Cable including a secure physical layer management (PLM) whereby an aggregation point can be associated with a plurality of inputs

• US 9,380,874 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coffey, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US13/937,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20140019662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 370/400, 709224-226, 710305-306
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 91/005 Support bases
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence

Abstract

One embodiment is directed to a communication media including one or more communication paths extending from a first end to a second end and a first connector assembly terminating the first end of the one or more communication paths. The first connector assembly includes a physical layer management (PLM) interface that is isolated from signals on the one or more communication paths. The first connector assembly also includes a programmable processor coupled to a storage device and coupled to the PLM interface. The programmable processor is configured to perform secure communications with another device coupled to the PLM interface to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media to the other device. An aggregation point can associate a first port on the other device to which the first connector assembly is inserted with the first connector assembly or the communication media using the physical layer information.

Claims

1. A communication media comprising:

a cable including;

one or more communication paths extending from a first end to a second end;

a first connector assembly terminating the first end of the one or more communication paths, the first connector assembly including a physical layer management (PLM) interface that is isolated from signals on the one or more communication paths, the first connector assembly including a programmable processor coupled to a storage device, the programmable processor coupled to the PLM interface, wherein the programmable processor is configured to perform secure communications with another device coupled to the PLM interface to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media to the other device; and

a second connector assembly terminating the second end of the one or more communication paths;

whereby an aggregation point can associate a first port on the other device to which the first connector assembly is inserted with the first connector assembly or the communication media using the physical layer information.

2. The communication media of claim 1, wherein the programmable processor is configured to require a code to be input before providing at least a portion of the physical layer information therefrom.

3. The communication media of claim 1, wherein the programmable processor is configured to encrypt the physical layer information sent over the PLM interface.

4. The communication media of claim 1, wherein the second connector assembly includes a second PLM interface that is isolated from the signals on the one or more communication paths, the second connector assembly including a second programmable processor coupled to a second storage device, the second programmable processor coupled to the second PLM interface, wherein the second programmable processor is configured to perform secure communications with a second other device coupled to the second PLM interface to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media to the second other device.

5. A communication media comprising:

one or more communication paths extending from a first end to a second end;

a hermetically sealed enclosure surrounding at least a portion of the one or more communication paths; and

a first connector assembly terminating the first end of the one or more communication paths, the first connector assembly including;

a PLM interface that is isolated from signals on the one or more communication paths;

a storage device;

a programmable processor coupled to the storage device and the PLM interface, wherein the programmable processor is configured to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media with another device coupled to the PLM interface; and

a pressure transducer coupled to the programmable processor and configured to sense a pressure in the hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the programmable processor is configured to communicate pressure information indicative of pressure readings from the pressure transducer to the other device;

whereby an aggregation point can associate a first port on the other device to which the first connector assembly is inserted with the first connector assembly or the communication media with the physical layer information and the aggregation point can monitor potential intrusion events of the communication media based on the pressure information.

6. The communication media of claim 5, wherein the first connector includes a gas port for inserting and removing gas from the hermetically sealed enclosure.

7. The communication media of claim 5, comprising:

a second connector assembly terminating the second end of the one or more communication paths;

a second PLM interface that is isolated from the signals on the one or more communication paths;

a second storage device;

a second programmable processor coupled to the second storage device and the second PLM interface, wherein the second programmable processor is configured to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media with a second other device coupled to the second PLM interface; and

a second pressure transducer coupled to the second programmable processor and configured to sense a pressure in the hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the second programmable processor is configured to communicate pressure information indicative of pressure readings from the second pressure transducer to the second other device.

8. The communication media of claim 7, wherein the other device is configured to periodically increase and decrease pressure in the hermetically sealed enclosure to form pressure pulses, wherein an intrusion event is determined based on sensing of the pressure pulses by the second pressure transducer.

9. The communication media of claim 5, wherein the hermetically sealed enclosure includes a first hermetically sealed enclosure, and wherein the communication media comprises a sealed coupler assembly configured to form a first end of the first hermetically sealed enclosure wherein a second end of the first hermetically sealed enclosure is formed by the first connector assembly,

wherein the communication media includes a second connector assembly terminating the second end of the one or more communication paths, wherein the communication media includes a second hermetically sealed enclosure having a first end formed by the sealed coupler assembly and a second end formed by the second connector assembly;

wherein the second connector assembly includes;

a second PLM interface that is isolated from the signals on the one or more communication paths;

a second storage device;

a second programmable processor coupled to the second storage device and the second PLM interface, wherein the second programmable processor is configured to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media with a second other device coupled to the second PLM interface; and

a second pressure transducer coupled to the second programmable processor and configured to sense a pressure in the hermetically sealed enclosure, wherein the second programmable processor is configured to communicate pressure information indicative of pressure readings from the second pressure transducer to the second other device.

10. The communication media of claim 5, wherein the programmable processor is configured to analyze the pressure information and provide indications of potential intrusion events to the other device for forwarding to the aggregation point.

11. The communication media of claim 5, wherein the programmable processor is configured to send the pressure information to the other device for forwarding to the aggregation point for analyzing at the aggregation point for potential intrusion events.

12. The communication media of claim 5, wherein at least one of the programmable processor, the other device, or the aggregation point is configured to obtain an initial pressure condition corresponding to a pressure of the hermetically sealed enclosure over a defined period of time and compare subsequent pressure readings against the initial pressure condition when determining if an potential intrusion event has occurred.

13. A communication media comprising:

one or more communication paths extending from a first end to a second end;

a wire loop extending from the first end toward the second end adjacent the one or more communication paths;

a first connector assembly terminating the first end of the one or more communication paths, the first connector assembly including;

a PLM interface that is isolated from the signals on the one or more communication paths;

a storage device; and

a programmable processor coupled to the storage device and the PLM interface, wherein the programmable processor is configured to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media with another device coupled to the PLM interface, the programmable processor coupled to the wire loop and configured to send a signal on a first terminal of the wire loop and measure an amplitude or phase of the signal at a second terminal of the wire loop;

a second connector assembly terminating the second end of the one or more communication paths;

whereby an aggregation point can associate a first port on the other device to which the first connector assembly is inserted with the first connector assembly or the communication media with the physical layer information and the aggregation point can monitor potential intrusion events of the communication media based on the measured amplitude or phase of the signal.

14. The communication media of claim 13, wherein the programmable processor is configured to analyze the measured amplitude or phase of the signal and provide indications of potential intrusion events to the other device for forwarding to the aggregation point.

15. The communication media of claim 13, wherein the programmable processor is configured to send the measured amplitude or phase of the signal to the other device for forwarding to the aggregation point for analyzing at the aggregation point for potential intrusion events.

16. The communication media of claim 13, wherein the programmable processor is configured to rotate the frequency of the signal.

17. The communication media of claim 13, wherein at least one of the programmable processor, the other device, or the aggregation point is configured to obtain an initial condition corresponding to a signal on the wire loop over a defined period of time and compare subsequent readings against the initial condition when determining if an potential intrusion event has occurred.

18. A communication media comprising:

one or more communication paths extending from a first end to a second end;

a double walled shielding extending from the first end toward the second end adjacent the one or more communication paths;

a first connector assembly terminating the first end of the one or more communication paths, the first connector assembly including;

a PLM interface that is isolated from the signals on the one or more communication paths;

a storage device; and

a programmable processor coupled to the storage device and the PLM interface, wherein the programmable processor is configured to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media with another device coupled to the PLM interface, the programmable processor coupled to the double walled shielding and configured to sense a capacitance between the walls of the double walled shielding;

a second connector assembly terminating the second end of the one or more communication paths;

whereby an aggregation point can associate a first port on the other device to which the first connector assembly is inserted with the first connector assembly or the communication media with the physical layer information and the aggregation point can monitor potential intrusion events of the communication media based on the sensed capacitance.

19. The communication media of claim 18, wherein the programmable processor is configured to analyze the sensed capacitance and provide indications of potential intrusion events to the other device for forwarding to the aggregation point.

20. The communication media of claim 18, wherein the programmable processor is configured to send the sensed capacitance to the other device for forwarding to the aggregation point for analyzing at the aggregation point for potential intrusion events.

21. The communication media of claim 18, wherein the second connector assembly includes:

a second PLM interface that is isolated from the signals on the one or more communication paths;

a second storage device; and

a second programmable processor coupled to the second storage device and the PLM interface, wherein the second programmable processor is configured to communicate physical layer information regarding the communication media with a second other device coupled to the second PLM interface, the second programmable processor coupled to the double walled shielding and configured to sense a capacitance between the walls of the double walled shielding;

wherein the programmable processor is configured to send a signal between the walls of the double walled shielding and wherein the second programmable processor is configured to measure an amplitude or phase of the signal on the double walled shielding.

22. The communication media of claim 21, wherein the programmable processor is configured to rotate the frequency of the test signal.

23. The communication media of claim 18, wherein at least one of the programmable processor, the other device, or the aggregation point is configured to obtain an initial condition corresponding to a capacitance on the double walled shielding over a defined period of time and compare subsequent readings against the initial condition when determining if an potential intrusion event has occurred.