Identifying a cable with a connection location

• US 7,921,235 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Eggers, Robert James Jr., Klein, Craig Anthony, Girouard, Janice Marie, Best, Steven Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin; Christopher B
• Application Number:
  US12/431,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 710 15- 19, 710 72- 74, 439488-492, 235/375, 700/115, 700/215, 709/220
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2475 Means facilitating correct wiring, e.g. marking plates, identification tags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49194 Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc.

Abstract

The illustrative embodiments provide a cable management system, a computer program product, a cable, a method for manufacturing a cable, and a method for guiding a user in identifying a connection location for a cable of interest. A processor, in a data processing system, receives a cable identification from the cable of interest. The processor then matches at least one connection location with the cable of interest based on the cable identification. Responsive to matching the at least one connection location with the cable of interest, the processor activates an indicator that identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable of interest.

Claims

1. A cable management system comprising:

a processor, in a first data processing system, that receives a cable identification for a cable of interest;

a first storage device coupled to the processor, wherein the first storage device stores a plurality of cable identifications and at least one connection location for each cable identification in the plurality of cable identifications;

an indicator coupled to the processor, wherein the processor activates the indicator in response to the processor matching the at least one connection location with the cable of interest using data in the storage device, and wherein the indicator identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable of interest, and wherein the processor identifies the at least one connection location as a last known good connection location in response to the cable of interest being connected to the at least one connection location, and wherein the processor saves the last known good connection location with the cable identification in the first storage device, and wherein the processor receives a signal that the cable of interest is connected to another connection location, and wherein the processor identifies the another connection location as a last known good connection location in response to the cable of interest being connected to the another connection location; and

a second storage device in a second data processing system, wherein the first storage device transfers the at least one connection location to the second storage device, and wherein the second storage device identifies a corresponding connection location in the second data processing system using the at least one connection location.

2. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection location is a plurality of connection locations, and wherein each connection location in the plurality of connection locations corresponds to an indicator, and wherein an indicator for the last known good connection location activates intermittently.

3. The cable management system of claim 1 further comprising:

the cable of interest which transmits a signal to the data processing system, wherein the signal communicates the cable identification for the cable of interest.

4. The cable management system of claim 3, wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal, and wherein the cable management system further comprises:

a reader coupled to the processor, wherein the reader detects the radio frequency signal transmitted by the cable of interest; and

a transponder coupled to the cable of interest, wherein the transponder stores the cable identification for the cable of interest, and wherein the transponder generates the radio frequency signal to transmit the radio frequency signal to the reader.

5. The cable management system of claim 4, wherein the transponder is one of a passive transponder or an active transponder.

6. The cable management system of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is at least one of a computer, a system of computers, a network of computers, an audio-visual device, an audio-visual system, and a medical device.

7. A computer program product stored on a computer usable storage medium including computer usable program code embodied thereon for directing a computer system to guide a user in identifying a connection location for a cable of interest, the computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for receiving, by a processor in a first data processing system, a cable identification for the cable of interest;

computer usable program code for matching at least one connection location with the cable of interest based on the cable identification;

responsive to matching the cable of interest with the at least one connection location, computer usable program code for activating an indicator that identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable of interest, wherein the at least one connection location is stored in a first storage device;

responsive to the cable of interest being connected to the at least one connection location, computer usable program code for identifying the at least one connection location as a last known good connection location;

computer usable program code for saving the last known good connection location with the cable identification in the first storage device;

computer usable program code for receiving a signal that the cable of interest is connected to another connection location;

responsive to the cable of interest being connected to the another connection location, computer usable program code for identifying the another connection location as a last known good connection location; and

computer usable program code for transferring the at least one connection location to a second storage device, wherein the second storage device uses the at least one connection location to identify a corresponding connection location in a second data processing system.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the at least one connection location is a plurality of connection locations, and wherein each connection location in the plurality of connection locations corresponds to an indicator, and wherein the computer program product further comprises:

computer usable program code for activating intermittently a corresponding indicator for the last known good connection location.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising:

computer usable program code for transmitting, by the cable of interest, a radio frequency signal to the data processing system, wherein the radio frequency signal communicates the cable identification for the cable of interest.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency signal is transmitted by one of a passive transducer or an active transducer that is coupled to the cable of interest.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the cable identification comprises a device identification, wherein the device identification associates the cable of interest with a device, and wherein only the device recognizes the cable identification from the cable of interest.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the cable identification comprises an identification of the type of cable.

13. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the cable of interest comprises a plurality of connectors, and wherein each connector in the plurality of connectors transmits a corresponding cable identification, and wherein the processor activates a corresponding indicator for the each connector, and wherein the corresponding indicator identifies the connection location for the each connector.

14. A cable comprising:

a connector designed to mate with a connection location on a first data processing system; and

a transponder coupled to the connector, wherein the transponder stores the cable identification for the cable, and wherein the transponder transmits the cable identification to the first data processing system, and wherein the first data processing system matches at least one connection location with the cable based on the cable identification, and wherein the first data processing system activates at least one indicator that identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable in response to matching the cable with the at least one connection location, and wherein the at least one connection location is stored in a first storage device; and

wherein the first data processing system identifies the at least one connection location as a last known good connection location in response to the cable being connected to the at least one connection location, and wherein the first data processing system saves the last known good connection location with the cable identification in the first storage device; and

wherein the first data processing system receives a signal that the cable is connected to another connection location; and

wherein the first data processing system identifies the another connection location as a last known good connection location in response to the cable being connected to the another connection location, and wherein the first data processing system transfers the at least one connection location to a second storage device, and wherein the second storage device uses the at least one connection location to identify a corresponding connection location in a second data processing system.

15. The cable of claim 14, wherein the transponder comprises:

an integrated chip that stores the cable identification for the cable; and

an antenna coupled to the integrated chip, wherein the antenna transmits a radio frequency signal to the data processing system, and wherein the radio frequency signal includes the cable identification for the cable.

16. The cable of claim 14, wherein the transponder is a label, and wherein the cable identification is printed onto the transponder in the form of a barcode and in human-readable form.

17. A computer implemented method of manufacturing a cable, the computer implemented method comprising computer implemented steps for:

providing a connector to mate the cable with at least one connection location on a first data processing system;

selecting a transponder that stores a cable identification for the cable, wherein the step of selecting forms a selected transponder; and

connecting the selected transponder to the connector, wherein the first data processing system receives the cable identification for the cable, and wherein the first data processing system matches at least one connection location with the cable based on the cable identification, and wherein the first data processing system activates at least one indicator that identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable in response to matching the cable with the at least one connection location, and wherein the at least one connection location is stored in a first storage device; and

wherein the first data processing system identifies the at least one connection location as a last known good connection location in response to the cable being connected to the at least one connection location, and wherein the first data processing system saves the last known good connection location with the cable identification in the first storage device; and

wherein the first data processing system receives a signal that the cable is connected to another connection location; and

wherein the first data processing system identifies the another connection location as a last known good connection location in response to the cable being connected to the another connection location, and wherein the first data processing system transfers the at least one connection location to a second storage device, and wherein the second storage device uses the at least one connection location to identify a corresponding connection location in a second data processing system.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17, wherein the step of connecting the selected transponder to the connector comprises one of affixing the transponder externally to the connector or embedding the transponder internally within the connector.