Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing a tracer function for networked cable systems used for data or power transmission. A self contained and self powered indicator circuit is described that enables tracing the location of both ends of a networked cable.

Description:
FIELD 
     This description relates to improved methods and apparatus for readily tracing remote connective portions of networking cables use for transferring data or power that are widely used in the information technology sector. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The purpose of any networking cable is to carry data or power from one electronic device to another. Electronic devices include but are not limited to terminals, personal computers, printers, workstations, hubs, switches, storage devices, tape drives, routers, telephone switches, and servers. Networking cables, frequently referred to, as “jumper cables”, “patch cables”, or simply “cables”, typically are multiple pair copper wires packaged in an outer flexible sheath. Networking cables are designed to interconnect an electronic device with another electronic device. Such networking cables often are used in systems where there are many networking cables connected to frames, panels, or electronic devices, each of which may have many connecting cables and which may be located closely adjacent other similar frames, panels, or electronic devices, sometimes without carefully regimented management of the cables. The connections of each cable may be remote from one another, even being in separate rooms or spaces, and the networking cables may be of substantial length. 
     One example of such use of networking cables is in computer centers where it is often necessary to connect a networking cable from an individual workstation at one location with another networking cable from a computer server remote from the workstation. Further the interconnections sometimes are located in crowded and/or cramped quarters. Tracing and identifying a remote connector section or end of a specific cable for changing its connection in a network or to facilitate replacement often is difficult, tedious and time consuming, and can lead to errors that create further service problems and additional costs. 
     Various methods and systems have been developed for locating the ends of a networking cable. One such method is a trial and error process that requires personnel to use test equipment at both ends of each and every wire pair to identify the termination points. This process may be labor intensive and expensive. The second method is a variation of the first method and involves the use of equipment to send a tone on a wire pair and then detect a particular frequency at the termination point. This process is also labor intensive. Also, to determine termination points, the cable needs to be disconnected from the computers connected to the network. As a result, these methods interfere with performance and require the workstation to be taken out of service. In addition, both systems require the test person to walk from one end of a test point to the other end. If the workstation and server are located in separate rooms or in remote locations, the previous methods are labor intensive and inefficient for easy detection of termination ends. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,243 to Dannenmann, et. al. describes a network cable tracing system that addresses some of these issues. Electrically activated telltales, such as light emitting diodes (LED&#39;s) are affixed to both ends of a networking cable and are activated when power is applied externally with a plug-in connection from a portable power pack. The resulting illumination of the LED&#39;s readily indicates where both ends of the networking cable are located. A system similar to this is offered by Cypress Industries, of Austin, Tex. and called the LED Cat5E RJ-45 Patch Cable. A solution of this type is useful and an improvement over some of the aforementioned labor intensive test methods. This approach has not been widely adopted though because it requires the technician to purchase a rather limited use power pack, carry it along with all of his or her other tools and individually plug it into each networking cable as part of a test protocol. Each cable also has to have a plug in connection on each end of the cable for the power pack to be attached. 
     An improved application is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,284 to Scherer et al., which describes a self contained and self powered indicator circuit that enables tracing the location of both ends of a networked cable without the use of external test equipment, providing an indicator circuit for signaling a cable connection between two electronic devices including at least a networking cable having a plurality of conductor wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; a connection hood on each end of the networking cable; an electrically activated telltale incorporated into each connection hood and electrically connected to at least one of the conductor wire pairs; an electric power source incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; and a manually operated switch incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales. 
     The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,284 provided limited functionality in use. More functionality than one simple response from the manual press button is a need. In addition increased reliability demands for Cat-6 cables requires a new approach because building the increased electronics required to add the aforementioned new functionality into the confines of a cable connector which has twisted pair connections can lead to crosstalk resulting in degraded performance of the cable. In addition users desire an indictor that the electric power source is going low and a way of testing when the electric power source has lost power. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     It is therefore an aspect of this development to provide a network cable tracing system that is contained to the network cables, low in cost, and straightforward to use. 
     It is another aspect that the test function is implemented simply by pushing a button on the networking cable hood. 
     It is another aspect that the electric power source required is provided by a battery or the capability of coupling into Power Over Ethernet in the network cable hood. 
     It is another aspect that no external test equipment is required. 
     These and other aspects and features are achieved by providing an indicator circuit for signaling a cable connection between two electronic devices including at least a networking cable having a plurality of conductor wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; a connection hood on each end of the networking cable; an electrically activated telltale incorporated into each connection hood and electrically connected to at least one of the conductor wire pairs; an electric power source incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; a separator mechanism incorporated into the connection hood to provide separation of the conductor wire pairs to minimize crosstalk; and a manually operated switch incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales. 
     Further aspects and features are achieved by providing an indicator circuit for signaling a cable connection between two electronic devices including at least a networking cable having a plurality of conductor wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; a connection hood on each end of the networking cable; an electrically activated telltale incorporated into each connection hood and electrically connected to at least one of the conductor wire pairs; an electric power source incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; a manually operated switch incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; and electric circuit elements incorporated into each hood connection and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; and a separator mechanism incorporated into the connection hood to provide separation of the conductor wire pairs to minimize crosstalk wherein the electric circuit elements complete the circuit for a prescribed amount of time when activated by the manually operated switch. 
     Further aspects and features are achieved by providing an indicator circuit for signaling a cable connection between two electronic devices including at least a networking cable having a plurality of conductor wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; a connection hood on each end of the networking cable; an electrically activated telltale incorporated into each connection hood and electrically connected to at least one of the conductor wire pairs; an electric power source incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; a manually operated switch incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; an integrated circuit chip, incorporated into each hood connection and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; and a separator mechanism incorporated into the connection hood to provide separation of the conductor wire pairs to minimize crosstalk; wherein the integrated circuit chip completes the circuit for a prescribed amount of time when activated by the manually operated switch. 
     Further aspects and features are achieved by providing a networking cable for transmitting data comprising a plurality of conductor wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; a plurality of twisted copper wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; an electrically activated telltale incorporated into each connection hood and electrically connected to at least one of the conductor wire pairs; a electric power source incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; manually operated switch incorporated into each connection hood and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; electric circuit elements incorporated into each hood connection and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; and a separator mechanism incorporated into the connection hood to provide separation of the conductor wire pairs to minimize crosstalk wherein the electric circuit elements complete the circuit for a prescribed amount of time when activated by the manually operated switch. 
     Further aspects and features are achieved by providing a networking cable for transmitting data comprising a plurality of conductor wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; a plurality of twisted copper wire pairs encased in a flexible sheath; an electrically activated telltale incorporated into each connection hood and electrically connected to at least one of the conductor wire pairs; a electric power source incorporated into at least one of the connection hoods and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; manually operated switch incorporated into each connection hood and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; and an integrated circuit chip, incorporated into each hood connection and in electrical connection with the electrically activated telltales; wherein the integrated circuit chip completes the circuit for a prescribed amount of time when activated by the manually operated switch. 
     In another aspect the integrated circuit chip in the connector hood is replaced by an RFID tag and the RFID tag collects records identifier information related to the connection location of the cable and transmits the information to an RFID reader for possible transmittal to a computer for analysis. 
     Further aspects include the capability to provide multiple modes of testing and indications to the user including the capability of firing the telltale indicator for different times depending on how the user pushes the button on each end of the cable. 
     Further aspects include the capability to connect a electric power source tester to either end of the cable. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a networked computer environment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic front elevation view of the networking cable. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic front elevation view of the hood of the networking cable. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic cross section front elevation view of the hood of the networking cable. 
         FIG. 5  is an interior view of the some of the interior elements of the hood of the networking cable. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic bottom elevation view of the boot of the networking cable. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the separator. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the end jack of the cable tracer system. 
         FIG. 9  is a view of a connector jack system for a fiber optic cable system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1 , shown generally by the numeral  10 , illustrates, by way of background, a typical networked environment that includes servers, computers, hubs, peripheral devices, and a cable panel. 
     In this example computers  32 ,  34 ,  38 , and  42  are each connected by networking cables to a cable panel  28 . The computers can be at multiple locations. Also attached to panel  28  by networking cable are peripheral devices such as printer  46  and scanner  48 . Panel  28  is often located at a central room where service personnel can access it. From panel  28  multiple computers and peripheral devices are often then linked by networked cables to hubs such as  22  and  24 , which then are connected to servers such as  12  and  16 . Typically, one room may house multiple servers and hubs. Various protocols are used to support data transfer between computer and server pairs. A typical protocol is Ethernet. 
     The example shown is a small network and typical networks are much larger. In addition to the devices shown in  FIG. 1  a network could include, but is not limited to, other electronic devices such as workstations, switches, tape drives, storage devices, telephone switches, VOIP devices, and routers. The application anticipates any electronic device that can be part of a network. With large networks the total number of networking cables is large and routine maintenance functions as well as the addition or change of computers can lead to significant time and manpower requirements in tracing down connections throughout the system. 
       FIG. 2 , shown generally by the numeral  50 , illustrates the networking cable that may be used in the networked environment of  FIG. 1 . Cable  52 , as used in networking applications is typically composed of a plurality of insulated twisted conductor wire pairs encased in a flexible outer cover sheath. The number of twisted conductor wire pairs can vary depending on the application. 
     Some well known standards are Category 5 cabling standard, which has four insulated twisted copper wires encased in an outer jacket layer. These are referred to as Cat-5 cables. A growing use is in Cat6 cables for Ethernet applications. Cat-6 is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that are backward compatible with the Category 5/5e and Category 3 cable standards. Compared with Cat-5 and Cat-5e, Cat-6 features more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet), 1000BASE-T/1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet) and 10GBASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet). Category 6 cable has a reduced maximum length when used for 10GBASE-T; Category 6a cable, or Augmented Category 6, is characterized to 500 MHz and has improved alien crosstalk characteristics, allowing 10GBASE-T to be run for the same distance as previous protocols. Category 6 cable can be identified by the printing on the side of the cable sheath. Several other standards are in use and the use of any of them is anticipated. An additional conductor wire or wire pair is added so that a Cat-5 or Cat-6 cable can perform the tracing function described herein. The extra conductor wire will be referred to in this description as the indicator wire. It should also be noted that the composite cable may consist of coaxial, twin-axial, twisted, untwisted, shielded and unshielded pair wires, as is known in the art. Accordingly, the term “networking cable” is used in this description and in the appended claims will encompass all such variations of composite cable, including those that carry data and those that carry power. 
     A connector assembly made up of a standard connector  56  coupled to a boot  54  on the end of the networking cable provides for the connection of the cable to the various networked devices. A typical connector  56  is an RJ-45, an eight wire connector commonly used in networking computers. A preferred embodiment is the use of a  10  conductor RJ-45. The use of a 10 conductor RJ-45 allows the insertion of an additional cable pair from the main distribution frame (MDF) to the intermediate distribution frame (IDF), which enables a continuous continuity path that enables the use of the telltale light indicator on each end of the cable. The overall connector (connector plus boot) will be referred to as the connector hood in this description and in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 3 , shown generally as the numeral  60  is a slightly enlarged illustration of the connector hood. Near the rear section of boot  54  is an electrical telltale  64 , which can be used to produce an audio or visual signal for tracing network cables. For purposes of this description and the appended claims a telltale can be any electrically triggered device that emits a visual or audio signal that can be detected by a human. A preferred telltale is a light emitting diode (LED), but could be other visual indicators such as a conventional light bulb, or a liquid crystal visual indicator. A button  68  is shown, which can be manually pressed to engage a manual switch (not shown) which completes an indicator circuit that causes the telltale LED to flash repeatedly for a predetermined time. The indicator circuit includes the indicator wire or wire pair that runs the complete length of the networking cable. It is important to note that the hood shown in  FIG. 2 , which is shown on the “left” end of the networking cable has a identical twin hood on the “right” end that has identical circuitry as well as an LED and manual switch and is in electrical connection via the indicator wire or wire pair. The exact location of the button and telltale is not critical and they can be located on various surfaces of the connector hood. 
       FIG. 4 , shown generally by the numeral  80  is another side view of an embodiment of a hood shown in cross section to demonstrate some of the internal components. Button  68  is connected physically to a switch (to be shown) which when manually engaged completes an electrical circuit that powers electrical telltale  64 . Referring to  FIG. 5  button  68  engages switch  72  that is mounted on printed circuit board  76 . Below printed circuit board  76  is an integrated circuit  82  ( FIG. 4 ) that provides part of the intelligence of one of the embodiments and will be described further. Referring back to  FIG. 5  printed circuit board  76  is in electrical connection to a electric power source  90  via positive connection  86  and negative connection  88 . The wiring of a complete electrical circuit between electrical telltale  64 , switch  72 , integrated circuit  82 , and electric power source  90  is done through the common printed circuit board  76 . 
       FIG. 6 , shown generally by the numeral  100 , is a bottom view of boot  54  to show the embodiment in which the electric power source is a battery and in which door  92  can be moved to an open position to expose the battery port  94  where the battery ( 90  in  FIG. 5 ) can be inserted. A number of batteries can be used in this application. For the circuit components discussed in the example a preferred battery is a CR927 3-volt lithium battery. A number of similar batteries are available from other manufacturers and the use of any of them is anticipated. 
     It is further anticipated that power could be supplied by other means than a battery. The power for the display capability of the networking cable could supplied from Power Over Ethernet (POE), a technology for safely passing electrical power, along with data on Ethernet cabling. In addition, other electric power sources, such as solar are possibilities. 
     Another important aspect is the ability to have a useful and long-lived tracer circuit with only the on board electric power sources. This is especially important in the embodiment of an on board battery. Accordingly when the switch  72  is engaged by pushing button  68  ( FIGS. 4-5 ) it is desirable for the electrical telltales to signal for a prescribed amount of time but then shut off to conserve power. This can be accomplished in several ways. The simplest circuit would be one in which the circuit is engaged and drawing power from electric power source  90  once the first button  68  is pushed and is disengaged when one of the buttons  68  is pushed again. This embodiment is functional though it suffers from the weakness that users may accidentally push one of the buttons and leave the circuit engaged, draining the power from electric power source  90 . An improved embodiment (the second embodiment) is one in which pushing one of the buttons  68  engages power to the circuit for a prescribed amount of time and then disengages power to the circuit, conserving electric power source power. A number of simple electronic circuits could perform that function. Fortunately very small and low cost integrated circuits designed to do exactly that as well as pulse the power are commercially available in large quantities. Integrated circuit board X1622 available from Fulikai Electronic Technologies (China), is manufactured and sold to numerous toy manufacturers to provide a blinking light function to many toys. It is also used in the well-known shoes sold to children that have blinking LED lights that are activated when children press down on the shoes while walking. A number of similar integrated circuits are available from other manufacturers and the use of any of them is anticipated. 
     In another embodiment an integrated circuit is used that provides several options for an end user. One combination is a circuit that a) flashes for 20 seconds upon one button push and then shuts off automatically, b) flashes for 40 seconds after holding button down for 3 seconds, and then shuts off automatically, c) stops flashing instantly upon a button push on either end, and d) flashes continuously if the button is pressed  3  times. In another aspect the integrated circuit is enabled to detect and automatically indicate when the electric power source power begins to go low. 
     In yet another embodiment a Radio Frequency Identification circuit, often called an RFID tag, replaces the integrated circuit  82 . The use of an RFID tag expands the uses of the proposed networking cable. The RFID tag can be used for example to store information on the Media Access Control address (MAC address) of the device that one end of the network cable is attached to, or the jack number, port address, IP address, workstation identifier, or server identifier. The user can then use an RFiD reader to quickly scan the other end of the networking cable and get a complete readout of the exact location of the cable connection without having to walk around looking for a flashing light on the other end. 
     In another embodiment (not shown) the connector hood will accept a device that functions as a electric power source tester at either end of the cable. 
     In another embodiment the integrated circuit includes functionality that automatically indicates a condition of low electric power source power. 
     The addition of the additional electronics described above into a standardized or miniature connector, such as an RJ-45, is challenging and typically requires cutting the cable jacket back to allow room for the electronics. Cutting back the jacket can compromise the cable&#39;s signal integrity because the cable&#39;s twisted pair conductors are no longer held at the required minimum distance from each other to prevent cross talk between signals in the cable&#39;s conductors. Cross talk compromises the cable&#39;s value for data communications. Thus an additional aspect is a designed separator that supplies the required fit and function to allow a separate channel for each twisted pair of the communications cable. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates such a separator. It is sized to fit completely within the jack at the end of the communications cable. The separator  150  is molded from a non-conductive material and has channels  160 ,  170 ,  180 , and  190  for four twisted wire pairs coming from the communications cable. The separator maintains the twisted wire separation all through the connector jack. Channel  180  may carry in addition to one of the twisted wire pairs the indicator wire or wire pair that will carry the signal to the PCB board. The use of separator  150  will allow the routine use of four twisted wire systems housed inside an over molded communications jack and in the presence of electronics inside the jack while maintaining the minimum crosstalk necessary to meet CAT6 reliability standards. 
     The resulting networking cable is a completely self-contained tracing cable. It enables any technician or user to simply push one button to check for the location of the opposite end of a cable in a networked system. In the case of the second embodiment the telltale indication ceases after a prescribed amount of time, conserving electric power source power. But several other testing functionalities are possible and were discussed earlier. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a possible configuration in an exploded view making use of the separator  150  of  FIG. 7 . The separator  150  accepts the twisted wire pairs (not shown) from cable  220 . The four twisted wire pairs and indicator pair would be channeled into the four channels of separator  150 . The printed circuit board  230 , containing all of the electronics for the tracer functionality would be attached immediately below separator  150  and be connected to the indicator pair wires. A pushbutton  240  is attached below the printed circuit board. A electric power source  250  and electric power source cover  260  is above the separator and the complete assembly located inside connector jack  270 . 
     It should be noted that the proposed cable tracer system proposed could also be used for fiber optic communications cables. Implementation of this embodiment requires that at least one conductor wire be deployed along the length of the fiber optic cable to act as the indicator wire described earlier. The electronics and functionality of the tracer testing would be identical to that described earlier.  FIG. 9  illustrates a connector jack system  300  designed for implementation in a fiber optic system. The fiber optic connectors  310  are shown, as is button  320 . The enclosure contains the other elements (electric power source, PCB board, etc) that operate the same way as in the non fiber optic embodiments described above. 
     While several variations have been described above with references to specific embodiments thereof, it is apparent that many changes, modifications and variations in the materials, arrangements of parts and steps can be made without departing from the inventive concept disclosed herein. Accordingly, the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims are intended to embrace all such changes, modifications and variations that may occur to one of skill in the art upon a reading of the disclosure. All patent applications, patents and other publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.