documentation system of claim 9 wherein said source device is adapted to resends said query signal if both said port transmission and said destination device transmission are not received at said source device.

14. The documentation system of claim 9 wherein said local power source is a power adapter, the system further comprising a power patch cable conveying power to said electronic module of said destination device and said electronic module of said port.

15. The documentation system of claim 9 wherein said local power source is proximate to said destination device.

16. The documentation system of claim 9 wherein said local power source is proximate to said port.

17. A method for identifying and locating devices within a network comprising:

sending a query from a source device along a network path having a physical port in communication with said source device and a destination device connected to said port, said port having a port electronic module associated therewith, said destination device having a destination device electronic module associated therewith, each of said electronic modules being a physical module and having an identification code associated therewith;

providing power to said electronic module associated with said port and to said electronic module associated with said destination device using a local power source;

receiving said query at said port;

responding to said query by sending, from said port to said source device, a port response signal containing said identification code associated with said port electronic module;

receiving said query at said destination device;

responding to said query by sending, from said destination device to said source device, a destination device response signal containing said identification code associated with said destination device electronic module; and

monitoring said port response signal and said destination device response signal at said source device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of responding to said query by sending said port response signal is completed before said step of responding to said query by sending said destination device response signal.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of responding to said query by sending said destination device response signal is completed before said step of responding to said query by sending said port response signal.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said port is a patch panel port.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said port is a wall outlet jack.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said local power source is proximate to said destination device.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said local power source is proximate to said port.

24. A network documentation system comprising:

a source device adapted to send a query signal;

a network path adapted to carry said query signal;

a physical port along said network path, said port comprising a port electronic module that is physical and that stores a port identification code associated with said port, said port electronic module adapted to respond to said query signal by sending to said source device, along said network path, a port response signal comprising said port identification code;

a destination device in communication with said port, said destination device comprising a destination device electronic module that is physical and that stores a destination device identification code associated with said destination device, said destination device electronic module responding to said query signal by sending to said source device, along said network path, a destination device response signal comprising said destination device identification code;

a local power source providing power to said port electronic module and said destination device electronic module; and

a patch cord conveying said power from said local power source to said port electronic module and to said destination device electronic module.

25. The network documentation system of claim 24 wherein said port is located in a patch panel.

26. The network documentation system of claim 24 wherein said port is an outlet port connected to said destination device.

27. The network documentation system of claim 26 wherein said outlet port is a wall outlet jack.

28. The network management system of claim 24 wherein said destination device is a voice-over-internet-protocol phone.

29. The network management system of claim 24 wherein said source device is adapted to resends said query signal if no response signals are received at said source device following a query.

30. The documentation system of claim 24 wherein said local power source is proximate to said destination device.

31. The documentation system of claim 24 wherein said local power source is proximate to said port.