Abstract:
A method of identifying a new end-user device connected within a network includes monitoring a plurality of remote outlets and detecting a new end-user device upon connection thereof to the network at a first of the remote outlets and determining information about the new end-user device by electronically communicating with some but not all of the remote outlets. A system for performing such a method with a network having a plurality of end-user devices connected thereto is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES To RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present invention claims the priority of previously-filed PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2009/0059801, which was filed on 7 Oct. 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to infrastructure management systems and, more particularly, to systems, assemblies and components that are useful in managing infrastructure assets. 
         [0003]    Computing networks that exist within large organizations consist of two types of devices that must be interconnected to form a usable data network. These assets are generally classified as end-user devices and networking devices. Examples of end-user devices include personal computers (PC), voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) phones, and network printers. A typical Local Area Network (LAN) for a large-scale enterprise may include thousands of end-user devices deployed throughout a campus in individual offices or in common areas accessible to the end-users. In addition, data networks also typically include network devices such as switches and routers that form the core of the network. These networking devices serve to route data packets between devices on the LAN, or between the LAN and a larger corporate Wide Area Network (WAN), or to the internet. These network devices are typically located in a centralized room or rooms, known as wiring closets and data centers. 
         [0004]    Information technology (IT) departments for such organizations need to know the status of network connectivity of each device, the physical location of the devices, and need to identify the source and location of any errors or problems as quickly as possible. Tracking of device assets is a key concern, for example, in monitoring the presence of devices on the network for loss-prevention purposes, and to ensure devices are properly physically positioned in offices or on floors where end users can best utilize them, while maintaining proper connectivity of the network. Currently, a unified system for tracking devices connected to the network and monitoring the status of the physical connectivity of the network does not exist. 
         [0005]    The Open System Infrastructure (OSI) model describes layered communications in a computer network. “Layer 1,” the physical layer, defines all of the electrical and physical specifications for devices connecting to a network. For example, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 802.3 defines the standards for wired Ethernet, which is commonly used in computing networks. As part of the IEEE 802.3 Specification, the physical layer of an Ethernet network is defined. Examples of physical layer elements as defined in IEEE 802.3 include electrical voltages and signal protocols, cable requirements, and termination resistance. 
         [0006]    To connect the end-user devices to the network devices requires that the network devices in the wiring closet or data center be connected to end-user devices as needed for the particular requirements of the users of the LAN. Each path from switch to end-user device is known as a channel. The typical deployment of physical layer connectivity for a LAN channel consists of a patch cord between a switch port and a patch panel port; a length of multi-pair cable from the rear of the patch panel port to a work area outlet port at the end-user&#39;s office, and a patch cord from the outlet to the end-user&#39;s device. Each of these ports are modular jacks designed to industry-standard specifications so as to accept mating patch plugs. 
         [0007]    The management of the patch cords in the telecom room or at the work area outlet can present issues to the IT management group. Each time an employee is hired, leaves the organization or changes location, it is inevitable that patch cables must be connected and disconnected. A wiring closet typically contains numerous switches, patch panels and patch cords, numbering at times in the hundreds and higher. The patch cords are often snaked around one another, making the operations of adding, removing, or tracing the patch cords difficult and time-consuming. When a new patch cable has to be connected within the system, or a patch cable has to be moved, a technician enters the wiring closet and must locate the appropriate cable among hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of patch cords. The technician then must locate the appropriate patch panel and the appropriate ports on those patch panels. Finally, the technician must connect the patch cord to the correct ports on the patch panels and verify that the connection has been done correctly. Once the patch cord is connected, there is not an easy, cost and time-effective way to determine if the cord was connected to the correct ports. For example, the technician may have to go to the network port or end-user device located at a remote location, such as an individual&#39;s office, to determine if the patch cable was correctly inserted and that network connectivity is available at the asset. Therefore, connecting and transferring networks assets is labor-intensive. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the IT department does not have an efficient way to determine the exact location of network problems which may be attributed to the physical layer. For example, the problem may be located in the switch closet if a patch cord was not properly connected, or the problem may exist in the wiring from the switch closet to the end-user device. The IT department does not currently have an efficient way to determine if network problems exist in the physical network wiring. Accordingly, a need exists for a better information management system that includes components that simplify the process for identifying assets in order, at a minimum, to reduce the time required to move and check assets on a network. 
         [0009]    An additional area of concern is that the LAN may have substantial numbers of unused or spare permanent links. A spare permanent link refers to a cable connection from patch panel to a work area outlet, but without a network device and/or end-user device connected via patch cords. Such links are typically maintained in LAN deployments to ensure appropriate capacity in case of employee moves, adds or changes, or to ensure extra capacity for disaster-recovery scenarios. An issue facing IT managers today is that it is difficult and time consuming to re-test spare permanent links to verify connectivity prior to their being put into use. Consequently most spare permanent links are not tested on a regular basis, and if there is a problem with the connectivity of the link, the issue may not be discovered until the permanent link is activated as part of a working channel. This can cause delay and added expense as the problem is tracked down and repaired. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,374, issued Jul. 8, 2003 to Har-Lev describes a terminator unit for use in wiring networks for naming outlets and for verifying the normality of the wiring. The terminator includes a connector with a plurality of contacts and a set of resistors. The resistors of the first set are connected between a common point and a selected contact, such that a particular binary code is determined according to the particular combination of resistors connected to the contacts. 
         [0011]    Periodic probing or polling of all ports on the network is performed in order to list, or catalog, all of the connected assets or components in order to develop an inventory of assets. Assembling this inventory requires “pinging” every port on the network and gathering data from the connected assets. This network intensive process is typically performed not more than once per month in order to limit disruption to the network. Accordingly, a system that is capable of providing up-to-date information whenever an end-user device is connected to the network without more frequent system-wide polling is desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Accordingly, it is a general object to provide an improved system for monitoring a network having multiple outlets to which are connected various system assets. 
         [0013]    Another object it to provide a method of identifying a new end-user device connected within a network including monitoring a plurality of remote outlets and detecting a new end-user device upon connection thereof to the network at a first remote outlet. Information associated with the new end-user device may be determined by electronically communicating through some but not all of the remote outlets. 
         [0014]    If desired, each remote outlet may be operatively associated with one of a plurality of patch panels ports within the network and the method may include electronically communicating through only a patch panel port interconnected to the first remote outlet to which the new end-user device may be connected. Each remote outlet may be operatively associated with one of a plurality of patch panels ports within the network and the method may include electronically communicating through some but not all of the patch panel ports. The first remote outlet may be interconnected to a first patch panel having patch panel ports and the method may include electronically communicating through only patch panel ports of the first patch panel. The first remote outlet may be operatively associated with a switch, and the method may include electronically communicating through only remote outlets operatively associated with the switch. 
         [0015]    If desired, the method may include directing a polling activity through some but not all of the network outlets. The method may include determining a unique identifier of the new end-user device. The method may include determining a MAC address of the new end-user device. The method may include determining at least one of the following with respect to the new end-user device: MAC address, IP address, computer name, amount of toner available, amount of drive space available, and information regarding operating system used by the end-user device. 
         [0016]    A computing device may electronically communicate with a switch, and the switch may request data operatively associated with the new end-user device. The data associated with the new end-user device may be a unique identifier and the method may further include matching the unique identifier with a network map to identify a specific physical location and identity of the new end-user device. The method may include providing the specific physical location and identity of the new end-user device to a network management system. The method may include electronic monitoring between a scanner and the patch panel to which the first remote outlet is operatively associated. The method may include electronic detecting between a scanner and a patch panel to which the first remote outlet is operatively associated. The method may include electronic detecting as a change in electrical signature between a scanner and a patch panel to which the first remote outlet operatively associated. 
         [0017]    The method may include electronically communicating to a computing device the presence of the new end-user device as well as the specific port associated with a switch to which the new end-user device is operatively connected. The method may include identifying physical locations of each port and remote outlet of the network and storing the physical locations in the computing device together with electronically mapping each port and remote outlet and matching each physical location to an electronic map created by the electronic mapping. 
         [0018]    A system for use with a network having a plurality of end-user devices connected thereto may also be provided that includes a plurality of patch panels, each having a plurality of patch panel ports. A remote outlet is are operatively associated with each patch panel port and each remote outlet is configured for interconnection to a network device. Sensing circuitry electronically determines whether a new end-user device has been connected to any of the remote outlets and a computing device is configured to perform event driven polling by communicating through some but not all of the remote outlets to determine data associated with the new end-user device in response to the new end-user device being connected to one of the remote outlets. 
         [0019]    If desired, a scanner may be provided that communicates with each of the patch panels to monitor the addition of a new end-user device connected to one of the remote outlets. The scanner and each of the patch panels may include a portion of the sensing circuitry. The computing system may include a switch and each remote outlet may be operatively associated with the switch through a patch panel port. The switch may be configured to perform event driven polling only through a patch panel port operatively associated with the remote outlet to which the new end-user device is connected. The computing system may include a switch and each remote outlet may be operatively associated with the switch through a patch panel port. The switch may be configured to perform event driven polling only through patch panel ports of a patch panel operatively associated with the remote outlet to which the new end-user device is connected. 
         [0020]    If desired, the computing system may include a plurality of switches and each remote outlet may be operatively associated with one of the switches through a patch panel port. The computing device may be configured to perform event driven polling only through patch panel ports operatively associated with the switch to which the new end-user device is connected. The system may include a switch and a plurality of cross-connect panels. Each cross-connect panel may have a plurality of cross-connect ports and each remote outlet may be operatively associated with the switch through a patch panel port and a cross-connect port. A plurality of cables may be provided with each cable extending from one of the patch panel ports to one of the remote outlets in order to facilitate connection of the network devices to the network. The computing device may store data incorporating the physical locations of each port and remote outlet as well as an electronic map of each port and remote outlet. The system may include monitoring circuitry embedded within the patch panel and operatively associated with each port to monitor a change in electrical signature of a network channel. 
         [0021]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In the course of this detailed description, reference will be frequently made to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a system diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a computing network including switches, patch panels, a scanner and work stations in which the system of the present invention is used; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a system diagram showing greater detail of a portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary use of the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a patch panel utilized with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The following description is intended to convey the operation of exemplary embodiments of the invention to those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that this description is intended to aid the reader, not to limit the invention. As such, references to a feature or aspect of the invention are intended to describe a feature or aspect of an embodiment of the invention, not to imply that every embodiment of the invention must have the described characteristic. 
         [0028]    Turning to the drawings and referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary network  100  is illustrated. The exemplary network may be a corporate computing network with multiple users and end-user devices  102 . As used herein, the term “end-user devices” refers to physical devices or assets operated by users of the network and may include, without limitation, personal computers, telephones, printers, facsimile machines, monitors and other electronic devices. The exemplary network includes a plurality of servers  103  for running various applications on or through LAN/WAN  104 . The network utilizes a plurality of switches  106  for routing and monitoring information to and from the various end-user devices  102 . Each end-user device  102  is connected to switch  106  via a series of patch panels  110  and cables. Layer 1 monitoring system  112  operates on a computing device such as either a remote or centralized server. The network may further include a network management system  114  operating on a computing device such as a centralized server. If desired, the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  and the network management system  114  could operate on the same computing device and it is desirable for both systems to be able to communicate directly with each other. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a patch panel  110  is illustrated with twenty four ports  116 . The patch panel  110  is typically mounted in a rack (not shown) with other patch panels and arranged in an array within a dedicated room, commonly referred to as a wiring closet. The patch panels  110  are wired to network jacks or remote outlets  118  ( FIG. 2 ) (e.g., wall jacks in individual offices or cubicles throughout a building), which are often a significant distance from the wiring closet. The patch panel  110   a  closest to switch  108  is typically referred to as a “cross-connect” panel with switch cables  120  extending from the front of switch  108  and into the rear of patch or cross-connect panel  110   a.  Electronic circuitry and components  111  are provided within each patch panel and associated with each port  116  to permit electronic monitoring of each port as described below. 
         [0030]    Patch cables  122  extend between a port on the front of patch panel  110   a  ( FIG. 2 ) and a port on the front of patch panel  110   b  to interconnect such ports. The pairs of interconnected ports on the patch panels  110   a,    110   b  may or may not be vertically aligned, as schematically depicted in  FIG. 2 . A remote outlet or horizontal cable  124  extends from the rear of each patch panel  110   b  and to each individual remote outlet  118 . Finally, device cable  126  is utilized to connect each end-user device  102  to remote outlet  118 . 
         [0031]    According to common industry usage, the ports at the rear of switches  106  and the front of patch panels  110 , the remote outlets  118  and the outlets or ports (not shown) on end-user devices  102  are typically in the form of RJ-45 jacks so that cables having RJ-45 plugs at the ends thereof may be interconnected thereto. The rear of patch panels  110  and the rear of remote outlets  118  typically utilize insulation displacement terminals (not shown) so that cables are interconnected thereto by terminating insulation covered wires thereat. If desired, other combinations of connections or even other structures altogether could be utilized for interconnecting the various components of network  100 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , network  100  further includes scanners  128  that operate together with the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  and electronic circuitry and components  111  of patch panel  110  to monitor connection changes at switches  106 , patch panels  110  and remote outlets  118  connected to the network  100 . The scanners are connected to patch panels  110  and, in one embodiment, utilize a serial data connection for communication. The scanners are further connected to the Layer 1 monitoring system and its associated computing device through LAN/WAN  104 . Placing resistors in the remote outlets  118  allows the system to discriminate between open remote outlets and those having end-user devices connected thereto with the end-user devices turned off. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , it should be noted that such drawing is schematic in nature and the network and components thereof are extremely scalable and thus may include almost any number of components. In addition, while one scanner  128  is depicted as being connected to six patch panels  110 , in one embodiment, multiple scanners  128  may be used with each connected to up to twenty-four patch panels. While each patch panel  110   b  is depicted as being connected to three end-user devices  102 , in one embodiment, multiple patch panels  110   b  may be connected to up to twenty-four end-user devices. 
         [0034]    Upon initially setting up network  100  and the Layer 1 monitoring system  112 , a building map of the physical location of each port  116  and remote outlet  118  is created. This map is then saved in an electronic format within the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  with appropriate links between each switch  106 , patch panel  110 , port  116  and remote outlet  118 . Each switch  108  polls each remote outlet  118  and provides data received back from each connected end-user device to the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  which incorporates the data from the switches into the physical location data in order to create a database including physical and electronic locations of the various end-user devices. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , during operation, when the scanner determines (at step  130 ) that a patch cord  122  from a port  116  of cross-connect panel  110   a  or patch panel  110   b  has been connected or disconnected or an asset cable  126  has been connected or disconnected from remote outlet  118 , the scanner  128  informs the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  of such a change or “connect event.” If the connect event occurs at a port  116  of cross-connect panel  110   a  or patch panel  110   b,  the system  112  will inform (at step  132 ) IT personnel of the change and the personnel may act accordingly. For example, connect events that occur at a port  116  of a cross-connect panel  110   a  or patch panel  110   b  are typically in connection with IT personnel operating within the wiring closet. In such case, those connect events may be ignored. If, however, the connect event occurs when no one is scheduled or authorized to be operating within the specified wiring closet, personnel may be sent to investigate whether there has been an unauthorized access, a malfunction or merely miscommunication within the IT group. 
         [0036]    If an existing end-user device  102  is disconnected from a remote outlet  118 , the scanner  128  communicates to the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  the specific port  116  of patch panel  110   b  interconnected or associated with the remote outlet from which the device has been disconnected. Since the location of each component of the network is stored within the Layer 1 monitoring system  112 , the physical location of the remote outlet  118  from which the end-user device  102  was disconnected is determined as well as the identification of the specific device. This information is immediately provided (at step  134 ) to the network management system so that IT personnel are quickly able to determine what has been removed from the network and react accordingly. For example, if a network printer is unexpectedly disconnected from the network, a technician may be dispatched to the printer to fix the problem and security may be alerted in the event the printer is being stolen. 
         [0037]    If a new end-user device  102 ′ ( FIG. 2 ) is connected to the network, the system is able to determine the addition of such end-user device, its MAC address, its physical location as well as other desired information. By adding circuitry  111  to patch panels  110  (and resistors to remote outlets  118 , if desired) and utilizing scanner  128 , the connection of end-user device  102  may be monitored. Upon the connection of a new end-user device  102 ′ (or otherwise completing the electrical channel between an end-user device  102  and a switch  106  if, for example, the end user device is connected prior to completing the connection between the cross-connect panel  110   a  and switch  106 ), the scanner  128  detects the connect event and communicates at (step  136 ) to the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  the identification of the port connected to the remote outlet  118 ′ to which the connection has been made. More specifically, scanner  128  compares the electrical signature (such as, for example, without limitation, the impedance or resistance) along the channel with a database of values. When the electrical signature matches a predetermined value within the database, the Layer 1 monitoring system determines that a fully connected channel exists between end-user device  102  and switch  106  and thus a new end-user device has been added to the network (or connectivity between an end-user device  102  and a switch  106  has been established). 
         [0038]    The Layer 1 monitoring system  112  and server  103  electronically request (at step  138 ) the switch  106 ′ (interconnected to remote outlet  118 ′ via one of the cross-connect panels  110   a ′ and one of the patch panels  110   b ′) to poll or electronically request (at step  140 ) certain information or data of the newly attached end-user device  102 ′. The end-user device  102 ′ responds back (at step  142 ) to the switch  106 ′ and ultimately the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  with the desired data or information such as the MAC address, IP address, computer name, amount of drive space available (if applicable), amount of toner remaining (if applicable), information regarding the operating system used by the end-user device and any other desired data or information that the devices may be capable of providing. 
         [0039]    The Layer 1 monitoring system  112  then updates the database including the physical and electronic locations of the new end-user device  102 ′. As a result, the IT personnel immediately have access to the physical location of the newly attached end-user device  102 ′ together with its MAC address and other relevant information. Such “event driven” polling will typically be carried out using, for example, simple network management protocol (“SNMP”). The information regarding this new asset (namely, the MAC address and other relevant information) may immediately be communicated (at step  144 ) by the Layer 1 monitoring system and entered into the network management system  114  without waiting for a system-wide polling or discovery of the network. As a result, IT personnel are constantly provided with up-to-date system information, including detailed information regarding the end-user devices. 
         [0040]    If desired, rather than only polling the specific outlet  118 ′ to which the new end-user device  102 ′ has been connected, it may be possible or desirable to poll the remote outlets connected to the switch  106 ′ to which the new end-user device  102 ′ has been connected or, in the alternative, all of the remote outlets  118  interconnected to patch panel  110   b ′ connected to remote outlet  118 ′ may be polled. This will permit polling of less than all of the remote outlets and thus reduce the network resources required to maintain the database of the network components. 
         [0041]    By quickly detecting the connection of new end-user devices  102  to network  100  and utilizing event based polling, the Layer 1 monitoring system  112  reduces the need to probe or poll every IP address on a network looking for newly connected devices. As a result, it is possible to lengthen the time between regularly scheduled discovery or polling of the network and thus reduce network utilization and increase the accuracy of the records of the end-user devices. 
         [0042]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0043]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0044]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.