System and method for electronically identifying connections of a system used to make connections
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of ports configured to establish a plurality of physical information connections and a plurality of physical scanning connections using cables, wherein each information connection is associated with a respective scanning connection and wherein each scanning connection is separate from the respective information connection associated with that scanning connection;
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to;
selectively transmit a respective scanning signal from each port over a respective one of the scanning connections; and
selectively receive a respective scanning signal at each port from a respective one of the scanning connections, wherein connection information is derived from the scanning signals communicated over the scanning connections.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment is directed to a system that comprises a plurality of ports configured to establish a plurality of physical information connections and a plurality of physical scanning connections using cables. Each information connection is associated with a respective scanning connection. Each scanning connection is separate from the respective information connection associated with that scanning connection. The system is configured to selectively transmit a respective scanning signal from each port over a respective one of the scanning connections. The system is configured to selectively receive a respective scanning signal at each port from a respective one of the scanning connections. Connection information is derived from the scanning signals communicated over the scanning connections. Other embodiments are disclosed.
131 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of ports configured to establish a plurality of physical information connections and a plurality of physical scanning connections using cables, wherein each information connection is associated with a respective scanning connection and wherein each scanning connection is separate from the respective information connection associated with that scanning connection; a processor; a memory coupled to the processor storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to; selectively transmit a respective scanning signal from each port over a respective one of the scanning connections; and selectively receive a respective scanning signal at each port from a respective one of the scanning connections, wherein connection information is derived from the scanning signals communicated over the scanning connections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of identifying connections established using a system at which communication connections are made, the method comprising:
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establishing a respective physical information connection and a respective physical scanning connection at each of a plurality of ports included in the system, wherein the respective information connection for each of the plurality of ports is associated with the respective scanning connection for that port and wherein the respective scanning connection for each of the plurality of ports is separate from the information connection for that port; selectively receiving a respective scanning signal at each of the plurality of ports from a respective one of the scanning connections; and deriving connection information from the scanning signals communicated over the scanning connections. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a plurality of ports at which communication connections can be made using cables; a plurality of connection circuits, each of the connection circuits associated with a respective one of the ports, wherein each connection circuit is configured to receive a signal encoding identifier information, the signal received from a respective cable connected to the port associated with that connection circuit and the signal received separately from the communication connection for that port; and a controller communicatively coupled to the connection circuits, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signals from the connection circuits; wherein connection information is derived from the identifier information encoded on the signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method comprising:
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making communication connections at a plurality of ports using cables; receiving, at each of a plurality of connection circuits, a signal encoding identifier information, each of the connection circuits associated with a respective one of the ports, the signal received from a respective cable connected to the port associated with that connection circuit and the signal received separately from the communication connection for that port; receiving the signals from the connection circuits at a controller that is communicatively coupled to the connection circuits; and deriving connection information from the identifier information encoded on the signals. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system comprising:
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a plurality of ports at which communication connections can be made using cables; a plurality of connection circuits, each of the connection circuits associated with a respective one of the ports, wherein each connection circuit is configured to receive a respective signal encoding respective identifier information, the respective signal received from a respective one of the cables connected to the port associated with that connection circuit and the respective signal received separately from the communication connection for that port; and a controller communicatively coupled to the connection circuits, wherein the controller is configured to obtain the identifier information encoded on the signals; wherein connection information is derived from the identifier information encoded on the signals. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method comprising:
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making communication connections at a plurality of ports using cables; receiving, at each of a plurality of connection circuits, a respective signal encoding respective identifier information, each of the connection circuits associated with a respective one of the ports, the respective signal received from a respective one of the cables connected to the port associated with that connection circuit and the respective signal received separately from the communication connection for that port; obtaining, by a controller that is communicatively coupled to the connection circuits, the identifier information encoded on the signals; and deriving connection information from the identifier information encoded on the signals. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification