Abstract:
An intelligent network patch field management system is provided that includes active electronic hardware, firmware, mechanical assemblies, cables, and software that guide, monitor, and report on the process of connecting and disconnecting patch cords plugs in an interconnect or cross-connect patching environment. RFID tag integrated chips are used in some embodiments of the system to allow for detection of patch cord insertion and removal at switch ports. RFID tags may also be used to detect users and control access to the network based on the users&#39; levels of authorization. Network access can also be controlled at the outlet jack level. The system is capable of monitoring patch cord connections to detect insertions or removals of patch cords or plugs. In addition, the system can map entire networks.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to network physical layer management systems, and more particularly to a system incorporating radio frequency identification (RFID) modules and a common mode signaling system for communicating with the RFID modules. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Communications networks are growing in number and complexity, and are continually being interconnected to satisfy customers&#39; needs. Patch panels are used in communications networks as intermediate elements between horizontal cabling (to which endpoint devices such as computers and telephones are connected) and network switches. Specifically a patch panel includes a panel of network ports that connect incoming and outgoing lines of a local area network (LAN) or other communication system. In a LAN, for example, the patch panel connects the network&#39;s computers to switches or routers that enable the LAN to connect to the Internet or another wide area network (WAN). Connections are made with patch cords. The patch panel allows connections to be arranged and rearranged by plugging and unplugging the patch cords. 
     When physical connections between endpoint devices and network switches are added, moved or removed, patch panels are the points at which technicians complete the required installations or removals of patch cords within patch fields. Patch panels offer the convenience of allowing technicians to quickly change the path of selected signals. 
     It is important to maintain a record of changes that are made to patch cord connections within the patch field. Proper documentation of changes in the patch field assures that the routing of patch cords is always known and further assures that any future changes are completed correctly. 
     Human error associated with the implementation and maintenance of physical cable connections between network communication equipment can result in significant negative impact to a network. Such negative impact can be avoided through improved control and verification of network cable installation and removal work orders implemented by network technicians. 
     In addition, it is desirable to combine the functions of a patch cord management system with additional physical layer management techniques that could, for example, extend the scope of management from a network switch port, through a patch field, and to an outlet where, for example, end-user devices can be connected. Further, in copper-based networks, it is desirable to have such a system that utilizes existing four-pair Ethernet cable for both data connectivity and network management functions. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, systems for guiding patch cord installations and removals in a network are provided. Signals relevant to physical layer management are placed on Ethernet cables in a common-mode technique that does not interfere with the standard differential mode Ethernet signaling used to carry data on the network. The common-mode management signals are used to communicate with RFID tags and transceivers that can be provided within plugs of patch cords or within jacks, such as outlet jacks. 
     In some embodiments, RFID tags are provided on a mounting bar attached to the face of an Ethernet switch. The RFID tags can communicate with RFID antennas provided in specialized patch cords and can be used to identify associated switch ports. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention are explained to those of ordinary skill in the art in the following detailed description, with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments noted herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a four-pair Ethernet cable; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of twisted pairs arranged within an Ethernet cable; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a common mode signaling technique employing two twisted pairs of an Ethernet link; 
         FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  are block diagrams of embodiments of the present invention for use with cross-connect patch panel deployments; 
         FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  are block diagrams of embodiments of the present invention for use with interconnect patch panel deployments; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in which an RFID tag external to an outlet can be detected and read; 
         FIG. 6   a  is an illustration of another embodiment of the system shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a more detailed block diagram of a cross-connect embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing electrical connections that allow systems according to the present invention to communicate with an RFID tag in an outlet jack; 
         FIG. 9  is a more detailed block diagram of an interconnect embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 10   a - 10   c  show RFID mounting bars for use with network switches according to some embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in which a communication outlet is equipped to communicate with an external RFID tag. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application provides a system that uses the properties of Ethernet copper cabling to allow management signals to be combined with standard Ethernet data signaling without affecting the Ethernet data signaling and without requiring customized patch cords, such as patch cords that employ additional conductors for management signaling.  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a standard four-pair Ethernet cable  10 . The cable  10  contains first, second, third, and fourth twisted pairs of conductors;  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 , respectively. The twisted pairs may be separated from one another by a pair separator  20 . The twisted pairs are generally provided in a cable core that itself twists along the length of the cable. 
       FIG. 2  is a graphical depiction of the twisted pairs as they lie within a cable, with a depiction of “super-pairs”  22  and  24 , each comprised of two twisted pairs of conductors. Systems according to the present system use super-pairs to enable management communications that do not interfere with standard Ethernet data signaling. It is preferred to use diagonally opposed twisted pairs as super-pairs  22  and  24 , due to the better electrical balance that results. For example, a first super-pair  22  is preferably comprised of the first and third twisted pairs  12  and  16 ; and a second super-pair  24  is preferably comprised of the second and fourth twisted pairs  14  and  18 . 
     While standard Ethernet data signaling is accomplished using differential-mode signaling along the twisted pairs, systems according to the present invention use common-mode signaling across twisted pairs of the Ethernet cable to send management signals along Ethernet cables without interfering with the standard Ethernet data signaling. 
     In one embodiment, the common-mode signaling is imposed onto the conductors of at least one super-pair as shown in  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , twisted pairs  14  and  18  are combined into a super-pair  24  that is used to carry management signals. First and second common-mode transceivers  26  and  28  are used to send or receive common mode signals over the super-pair  24  via first and second common-mode coupling circuitry assemblies  30  and  32 , respectively. 
     A bi-directional common-mode communications channel can use a variety of transmission frequencies (e.g., 150 kHz), and the information can be transmitted via a number of modulation techniques, including termination impedance modulation. Termination impedance modulation is a preferred modulation technique because RFID tag integrated chips (IC&#39;s) make use of this mechanism and the cost of the electronics is very low. In this modulation technique, the endpoint receiver (i.e., an RFID tag IC) switches a load resistor across the receiving coil (sometimes referred to as the receiving antenna) thereby changing the termination impedance. The transmitter (e.g., an RFID reader) can detect this impedance change by sensing a voltage change within its circuitry. This technique is a way of forming a communication channel between the endpoint receiver and the transmitter, hence forming a bidirectional communication channel. Termination impedance modulation is also referred to in the RFID industry as “load modulation” or “inductive coupling modulation.” 
       FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  show three implementations of cross-connect systems according to different embodiments of the present invention.  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  and  5   a - 5   c  each show one communications link from a network switch to an outlet jack, though it is to be understood that patch panels and systems according to the present invention can support many such links. 
     The first implementation, shown in  FIG. 4   a , uses two common-mode signaling nodes. A first common mode signaling node  37  is an RFID transceiver  41  that is placed in the first patch panel  38 . A second common mode signaling node  39  is an RFID tag IC  43  that is located in the second patch panel  40 . A standard Ethernet patch cord  42  is connected between the two patch panels in a patch field  44 , though specialized patch cords provided with LEDs for guiding a technician can be provided in some embodiments. The embodiment of  FIG. 4   a  assumes that the connectivity between the network switch  48  and the first patch panel  38  does not change, and neither does the connectivity between the second patch panel  40  and the outlet jack  46 . This is represented by the dotted lines in  FIG. 4   a.    
     One implementation for this system is as shown in  FIG. 4   a , with an RFID transceiver  41  provided in one patch panel and an RFID tag IC  43  provided in a second patch panel. A more complex embodiment has both an RFID transceiver and an RFID tag IC provided in each patch panel. In such an embodiment, the transceiver in one patch panel waits for a response from another patch panel before it reports on the establishment of a connection. Since both transceivers would be inserting a common-mode signal onto the same super-pair, a collision avoidance mechanism must be in place. Many types of collision avoidance mechanisms can be used, including: (a) separating transmitted from received signals via hybrid circuitry; (b) cycling each panel between transmit and receive states in a duty cycle, such that the “receive” time is much longer than the “transmit” time; and/or (c) the use of a “token” request-to-transmit signal, transmitted at a different frequency for each signal, such that whichever panel responds first to this request will transmit a “grant” transmit signal at another frequency to allow the first panel to transmit. In a preferred architecture, both patch panels  38  and  40  are the same to enable an easier installation process. 
     In either type of system, the signals passed between the patch panels  38  and  40  along the patch cords  42  allow for the connections between the patch panels in the patch field  44  to be mapped and therefore an NMS connected to one or both patch panels is continuously updated with the correct patching information. 
     In a second cross-connect embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4   b , a first common-mode signaling node  37  is provided as an RFID transceiver  41  in the first patch panel  38  and a second common-mode signaling node  39  is provided as an RFID tag IC  43  in the outlet jack  46 . In this embodiment, active physical layer management is enabled between the first patch panel  38  and the outlet jack  46 . In another embodiment the RFID transceiver  41  could be provided in the second patch panel  40 , though in this embodiment the cross-connect patch cord location in the first patch panel  38  would not be managed. With the RFID transceiver  41  located in the first patch panel  38 , management signals must pass through the patch cord  42  and the second patch panel  40 . Therefore, when the RFID tag IC  43  in the outlet jack  46  responds with information such as a physical location, the patch cord location on the second patch panel  40  can be determined. In this embodiment, the network management system (NMS), which is connected to the patch panels as described in further detail below, can manage connections from the first patch panel  38  all the way to the outlet jack  46 . In this embodiment, it is assumed that the connectivity between the network switch  48  and the first patch panel  38  does not change, as shown by the dotted line. A third embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4   c , is a combination of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  and eliminates the need to assume any portions of the link do not change in their connectivity. In all of the embodiments  4   a - 4   c , guidance LEDs may be provided in the patch panels  38  and  40  and controlled by an NMS. 
       FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  show three interconnect embodiments of the present invention. In the interconnect embodiments, only one patch panel  38  is provided in the network pathway between the network switch  48  and the outlet jack  46 . In a first interconnect embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5   a , a first common-mode signaling node  37  is provided as an RFID transceiver  41  in the patch panel  38 . A second common-mode signaling node  39  is provided as an RFID tag IC  50  within a mounting bar  52  installed on the network switch  48 . A specialized patch cord  54  having an RFID antenna provided in its switch plug is connected between the network switch  48  and the patch panel  38 . As shown by the dotted line, the connection between the patch panel  38  and the outlet jack  46  is assumed to be stationary in this embodiment. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5   a , the RFID tag IC  50  provided on the mounting bar  52  does not require external power; it derives its power through the signal that communicates with it over the patch cord  54 . The RFID tag IC  50  contains a unique identification code that serves as a proxy for the switch port that it is installed next to. Using this proxy relationship, an NMS, which can be connected to the patch panel  38 , can determine the connectivity between ports on the network switch  48  and ports of the patch panel  38 . 
       FIG. 5   b  shows a second interconnect embodiment, in which first and second common-mode signaling nodes  37  and  39  are implemented as, respectively, an RFID transceiver  41  provided in the first patch panel  38  and an RFID tag IC  43  provided in the outlet jack  46 . A third interconnect embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5   c , combines the features of the first and second interconnect embodiments, shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b.    
     In alternative embodiments of  FIGS. 4   b ,  4   c ,  5   b , and  5   c , the outlet jack contains an antenna which is connected via common mode to two wire pairs in the jack, and an RFID tag ID is mounted on the outlet adjacent to the antenna. In this embodiment, a jack can be replaced, without impairing the identification of the outlet. Such an embodiment is described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 6   a.    
     The same design can be utilized in other components in a network infrastructure such as a jack in a zone patch panel to document various portions of the network. A unique series of ID codes is assigned to components located in similar parts of the network. 
       FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the present invention that makes use of the common-mode signaling and RFID functionality to enable additional services for users of the network via an NMS system. In this embodiment, an RFID reader  56  is integrated into an outlet jack  46  and is adapted to communicate with RFID tags  58  that can be carried by users. In one embodiment, the RFID tag  58  is packaged into a credit card-sized object that is carried by a user. Several services can be enabled by the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . For example, Ethernet jack access authorization can be performed under direct control of the outlet  46 . Using this system, access to the network through the outlet  46  is authorized only when the RFID tag  58  near the outlet indicates that the user is authorized. 
     Outlet provisioning and maintenance of outlet ID information can also be enabled in a system as shown in  FIG. 6 . Using these functions, the RFID tag  58  can be used to initialize the outlet  46  during outlet installation, and communication between the RFID reader  56  and the RFID tag  58  can be used to confirm that information in both of the RFID modules is valid. 
     A system according to  FIG. 6  can also enable authorization of services under control of an NMS, such as door access, light control, heat control, inventory monitoring, and the like. Using these features, a user can change the lighting or heating settings in a particular area, or the outlet  46  can be used to monitor RFID-enabled equipment that comes in close proximity to the outlet  46 . 
     The system of  FIG. 6  can also be used to enable communication between an outlet  46  and sensors provided with RFID tag ICs that are external to the outlet but mounted close enough to the outlet  46  to establish RFID communication. Sensors such as temperature, humidity, and air speed sensors can be placed wherever information about a location is desired. The outlet  46  can be adapted to read information from the sensors and provide that information to an NMS. 
     In an alternative embodiment of  FIG. 6 , an RFID tag ID is added to the outlet adjacent to the jack antenna. Such an embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6   a , which shows an outlet jack provided with jack electronics that include an RFID antenna  57  that is adapted to communicate with an RFID tag ID  59  that is provided in a faceplate  61  mounted to the wall  63 . Horizontal cabling  65  is terminated at the outlet jack  46  using a wire cap  67 . The outlet jack  46  is held to the faceplate  61  by an outlet jack latch  69 . Spring contacts  71  of the jack are adapted to make electrical contact with plug contacts  73  of the plug  75 , which may be a plug of a patch cord for attachment to an end user device such as a computer or VOIP phone. While the embodiment of  FIG. 6   a  uses an RFID tag ID  59  provided in the faceplate  61 , it is to be understood that similar embodiments may have the RFID tag ID  59  in another location, as long as communication with the RFID antenna  57  can be maintained. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates in greater detail a cross-connect embodiment of the present invention, similar to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4   b . Four wire pairs  60  are illustrated in a communication link between the network switch  48  and an outlet jack  46 . An end-user device  62  such as a PC or a power-over-Ethernet powered device is connected to the outlet jack  46 . The RFID transceiver  41  as shown in  FIG. 4   b  can be implemented in panel electronics  64  and/or jack electronics  66  of the patch panel  38 . Similarly, the RFID tag IC  43  installed at the outlet  46  as shown in  FIG. 4   b  can be provided within jack electronics  68  of the outlet jack  46 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the electronics that enable an RFID transceiver provided within a patch panel  38  of the present invention to communicate with an RFID tag IC  43  provided within an outlet jack  46 . Common mode coupling circuitry  30  and  32  is provided within the patch panel  38  and the outlet jack  46 , respectively. The coupling circuitry on each wire pair forms high impedance to the differential-mode signal propagating on the pair, which reduces loading effects on the differential-mode signal. Low impedance is provided for the common-mode signal that is transmitted along the super-pair  22 . Each combination of inductors and capacitors as shown forms a series resonant circuit (for example L 1A  &amp; L 1B  and C 1A  &amp; C 1B ) having a minimum impedance (occurring at the resonant frequency) that is designed to be the common-mode communication frequency between the patch panel  38  and the RFID tag IC  43  within the outlet jack  46 . It is preferred that these components reside on an RJ45 jack circuit board due to the high frequencies that the differential-mode signal contains. This arrangement keeps the high frequencies on the RJ45 jack printed circuit board, minimizes the additional pin-outs required on the PCB-style RJ45 jack, and reduces parasitic coupling to other wires. 
     At the outlet jack  46 , in addition to the common-mode coupling circuitry  32 , only an RFID tag IC  43  is required. Rather than using a receive antenna, which would be used in a typical RFID application, the output of the common-mode circuitry is directly attached to the RFID tag IC  43 . Thus, the RFID tag IC  43  is capable of communicating directly over the wires forming the super-pair  22 . Similarly, on the side of the RFID reader or transceiver  41 , instead of transmitting the RFID signal via an antenna, the transceiver  41  is directly attached to the input of the common-mode coupling circuitry  30  of the patch panel  38 . The panel electronics  64  of the patch panel  38  include a processor  70  that is capable of communicating with an NMS to facilitate physical layer management features. 
     The RFID tag IC  43  of the outlet jack  46  can contain several different types of information. Examples of information that can be contained in the RFID tag IC  43  include: (a) an identification or serial number; (b) the dates of installation and permanent link testing; (c) the physical location of the outlet jack  46  and optionally the patch panel that it is connected to; (d) Ethernet access priority (e.g., high, medium, or low) which reflects the relative importance of the jack in terms of its access to the network switch; and (e) whether or not the outlet jack has power over Ethernet supplied via a midspan or endspan power supply device. According to one embodiment, the RFID tag IC  43  requires no external power; it derives its power from the common-mode communication signal. 
       FIG. 9  shows in greater detail the location of electronic components in an interconnect embodiment of the present invention, such as the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5   a . A mounting bar  52  (shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 10   a - 10   c ) holds RFID chips  50  that are associated with each individual port  74  of the network switch  48 . An RFID antenna  72  provided within a plug  78  of a specialized patch cord  54  is connected to common mode coupling circuitry  76 , as shown in the detail view of  FIG. 9 . The RFID antenna  72  communicates wirelessly with the RFID tag IC  50  associated with the switch port  74  into which the plug  78  is plugged. LEDs  80  may also be provided within the plug  78  to aid in guiding a technician during moves, additions, or changes of patch cord connections. The LEDs  80  can be controlled, for example, by a DC voltage applied in common mode onto the alternate super-pair (i.e., the super-pair not being used for communicating with the RFID antenna  72 ). 
       FIGS. 10   a - 10   c  show a mounting bar  52  mounted on the face of an Ethernet switch  48 . The mounting bar  52  is provided with a number of RFID tag IC&#39;s  50 , with each RFID tag IC  50  corresponding to one of the switch ports  74 . As shown in  FIG. 10   a , an RFID tag  50   a  is associated with the top switch port  74   a  and is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the RFID antenna  72   a  when the plug  78   a  is plugged into the top port  74   a . Similarly, a second RFID tag  50   b  is associated with the bottom switch port  74   b  and is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the RFID antenna  72   b  when the plug  78   b  is plugged into the bottom port  74   b . Each RFID tag IC  50  contains identifying information and serves as a proxy for the switch port with which it is associated. Using the communication between the RFID antennas  72  and the RFID tag ICs  50 , an NMS can determine the connectivity between switch ports  74  and patch panel ports. As shown in  FIGS. 10   b  and  10   c , the mounting bar  52  is preferably mounted between top and bottom arrays of switch ports  78  on the face of the network switch  48 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a more detailed view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , in which an RFID tag  58  that can be carried by a user communicates with an RFID reader  56  that is provided at the outlet jack  46 . In this embodiment, a first super-pair  22  in the communication link between the first patch panel  38  and the outlet jack  46  can be used to communicate with an RFID tag IC that can be provided in the outlet jack  46 , and a second super-pair  24  can be used to communicate with the RFID reader  56 . Communication with the RFID tag IC of the outlet and the RFID reader  56  takes place using common-mode signaling over standard Ethernet cabling, without having a negative effect on standard differential-mode Ethernet signaling. As discussed above, the RFID tag  58  can be used for a number of purposes, including detecting user presence, changing lighting and heating or cooling levels to meet user preferences, or controlling network access based on the level of access that the user is authorized to use. 
     In all of the systems according to the present invention, specialized patch cords may be provided with LEDs in their plugs in order to enable guidance instructions to be visually indicated to technicians. Further, LEDs may be provided next to patch panel ports for the same purpose. 
     Intelligent patching and RFID reading systems of the present invention provide a number of functions and benefits. They can guide moves, adds, and changes of patch cords. They can provide an administrator with real-time information regarding network status and monitor connectivity of patch cords. They can map patch fields and facilitate planning, implementation, and documentation of connectivity installations and removals. Further, the systems monitor patch field changes and alert administrators of any patch field changes or potential security risks, for example by communication with an NMS. A web-based management system may be used to allow access to the functions of the systems, and to interface with third-party network management systems, help desk applications, and other enterprise systems.