Aggregation of physical layer information related to a network
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of patch panels, each of the patch panels comprising a plurality of ports, wherein each of the patch panels is configured to read information stored in storage devices that are a part of connectors attached to cables that are connected to the ports of the respective patch panel; and
an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the plurality of patch panels, wherein the aggregation point is configured to automatically discover the patch panels and cause each of the patch panels to send to the aggregation point at least some of the information read from the storage devices that are a part of the connectors attached to the cables that are connected to the ports of the respective patch panels;
wherein the aggregation point is configured to store at least some of the information sent by the patch panels to the aggregation point; and
wherein at least one patch panel is configured, for at least one cable connected to at least one port of said at least one patch panel, to selectively write information to the associated storage device that is a part of the associated connector attached to said at least one cable.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary system includes a plurality of connector assemblies. Each of the connector assemblies includes a plurality of ports. Each of the connector assemblies is configured to read information stored on or in physical communication media that is connected to the ports of the respective connector assembly. An aggregation point is communicatively coupled to the plurality of connector assemblies. The aggregation point is configured to automatically discover the connector assemblies and cause each of the connector assemblies to send to the aggregation point at least some of the information read from the physical communication media that is connected to its ports. The aggregation point is configured to store at least some of the information sent by the connector assemblies to the aggregation point. The aggregation point can also be configured to provide at least some of the information it stores to at least one other device via the network.
178 Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A system comprising:
-
a plurality of patch panels, each of the patch panels comprising a plurality of ports, wherein each of the patch panels is configured to read information stored in storage devices that are a part of connectors attached to cables that are connected to the ports of the respective patch panel; and an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the plurality of patch panels, wherein the aggregation point is configured to automatically discover the patch panels and cause each of the patch panels to send to the aggregation point at least some of the information read from the storage devices that are a part of the connectors attached to the cables that are connected to the ports of the respective patch panels; wherein the aggregation point is configured to store at least some of the information sent by the patch panels to the aggregation point; and wherein at least one patch panel is configured, for at least one cable connected to at least one port of said at least one patch panel, to selectively write information to the associated storage device that is a part of the associated connector attached to said at least one cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A patch panel comprising:
-
a plurality of ports, each of the plurality of ports configured to connect at least two cables to one another; a processor configured to read information stored in a storage device that is a part of a connector attached to at least one cable that is connected to at least one of the ports of the patch panel; wherein the patch panel is further configured to send at least some of the information read from the storage device that are a part of the connector attached to the at least one cable to an aggregation point; and wherein the patch panel is further configured, for at least one cable connected to at least one port of the patch panel, to selectively write information to the associated storage device that is a part of the associated connector attached to said at least one cable. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
Specification