Abstract:
An intelligent physical layer 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 patching environment. RFID tag integrated chips are used to identify which switch port a patch cord is plugged into. 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 the patch field in interconnect configurations.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present application relates to network physical layer management systems, and more particularly to a physical layer management system for interconnect deployments using radio frequency identification (RFID) modules and signaling systems for communicating with the RFID modules. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    Patch panels are typically deployed in two different configurations: cross-connect configurations, in which two patch panels are located along a network pathway between, for example, network switches and user outlets; and interconnect configurations, in which one patch panel is located in the network pathway. In a cross-connect configuration, the patch field is generally considered to be the area between the two patch panels. In an interconnect configuration, the patch field is between the patch panel and the network switch. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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 automatic verification of network cable installation and removal work orders, such as move-add-change (MAC) work orders, implemented by network technicians. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Systems for guiding patch cord installations and removals in an interconnect patch panel configuration are provided and automatic documentation of the patch field is enabled. In some embodiments, signals for physical layer management are placed on an additional wire pair not used for Ethernet signaling. In other embodiments, 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 management signals are used to communicate with RFID tags via RFID antennas that are located in patch cord plugs. 
         [0008]    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 the switch plug of specialized patch cords and can be used to identify the switch port that a switch plug is installed in. 
         [0009]    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 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a chart summarizing the features of various embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a patch cable connection between a network switch port and a patch panel according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  contains front and top views of an RFID tag mounting bar mounter to an Ethernet switch; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a patch cable connection between a network switch port and a patch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  contains front and top views of an RFID tag mounting bar having LEDs associated with ports; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of mounting bar and port circuitry; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a patch cable connection between a network switch port and a patch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a patch cable connection between a network switch port and a patch panel according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of a patch cable connection between a network switch port and a patch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a patch cable connection between a network switch port and a patch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]    The present application provides a system that uses RFID antennas provided on specialized patch cords for use between patch panels and network switches to enable physical layer management of the connections between network switches and patch panels in interconnect patch panel configurations. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a chart summarizing the various embodiments of the present invention, including the features and requirements of the various embodiments, listed by figure number in the leftmost column. It is preferred for all embodiments of the present invention to be capable of working with Power over Ethernet (PoE) networks. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a specialized patch cable  10  connected between a patch panel port  12  and a switch port  18 . The switch port is provided on a network switch having a mounting bar  14 , with an RFID tag integrated circuit (IC)  16  associated with the switch port into which the switch plug  18  is inserted. The specialized patch cable  10  is provided with a fifth pair of conductors  20 , in addition to the standard four pairs of conductors  22  used for copper-based Ethernet patch cords. 
         [0023]    The fifth pair of conductors  20  is connected to an RFID antenna  22  in the switch plug  18  that is adapted to communicate via an RFID receive antenna  24  with the RFID tag IC  16  associated with the switch port that the switch plug  18  is plugged into. An LED assembly  26  is also connected to the fifth pair of conductors  20  as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the specialized patch cable  10  is plugged into a patch panel port  12 , the fifth pair of conductors  20  is in communication with patch panel electronics  28  comprising LED circuitry  30  that can address and control the LED assembly  26  and an RFID transmitter  32  that is adapted to communicate with the RFID antenna  22 . Via this RFID communication, the patch panel is capable of determining which port of the switch the switch plug  18  is plugged into, because the RFID tag IC  16  is provided with a specific ID that is a proxy for its associated switch port. Patch panels according to the present invention are preferably in communication with a network management system (NMS) such that the NMS can be automatically updated with the correct patching information showing which port of a switch each patch panel port is connected to. Further, the NMS can be immediately updated whenever a patch cord connection changes, and the NMS can use the signaling LEDs provided near switch ports and within switch plugs to guide technicians in performing connectivity changes in the patch field. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment the LED assembly  26  comprises two LEDs: a red LED and a green LED. The LED circuitry  30  provided in the patch panel electronics  28  is adapted to control these LEDs with signaling lights or patterns that indicate switch plug insertion or removal instructions to a technician. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  shows the mounting bar  14  mounted to an Ethernet switch  30  having a plurality of switch ports  32 . The mounting bar is preferably mounted between top and bottom rows of switch ports  32 , and is provided with RFID tag les  16  corresponding to each of the switch ports  32 . The RFID tag ICs are positioned so that RFID antennas  22  in switch plugs  18  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) can communicate with the RFID tag IC  16  associated with the switch port  32  into which they are plugged. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram in which an alternative embodiment of the mounting bar  34  is provided with mounting bar LED circuitry  36  associated with each switch port of a switch that the mounting bar  34  is mounted to. In this embodiment, the mounting bar has a peripheral interface controller (PIC)  38  associated with each port. The PIC  38  can receive input via input  40 . The PIC  38  outputs signals that control the LEDs in the LED circuitry  36 . The signaling to control the circuitry may be received via the RFID receive antenna  24 , or from a primary mounting bar PIC  42  (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  contains front and top views of the alternative mounting bar  34  mounted to an Ethernet switch  30 . The mounting bar  34  contains LEDs  44  associated with each switch port  32 . The primary PIC  42  is electrically connected to each port PIC  38  and can communicate with each port PIC  38  to control and receive lighting instructions and other information associated with each Ethernet port  32 . Power to illuminate the LEDs  44  can be derived from the RFID signal (which can be a 125 kHz signal) transmitted over the patch cable  10 . The RFID tag IC&#39;s associated with each port (which may be provided along with the port PIGS  38  in a single module along with an LED pulsed driver as shown in  FIG. 4 ) also derive their power in the same manner. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the electronic architecture of the alternative mounting bar  34 . The primary PIC  42  is adapted to communicate with the port PIGS  38   a - 38   x  via an inter-IC bus  46 . The power supply lines  48  are parallel, and according to one embodiment, control signals and a supply voltage for the entire mounting bar  34  can be established whenever one patch cord is plugged into the switch  30 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment in which a four-pair patch cable  50  is used to support communication between the patch panel electronics  25  and the RFID tag IC  16  associated with each switch port. Common mode signaling over two pairs of wires  52  and  54  is used for communication between the RFID transmitter  32  of the patch panel and the RFID tag IC  16  associated with each switch port via an RFID antenna  55 . The information transmitted over these pairs includes ID information allowing the patch panel to determine which switch and port the switch plug  56  is plugged into. LED circuitry  58  provided in the switch plug  56  is connected to third and fourth wire pairs  60  and  62 , and common mode techniques can be used to enable LED circuitry  30  of the patch panel to control the LEDs in the switch plug  56 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of another embodiment in which an alternative four-pair patch cable  64  is provided with both an RFID antenna  66  and LED circuitry  68  electrically connected to two wire pairs  52  and  54  of the cable  64 . The LED circuitry  30  and the RFID transmitter  32  of the patch panel are adapted to communicate with the RFID antenna  66  and the LED circuitry  68  provided within the switch plug  70  using common-mode signaling techniques. 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention that combines features of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , The alternative mounting bar  34  is used in combination with the patch cable  64  to allow control of LED circuitry provided in both the switch plug  70  and the mounting bar  34 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a four-pair patch cable  72  is provided with an RFID antenna  66  but no LED circuitry. LED circuitry  36  is provided on an alternative mounting bar  34  as discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 4-6 . 
         [0033]    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 in interconnect systems. 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.