Systems and methods of identifying patch cord connections in a communications patching system using common mode transmission
First Claim
1. A method of identifying the physical location of first and second patch cord connectors of a patch cord in a communications patching system, wherein the first patch cord connector is inserted within a first patch panel connector port and the second patch cord connector is inserted within a second patch panel connector port, the method comprising:
- transmitting a signal from the first patch panel connector port to the second patch panel connector port over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord simultaneously with data transmission over a differential mode transmission path of the patch cord; and
identifying the first and second patch panel connector ports based at least in part on the transmitted signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications patching system includes first and second patch panels, each having a plurality of connector ports, and a patch cord that is configured to selectively interconnect a connector port in the first patch panel with a connector port in the second patch panel. Each patch panel includes a port identification circuit that is electrically coupled with the connector ports of the respective patch panel. The port identification circuit of each patch panel is configured to transmit a signal to a connector port of the other patch panel over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord. The first and second connector ports connected by the patch cord are identified from the signal path.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of identifying the physical location of first and second patch cord connectors of a patch cord in a communications patching system, wherein the first patch cord connector is inserted within a first patch panel connector port and the second patch cord connector is inserted within a second patch panel connector port, the method comprising:
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transmitting a signal from the first patch panel connector port to the second patch panel connector port over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord simultaneously with data transmission over a differential mode transmission path of the patch cord; and identifying the first and second patch panel connector ports based at least in part on the transmitted signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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5. A method of identifying the physical location of patch cord connectors in a communications patching system, wherein the communications patching system includes a first patch panel having a plurality of connector ports and a first port identification circuit electrically coupled with the first patch panel connector ports, a second patch panel having a plurality of connector ports and a second port identification circuit electrically coupled with the second patch panel connector ports, and a patch cord having one connector inserted within a connector port in the first patch panel and an opposite connector inserted within a connector port in the second patch panel, the method comprising:
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transmitting, via the first port identification circuit, a signal from the first patch panel connector port to the second patch panel connector port over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord, wherein transmitting the signal over the common mode transmission path of the patch cord is performed simultaneously with data transmission over a differential mode transmission path of the patch cord; and identifying the first and second patch panel connector ports from the signal path. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 24, 25, 26)
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9. A communications patching system, comprising:
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a first patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports and a port identification circuit electrically coupled with the first patch panel connector ports; a second patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports and a port identification circuit electrically coupled with the second patch panel connector ports; and a patch cord configured to selectively interconnect a connector port in the first patch panel with a connector port in the second patch panel; wherein the port identification circuit of each patch panel is configured to transmit a signal to a connector port of the other patch panel over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord, wherein the first and second connector ports connected by the patch cord are identified from the signal path, and wherein the port identification circuit of each patch panel is configured to transmit a signal over the common mode transmission path of the patch cord simultaneously with data transmission over a differential mode transmission path of the patch cord. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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13. A method of transmitting signals through a communications patching system that comprises one or more patch panels and at least one patch cord, the method comprising:
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transmitting a differential signal over a pair of conductive paths in the communications patching system; simultaneously transmitting a first common mode signal over the pair of conductive paths; and using the common mode signal to identify patching system connector ports. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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31. A method of identifying a first connector port and a second connector port that are connected by a patch cord that includes a plurality of pairs of conductors, the method comprising:
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determining that the patch cord has been inserted into the first connector port; in response to determining that the patch cord has been inserted into the first connector port, transmitting a signal over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord simultaneously with data transmission over a differential mode transmission path of the patch cord, wherein the common mode transmission path comprises a first of the plurality of pairs of conductors of the patch cord and a second of the plurality of pairs of conductors of the patch cord; and identifying the first and second connector ports based at least in part on the transmitted signal; wherein the signal is transmitted on both conductors of the first of the plurality of pairs of conductors in a first direction and the signal returns on both conductors of the second of the plurality of pairs of conductors in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method of transmitting a common mode signal over a common mode transmission path of a patch cord that has a first patch cord connector that is inserted within a first connector port and a second patch cord connector that is inserted within a second connector port, the patch cord including a plurality of differential pairs, the method comprising:
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transmitting the common mode signal from the first connector port to the second connector port on each conductor of a first of the plurality of differential pairs of the patch cord and providing a return path for the common mode signal from the second connector port to the first connector port on each conductor of a second of the plurality of differential pairs of the patch cord; and using the common mode signal to identify that the patch cord is connected between the first and second connector ports, wherein the current of the common mode signal flows in a first direction on each conductor of the first of the plurality of differential pairs of the patch cord and the current of the common mode signal flows in a second direction that is opposite the first direction on each conductor of the second of the plurality of differential pairs of the patch cord, and wherein the common mode signal is transmitted simultaneously with data transmission over a differential mode transmission path of the patch cord. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of identifying a first patch panel connector port and a second patch panel connector port in a communications patching system that are connected by a patch cord, the method comprising:
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transmitting a signal from the first patch panel connector port to the second patch panel connector port over a common mode transmission path of the patch cord simultaneously with data transmission over a differential mode transmission path of the patch cord; and identifying the first and second patch panel connector ports based at least in part on the transmitted signal.
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Specification