Dynamic labeling of patch panel ports

• US 8,643,476 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• 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, Beihoff, David, Choudhury, G. Mabud, German, Michael, Peluffo, Matias, Brooks, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhter, Sharmin
• Application Number:
  US12/826,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20110008996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 340/687, 340 101- 106, 361/600, 361/627, 361/636, 361/633, 439/491, 439/489
• US Class Current: 340/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A patch panel for a communications patching system includes a plurality of connector ports. Each connector port is configured to detect insertion and removal of a patch cord. A controller is electrically coupled to the connector ports and monitors patch cord interconnections. An electronic display is positioned adjacent the connector ports and displays port identification information and real-time patch cord connection information for each respective connector port. The displayed patch cord connection information is dynamically updated by the controller as a patch cord is inserted or removed from a respective connector port.

Claims

1. A patch panel for a communications patching system, comprising:

a plurality of connector ports, wherein each connector port is configured to detect insertion therein, and removal therefrom, of a patch cord connector;

a controller electrically coupled to the connector ports that monitors patch cord interconnections therewith;

an electronic display positioned adjacent the connector ports that displays port identification information and real-time patch cord connection information for each respective connector port, wherein displayed patch cord connection information for each connector port is dynamically updated by the controller as a patch cord is inserted and removed from a respective connector port; and

wherein the real-time patch cord connection information includes identification of end points of a communications link including identification of a connector port on a switch.

2. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising a user input device positioned adjacent to the electronic display, wherein the user input device is operably associated with the electronic display are configured to scroll multiple lines of information onto the electronic display in response to manipulation of the user input device by a user.

3. The patch panel of claim 2, wherein the user input device comprises a rotatable scroll wheel.

4. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is integrated with or visible through a front surface of the patch panel.

5. The patch panel of claim 4, wherein the electronic display is configured to display port identification information and patch cord connection information for a connector port directly adjacent to the respective connector port.

6. The patch panel of claim 5, wherein the electronic display is configured to display port identification information and patch cord connection information for a connector port directly above the respective connector port.

7. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein each connector port is configured to read an identifier of a patch cord connector inserted therewithin.

8. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein patch cord connection information displayed by the electronic display comprises a patch cord identifier.

9. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising a user input device that is configured to toggle the electronic display in response to input from a user between a first mode in which port identification information is displayed and a second mode in which at least one end point of a communications link through a particular connector port is displayed.

10. The patch panel of claim 9, wherein the user input device comprises a scroll wheel, and wherein the scroll wheel is configured so that rotation of the scroll wheel selects different ones of the plurality of connector ports for which the at least one end point of the communications link through the selected connector port is displayed.

11. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is configured to display information in either TIA/EIA 606A compliant labels or in a custom labeling scheme.

12. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display has a length that is substantially the same as a length of the plurality of connector ports.

13. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

14. The patch panel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arms extending outwardly away from a front surface of the patch panel, wherein the electronic display is attached to distal ends of the arms and positioned substantially in front of the connector ports.

15. The patch panel of claim 14, wherein the electronic display is configured to simultaneously display the port identification information and the real-time patch cord connection information for each connector port.

16. The patch panel of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is further configured to display power and/or temperature data.

17. A method of displaying patch cord connection information for a connector port of a patch panel in a communications patching system, comprising:

detecting insertion of a patch cord connector in a first patch panel connector port;

displaying on an electronic display adjacent the first patch panel connector port an identifier for the first patch panel connector port;

detecting an identifier of the patch cord connector; and

displaying in real time, via the electronic display, the detected patch cord connector identifier;

detecting insertion of a connector at the opposite end of the patch cord in a second patch panel connector port; and

displaying in real time, via the electronic display, an identification of the second patch panel connector port.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying identifications of end points of a communications link associated with the connector port.

19. An equipment mounting system, comprising:

a frame configured to support equipment mounted thereto in a plurality of spaced-apart mounting locations;

a plurality of patch panels mounted to the frame in spaced-apart locations;

at least one controller associated with the plurality of patch panels, wherein the at least one controller monitors and logs patch cord connectivity for the plurality of patch panels; and

a display removably secured to a side of the frame, wherein the display is configured to display patch cord connectivity information monitored by the at least one controller for the plurality of patch panels,

wherein the patch cord connectivity information includes information identifying respective patch panel connector ports that receive the other ends of patch cords that are connected to the plurality of patch panels, and

wherein the display comprises a touch screen display, and wherein a user may use the touch screen display to select one of the plurality of patch panels for which patch cord connectivity information is displayed on the touch screen display.

23. The equipment mounting system of claim 19, wherein the display comprises a portable display of a wireless terminal.

20. An equipment monitoring system, comprising:

a patch panel that includes a plurality of connector ports, wherein the patch panel comprises a passive patch panel that does not include sensors that are configured to sense when a patch cord connector is inserted into, or removed from, the plurality of connector ports;

a database that includes patch cord connectivity information for the plurality of connector ports;

an electronic display positioned adjacent the connector ports that is configured to display patch cord connectivity information that is received from the database for at least some of the plurality of connector ports,

wherein the electronic display further is configured to display port identification information for the plurality of connector ports of the patch panel; and

wherein the patch cord connection information includes identification of end points of a communications link including identification of a connector port on a switch.

21. The equipment monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the display is separate from the passive patch panel.

22. The equipment monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the display is retrofitted onto the passive patch panel.