Patent ID: 8676941
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for managing a computer network the apparatus comprising: a processor; a wireless network interface; and a computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored therein, the program instructions executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to, send an identification message via the wireless network interface to each of the plurality of network devices; determine identifying information from response messages sent from the plurality of network devices that respond to the identification messages, wherein the identifying information for each responding network device at least includes a unique identifier for the network device and identification of each unconnected network port of the network devices; send via the wireless network interface, a location message to each of the plurality of network devices; determine approximate physical location of each of the plurality of network devices with respect to the apparatus based on responses to the location messages; update a graphical user interface to depict the approximate physical locations of the plurality of network devices; load connection configuration data for the computer network, wherein the connection configuration data indicates wired connections to make among the unconnected network ports of the network devices and ordering rules for making the wired connections; and send signals to activate visual indicators, each of which correspond to a different one of the unconnected network ports, in accordance with the connection configuration data.