Power patch panel with guided MAC capability

• US 7,768,418 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Nordin, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US11/564,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20070132503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 340/687, 340/686.4
• US Class Current: 340/687
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for incorporating guided network cable Move/Add/Change (MAC) work order capability into a power patch panel. MAC work orders may be controlled and monitored using in-band signaling using, e.g., standard RJ-45 patch cords. Cable detection is performed at a port level on a real-time basis. Coordination of guided MAC operations may be performed by the patch panel, independently, or in conjunction with, or under the control of, a remote Network Management System. The patch panel may be in either an interconnect or cross-connect configuration.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising a port that contains:

cable interconnects configured to accept a cable;

transformers configured to terminate wire pairs of the cable; and

a detection circuit connected with the transformers and configured to monitor a connection between the cable and the port using an in-band connection monitoring technique, wherein the detection circuit comprises a frequency dependent impedance and a resistor connected with the impedance, the detection circuit configured to provide a measurement of a voltage across one of the impedance or the resistor.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit further comprises:

a signal source connected with the impedance and configured to alter an impedance value of the impedance, and

an operational amplifier circuit having inputs connected across the one of the impedance or the resistor.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein:

the resistor and the signal source are connected in series to form a series combination,

the series combination is connected in parallel with the impedance,

a first input of the operational amplifier circuit is connected with a first node between the resistor and the signal source,

a second input of the operational amplifier circuit is connected with a second node between the resistor and the impedance,

the second node is connected with one cable interconnect, and

a third node between the signal source and the impedance is connected with another cable interconnect.

4. The communication device of claim 2, wherein an output of the operational amplifier circuit is connected to an analysis circuit configured to determine a current status of the port.

5. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the analysis circuit comprises a memory configured to record an output value of the operational amplifier circuit, the analysis circuit configured to determine the current status of the port based on a comparison of a currently measured output value of the operational amplifier circuit with a previously stored output value of the operational amplifier circuit.

6. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the analysis circuit is configured to determine the current status of the port based on a comparison of a currently measured output value of the operational amplifier circuit with a predetermined threshold value associated with a specific physical cable connection configuration.

7. The communication device of claim 4, further comprising a patch panel controller connected with the analysis circuit and configured to request an update of the status of the port from the analysis circuit.

8. The communication device of claim 4, wherein the analysis circuit is configured to automatically periodically update the status of the port.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit has only passive elements.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the detection circuit is configured to provide a measurement of a frequency-dependent voltage in response to signals applied by an external source upon connection of a cable to at least one of the cable interconnects.

11. A communication device comprising a port that comprises:

cable interconnects configured to accept a cable; and

a common mode detection circuit configured to monitor a connection between the cable and the port at the cable interconnects using an in-band connection monitoring technique, the detection circuit having an analysis circuit configured to determine a current status of the port, wherein the detection circuit includes a capacitive coupling disposed between the cable interconnects and a resistor connected with the capacitive coupling, the analysis circuit configured to determine the current status of the port using a voltage measured across one of the resistor or the capacitive coupling.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the detection circuit further comprises an operational amplifier circuit having inputs connected across the one of the resistor or the capacitive coupling, an output of the operational amplifier circuit connected to the analysis circuit.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the analysis circuit has a memory configured to record an output value of the operational amplifier circuit, the analysis circuit configured to determine the current status of the port based on a comparison of a currently measured output of the operational amplifier circuit with a previously stored output of the operational amplifier circuit.

14. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the analysis circuit is configured to determine the current status of the port based on a comparison of a currently measured output of the operational amplifier circuit with a predetermined threshold value associated with a specific physical cable connection configuration.

15. The communication device of claim 11, further comprising a patch panel controller connected with the analysis circuit and configured to request an update of the status of the port from the analysis circuit.

16. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the analysis circuit is configured to automatically periodically update the status of the port.

17. The communication device of claim 11, further comprising a signal source connected with the capacitive coupling, the signal source operative to change an impedance of the capacitive coupling.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the analysis circuit is configured to control the signal source.

19. A communication system comprising:

a patch panel containing a port and an intelligent port controller, the port having a cable interconnect and a detection circuit, the detection circuit including a frequency dependent impedance and a frequency independent impedance connected with the frequency dependent impedance;

a communication device;

a cable adapted to connect to the cable interconnect of the patch panel to form a connection between the patch panel and the communication device;

a patch panel controller connected with the patch panel;

a Network Management System (NMS); and

a network management port module that supports cable connectivity between the patch panel and the NMS via a network connection, the patch panel controller configured to report changes in cable connectivity between the patch panel and the communication device to the NMS via the network management port module,

wherein the detection circuit is configured to monitor the connection using an in-band connection monitoring technique that utilizes a voltage measured across one of the frequency dependent impedance or the frequency independent impedance, and the intelligent port controller configured to monitor the detection circuit and to report the results to the patch panel controller.

20. The communication system of claim 19, wherein the detection circuit further comprises an operational amplifier circuit having inputs connected across the one of the frequency dependent impedance or the frequency independent impedance, an output of the operational amplifier circuit connected to the intelligent port controller.

21. The communication device of claim 20, wherein the intelligent port controller is configured to determine a current status of the port based on a comparison of a currently measured output of the operational amplifier circuit with at least one of:

a previously stored output of the operational amplifier circuit or a predetermined threshold value associated with a specific physical cable connection configuration.

22. The communication device of claim 19, further comprising a signal source connected with the frequency dependent impedance, the signal source operative to change an impedance of the frequency dependent impedance.