Methods of automatically recording patching changes at passive patch panels and network equipment

• US 9,811,494 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pinn, Gregory, Choi-Feng, Chin, Choudhury, G Mabud, German, Michael G., Peluffo, Matias, Brooks, George
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US15/093,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 106, 340687, 439489, 439491, 361600, 361627, 361636, 361633, 348143, 382103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/09 Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/24 for connection devices

Abstract

Methods of executing patching connection changes in a patching field are provided in which an electronic work order is received on a display located at the patching field, the electronic work order specifying the patching connection change. A technician may perform the patching connection change. Then, an electronic message may be sent from the patching field indicating that the patching change has been completed.

Claims

1. A method of executing a patching connection change, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic work order requesting the patching connection change;

displaying the electronic work order on a display device that is located in a patching field where the requested patching connection change is to occur;

performing the patching connection change;

transmitting a message to a system controller; and

updating a connectivity database to reflect the completion of the patching connection change in response to receiving the message,

wherein the display device comprises a display of a mobile system controller that includes a camera that is used to detect patch cord insertions and removals, and wherein the camera is used in reading identifier on a piece of equipment that is involved in the patching connection change and is further used to identify a connector port on the piece of equipment that was involved in the patching connection change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile system controller is a wearable system controller that is worn by a technician performing the patching connection change.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising notifying the technician of an error in the patching connection change via the wearable system controller.

4. A method of tracking patching connection changes, the method comprising:

using an optical scanner to optically scan device identifiers on devices mounted on one or more equipment racks and patch cord identifiers on patch cords that are plugged into connector ports on the devices; and

comparing an image of a first of the devices to stored image information regarding the first of the devices to determine the connector ports on the first of the devices that each patch cord is plugged into;

mapping the patching connections based on the scanned identifiers; and

updating a connectivity database to reflect the mapped patching connections, wherein the device identifiers each identify a specific device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the device identifiers comprise connector port identifiers, and wherein a unique connector port identifier is provided for each connector port on each device.