SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTING A PIECE OF TERMINAL EQUIPMENT

• US 20120250784A1
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
• Original Assignee: John F. Austerman III, Marshall B. Cummings
• Inventors: AUSTERMAN, John F. III, CUMMINGS, Marshall B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/295
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0278 Arrangements for impedance matching

Abstract

A communication system (17) for generating and monitoring data over pre-existing conductors (2A-2D) between associated pieces of networked computer equipment (3A-3D). The system includes a communication device (16) attached to the electronic equipment that transmits information to a central module (15) by impressing a low frequency signal on the pre-existing data lines of the remotely located equipment. A receiver (6) in the central module (15) monitors the low frequency data on the data lines to determine the transmitted information of the electronic equipment. The communication device may also be powered by a low current power signal from the central module (15). The power signal to the communication device may also be fluctuated to provide useful information. Relocation of the electronic equipment with attached communication device to another location on the network is detected immediately. This invention is particularly adapted to be used with an Ethernet communications link or equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A piece of terminal equipment comprising:

an Ethernet connector comprising contact 1 through contact 8, specific contacts of the Ethernet connector comprising at least contacts 1, 2, 3 and 6, at least one of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector disposed to conduct at least one electrical signal into the piece of terminal equipment and at least another one of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector disposed to conduct the at least one electrical signal out of the piece of terminal equipment; and

circuitry arranged to utilize the at least one electrical signal to convey distinguishing information about the piece of terminal equipment even if the piece of terminal equipment is powered-off.

2. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the piece of terminal equipment is a personal computer.

3. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the at least one electrical signal is a DC signal.

4. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises a transmitter.

5. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is coupled to at least some of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector.

6. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is arranged to convey the distinguishing information at regular intervals.

7. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 6 wherein the distinguishing information comprises a preprogrammed pattern.

8. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 7 wherein the preprogrammed pattern comprises a unique preprogrammed pattern.

9. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 6 wherein the distinguishing information comprises a predetermined pattern.

10. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 9 wherein the preprogrammed pattern comprises a unique predetermined pattern.

11. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises a transmitter disposed to operate via the at least one electrical signal.

12. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 11 wherein the at least one electrical signal is a power signal.

13. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 5 wherein the at least some of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector comprises the contacts 1, 2, 3 and 6.

14. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information is related to an electrical aspect of the piece of terminal equipment.

15. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information is related to a physical aspect of the piece of terminal equipment.

16. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is disposed to at least participate in altering the at least one electrical signal.

17. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is disposed to at least participate in altering at least one characteristic of the at least one electrical signal.

18. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 17 wherein the at least one characteristic of the at least one electrical signal is a magnitude of the at least one electrical signal.

19. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 17 wherein the at least one characteristic of the at least one electrical signal is a duration in the magnitude of the at least one electrical signal.

20. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the at least one of the contacts of the Ethernet connector comprises the contact 1 and the contact 2 and the at least another one of the contacts of the Ethernet connector comprises the contact 3 and the contact 6.

21. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the specific contacts actually conducts the at least one electrical signal.

22. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is internal to the piece of terminal equipment.

23. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 5 wherein the circuitry is electrically coupled to the at least some of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector.

24. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises a zener diode.

25. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 24 wherein the zener diode is coupled across at least two of the specific contacts.

26. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises a controller.

27. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 26 wherein the controller is coupled across at least two of the specific contacts.

28. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises an energy storage device.

29. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 28 wherein the energy storage device is coupled across at least two of the specific contacts.

30. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is coupled via the center tap of at least one isolation transformer.

31. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is coupled via at least one isolation transformer.

32. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises at least one resistor.

33. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 32 wherein the circuitry is disposed to at least participate in altering the at least one electrical signal.

34. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 33 wherein the altering of the at least one electrical signal is a function of a voltage across at least two of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector.

35. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is part of a detection protocol.

36. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information about the piece of terminal equipment comprises information about the configuration of the piece of terminal equipment.

37. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 36 wherein the distinguishing information about the piece of terminal equipment comprises identifying information about the piece of terminal equipment.

38. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 37 wherein the identifying information about the piece of terminal equipment comprises uniquely identifying information about the piece of terminal equipment.

39. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information is encoded.

40. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 39 wherein the encoded information is Manchester encoded.

41. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises multi-bit information.

42. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises an asset identifier.

43. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises a port location.

44. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises a serial number.

45. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises a permanent identifier.

46. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises inventory management information.

47. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 46 wherein the inventory management information comprises manufacturer information.

48. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 46 wherein the inventory management information comprises software information.

49. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 46 wherein the inventory management information comprises hardware version information.

50. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 46 wherein the inventory management information comprises serial number information.

51. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 46 wherein the inventory management information comprises asset number information.

52. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 46 wherein the inventory management information comprises port information.

53. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information is associated to a management information base.

54. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises tracking information.

55. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises network information.

56. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the distinguishing information comprises network interface information.

57. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the piece of terminal equipment is physically connected to a network.

58. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the Ethernet connector is an RJ45 jack connector.

59. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry actually conveys distinguishing information about the piece of terminal equipment.

60. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein at least one electrical condition is applied to at least some of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector.

61. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 60 wherein the least one electrical condition is a voltage applied across the at least some of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector.

62. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 61 wherein the voltage is a DC voltage.

63. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 60 wherein the least one electrical condition comprises a current applied to the at least some of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector.

64. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 63 wherein the current is DC current.

65. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry permits use of at least some of the specific contacts of the Ethernet connector for Ethernet communication.

66. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein at least some of contact 1 through contact 8 of the Ethernet connector actually carry Ethernet communication.

67. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 1 wherein the circuitry is arranged to utilize the at least one electrical signal to detect information associated to a piece of network data communication equipment.

68. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 67 wherein the piece of network data communication equipment is an Ethernet hub.

69. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 67 wherein the information associated to the piece of network data communication equipment is status information.

70. The piece of terminal equipment according to claims 1 through 69 wherein the piece of terminal equipment is a piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment.

71. The piece of terminal equipment according to claim 70 wherein the piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment is a piece of BaseT Ethernet data terminal equipment.