Patent Publication Number: US-10326229-B2

Title: Termination identification device and system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/786,466 filed Mar. 15, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the technical field of information technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to connection identification. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     With the modern era&#39;s explosion of information technology, there is an increasing need for improved systems and devices to identify an inventory of connections. Whether in the setting of a business, home, or other, multiple devices may require connection. For example, a server may comprise multiple connections, such as, in particular, connections for communicating on a network. Similarly, a work station may require a connection to a network device in order to access the server; for example, an Ethernet television (ETV) may require connections to channels in an ETV server. Since technology and related standards may change over time in unpredictable and sometimes rapid ways, it is anticipated that some novel principles relating to improved systems and devices may have application for such advancements while still being immediate useful and compatible with existing network termination standards. 
     For example, a popular current networking standard ETHERNET uses both copper and fiber mediums to establish communication connections. The termination points (or connections) for these are standard across the industry. In typical current constructs, infrastructure and cabling are aggregated into communication facilities (whether for low or high density applications). Oftentimes the infrastructure itself is terminated into patch panels, which allow for final completion of the physical links into the communication equipment, sometimes referred to as “nodes” (such as computers, telephones, etc.), which may be located near or far from the patch panels. More specifically, physical links connecting the communications equipment and the patch panels are often connection cables. Generally, in order to establish a connection, the connection cables are first connected to the patch panel and from the patch panel the opposite end of the connection cable (sometimes known as the tail end) may connect to a particular communication device (e.g, router, switch, Ethernet TV (“ETV”) server, sound system), thus completing an end-to-end connection. 
     One problem with currently available systems and devices for network identification and inventory is that most do not allow for a correlation between patch panels and communication devices. Rather, such prior art systems and devices tend to rely heavily on a highly manual process sometimes called “tracing.” Some tracing processes consist of one information technology professional starting on one end or portion of a cable or connection and then tracing the cable by touch or by sight all the way back to an end point. This usually time-consuming process generally only allows one connection to be actively traced at a time, which process must be repeated for multiple if not all of the connections. 
     Those systems, methods, and devices for network identification and inventory that do attempt to alleviate the problems associated with tracing, by allowing for a correlation between patch panels and communication devices, mostly do so through the utilization of male connectors. In other words, said systems, methods, and devices utilize either the connection cables themselves or the ends of the connection cable that basically comprise one uniform piece with (or at not least are not easily detachable from) the connection cable itself. Producing many different male connectors and/or cables according to varying color codes, alphanumeric markings, etc., can be costly to produce and somewhat inefficient, as already-labeled male-side cables are likely limited to the purpose for which they are labeled. For example, if a standard cable labeled “22” needed to be replaced or reused, another entire standard cable labeled “22” would essentially be required. 
     Another problem associated with prior art systems and devices is that, while labels or similar writings may be attached to the “male” connector or cables, such labels are generally not reusable, and may fall off during the tracing process. Moreover, having to repeatedly label each new connection cable and/or male connector takes time and effort, may be wasteful, and may impose ongoing costs. By way example, creating temporary labels (yellow “stickies,” tape, or writing directly on the cable) for each connection cable with a disconnected end may not practical when multiple or many connections cables are removed for servicing or replacing a communication device, and relying purely on memory in such situations may be prone to error, if feasible at all. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some operations and servicing any portion of a link (whether it be cabling, connection cable, communication device, etc.), the ability to quickly identify which connection cable is connected to which communication device or patch panel port is desirable. However, one encountered problem is not having a method or device for identifying the connections from the patch panels to the communication devices once an end of a connection cable is disconnected from a communication device/node. While modular communication devices may permit removal of a module without removal of connection cables, these normally require a certain amount of slack in the connection cables and risk damaging the connection cables. An effective method correlating connections would fill a need in an industry like IT. 
     The system, method, and device for network identification and inventory purposes described herein may utilize a female connector attachable to a male connector end of a cable connection, to assist in identifying the cable connection. Such a female connector may comprise connection cable identification means, which in some instances may comprise visible distinguishing characteristics such as, but not limited to, physical markings such as alphanumeric, symbols and/or color coding. Having such connection cable identification means on a female connector, side, or end, presents various advantages including but not limited to, lower costs, greater convenience, reusability, and allowing greater efficiency and speed when setting up the connection cables of a communication facility (whether such a facility comprises one connection cable or many). 
     Different communication facilities might utilize different labeling methods at the communication facilities, identifying the aggregation points to the end nodes. The connection ports, however, maintain standard identification usually in numerical increments, generally similar on all devices. Being able to identify a connection port to device, for example, by alphanumeric symbol and/or color, allows for improvements in both single use and also high density action. Moreover, reusable devices not specific to one communication facility are in essence reusable for all communication facilities, unlike physically printing identifying means on the cable or labels affixed on a temporary basis. Furthermore, to save on costs, connectors and pre-fabricated cables can be produced and purchased in bulk. Moreover, the embodiment of the system and device described herein may allow for installation, repair, removal, or servicing (or similar function) of more than one cable at a time, which may be beneficial for high density cabling areas. Thus embodiments of the method described herein that incorporate a reusable and removable device for establishing a correlation between a patch panel connection to a communication device may allow completion of certain tasks in a surprisingly time-efficient manner in comparison to some prior art methods. 
     Different embodiments of the system and device described herein may include a wide variety of types and shapes of female connectors, such as those that would reduce “snagging,” that may “snap” onto a male connector, or that may relieve stress or pressure at the point where the male connector meets, thus allowing the male connector and cable to be held essentially immobile to excess movement. In one embodiment described herein, the female connector may comprise a front end, a back end, and a lateral portion connecting the front end and the back end. The front end may comprise some means of attaching to the end of a connection cable. The end of a connection cable may often comprise a male connector and such male connectors may be found on each opposite end of a connection cable. In its environment of use, one male connector on one end of a connection cable may connect to a port, and a male connector on the opposite end may connect to a node. In one of the embodiments described herein, the lateral portion of said female connector may comprise means of identifying the connection cable. More particular for some embodiments, the connection cable identification means may identify to which port the opposite end of the connection cable may be connected. Various means of identification may of course be utilized, including but not limited to different patterns of colors, symbols (and not all means of identification need be visibly distinguishable). 
     Different embodiments may be used for different types of connections, intended for different uses—stated differently, the eligible types of connections are not limited. The following are illustrative of different types of connections that may be compatible with embodiments of the system and device described herein, and are not intended to be limited in application: RJ45, RJ11, RJ12, DB15, mini-SAS, SFP+SFF-8431, SFF-8436, SFF-8470, SFF-8087, CX4 Male, CX4 Female, Fiber, LC, SC, ST, MTP, MTRJ, HDMI, RCA, Coax, S-Video, component video, USB, 15 pin, LS. Thus, since the ends of various types of connections may vary, and may change depending on a prevailing industry standard, the attachment means of the female connector may also vary accordingly. In addition, some female connectors embodiments may be semi-universal and be adapted for attachment with more than one type of connection cable. Some embodiments of the attachment means may comprise an aperture on the front end adapted to receive and secure a male connector of the particular connection cable therein. Since some styles of male connectors of connection cables may comprise a clip portion to ensure that the male connector remains securely connected, the aperture of some female connector embodiments may accordingly comprise a recessed area adapted to releasably secure the clip portion in a locked position. 
     Other embodiments may consist of different materials and/or varying thickness, such as for example those more suited for restrictive areas such as high or low density locations or settings (whether in a communications closet utilizing 200 plus connections to a personal home network, etc.). Certain other embodiments may include a back end portion of a female connector shaped to allow stacking, bundling, and/or sorting, of other connectors on top of each other. In addition, an end of the female connector may either be closed or open, or any variation thereof (holes) etc., and may apply to different types of male connectors (e.g., LC to MTRJ on the other—meaning if there was a cable created that has a connector that is different on either end). 
     Once the identification means of the female connector have identified the connection cable, such as for example by identifying to the user to which port the opposite end of the connection cable is connected, in some embodiments the female connector may be removed to allow the male connector to connect to a node. Other embodiments may be designed to allow the male connector to connect to a node without previously removing the female connector (although in such instances the female connector may still be removed). Some embodiments of the female connector may be designed for reuse—that is, for attachment with other connection cables. 
     The above description and listed alternative embodiments are considered that of some embodiments only. It is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described below are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit scope. Alterations and modifications, therefore, and such further applications as would occur to those skilled in the relevant art(s), are also contemplated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a communication facility and connection cables. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a male end of a connection cable being inserted into a front end of one embodiment of a female connector identification device. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the back end of the female connector identification device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a means for storing multiple female connector identification devices of  FIG. 2  on a loop. 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the front end of another embodiment of a female connector identification device. 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the back end of the female connector identification device of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a means for storing multiple female connector identification devices of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8A  shows a side perspective view of a male end of a connection cable being inserted into another embodiment of a female connector identification device. 
         FIG. 8B  shows a side perspective view of the female connector identification device of  FIG. 8A  attached to the male end of the connection cable of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  shows a front view of the female connector end identification device of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A “female” connector is defined herein as having any shape and/or configuration capable of releasably interconnecting with the male end of a connection cable, and is not necessarily required to “cover” the male end. Similarly, “male connector” is herein defined as the end of a connection cable, regardless of any particular shape of that end (e.g., RJ45, etc.). “Connect” and “attach” are each defined herein to include at least both the definitions of each of those terms. “Connection cable” is herein defined to comprise all types of data transmitting connections, cables, wires, cords, etc. “Communication facility” is defined herein to include both high and low density communication environments, regardless of number of connection cables. “Node” is defined herein broadly to include, but not be limited to, any device to or from which data may be transmitted (“data” also being defined broadly to include but not be limited to any information and/or signals transmitted using voltage, whether high or low voltage). 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a communication facility or rack  10 , (which might be typically located in, for example, communications/telecomm closets/etc.) into which a patch panel  11  and network/communication equipment  12  are installed. (Although the patch panel shown in  FIG. 1  may be “copper” or non-fiber, it is anticipated that embodiments of the system and device described herein may also find application with other types of patch panels, such as fiber patch panels.) Connection cables  13  may be organized and/or aggregated by the patch panels  11 . 
     A first male connector end  14 ( a ) of one communication or connection cable  13 ( a ) may be inserted into a communications port for a network/communication device  15 , which may be located in the network equipment portion  12  of the communication facility or rack  10 . A second male connector end  14 ( b ) of the communication or connection cable  13 ( a ) may be inserted into a first patch panel port  16 ( a ), which may be located in the patch panel portion  11  of the communication facility or rack  10 . A third male connector end  14 ( c ) of a second communication or connection cable  13 ( b ) may be inserted into a second patch panel port  16 ( b ), and a fourth male connector end  14 ( d ) of the second communication or connection cable  13 ( b ) may be configured to connect with a particular node/communication device  17 ( a ), such as a phone (the third male connector end  14 ( c ) and the fourth male connector end  14 ( d ) comprising opposites ends of the connection cable  13 ( b )). Thus, connection cables  13  may assist in forming a connection between “nodes”  17  (i.e. communication devices such as, for example, a television, computer, camera, printer, scanner, etc.), and an aggregate device  18  (whether passive or active), such as a switch, router, server, etc. (the aggregate device  18  being symbolized in  FIG. 1  as a “switch” regardless of lack of actual physical resemblance to such a switch). 
     The relationship between a patch panel (such as the patch panel  11 ) and a node  17  creates a need for an identification device and/or system—for example (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 8A, 8B, and 9 ), one such identification device and/or system may involve using embodiments of a female connector  20 ,  28 ,  30  comprising features identifying the connection cables  13 . Attaching/connecting such embodiments of a female connector  20 ,  28  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6 )  30  (as shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9 ), to a male connector  19  on the end of a connection cable  21  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), or more specifically to the fourth male connector end  14 ( d ) of the second communication or connection cable  13 ( b ) (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), may allow identification of the connection between the patch panel  11  and the communication devices  17  (the nodes) (such as the particular communication device, the phone  17 ( a )). Stated differently, embodiments of the system and device described herein may be used to identify the connection from the communication facility  10  to communication devices  17 , once the connection cables  13  are (or a singular communication cable such as the second communication or connection cable  13 ( b ), is) removed from the communication devices  17  (or particular device  17 ( a )). By way of further example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , embodiments of the system and device described herein may be used to identify the connection cable  21 , using the female connector  20  that may attach to the male connector  19  end of the connection cable  21  (which in the embodiment shown may be a male RJ45 connector end). 
     To enable such identification, the female connector  20  may be distinguishable in some manner, such as, for example, by bearing visual markings  22 . Examples of such markings may include alpha-numeric symbols  23  and/or color coding bands  24 . In the particular embodiment shown, by inserting the male connector  19  of the connection cable  21  into a female connector  20  bearing such markings  22 , the male connector  19  and connection cable  21  may be identified. Some embodiments of the female connectors  20 ,  28 ,  30  may include apertures  25 ,  31 ,  32  along its front end  35 ,  36 ,  37  into which the male connector  19  may be inserted. Nevertheless, the means for attaching the female connector embodiments  20 ,  28 ,  30  (and any variations thereof) to the connection cables  13 ,  21  (including variations of such connection cables), and to the male connector ends thereof  14 ( a ),  14 ( b ),  14 ( c ),  14 ( d ),  19  (including variations of such ends) are not intended to be limited in design, scope, or application, and may be adapted to any prevailing industry standard for connector ends (or to a non-prevailing industry standard). For example, the apertures  25 ,  31 ,  32  may vary in size and shape adapted to the size and of the male connector ends  14 ( a ),  14 ( b ),  14 ( c ),  14 ( d ),  19 , and in some embodiments attaching may still occur for embodiments that do not comprise apertures at all. 
     The back ends  26 ,  29 ,  33  of the female connectors  20 ,  28 ,  30  opposite from the front ends  35 ,  36 ,  37  comprising the apertures  25 ,  31 ,  32  for attaching/connecting, may also vary in design and function. For example, the female connector  20  shown in  FIG. 2 , in addition to the aperture  25  on its front end  35 , may also include another back end aperture  38 , which feature, as shown in  FIG. 4 , together with the front end  35  aperture  25 , may allow for easier carrying and/or storage of a plurality of female connectors  20  together, for example, through insertion of a cord  27  or other device/means through both apertures  25 ,  38  of each of the plurality of such female connectors  36 , possibly forming a loop. Other embodiments may have different designs, shapes, and styles, such as the embodiment of a female connector  28  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which may still comprise identifying means such as physical markings  22 , but on the back end  29  opposite from the aperture  31  on the front end  36  into which the male connector  19  may be inserted, may be a piece shaped to replicate  39  to a substantial degree the shape of the male connector  19  or adapted to fit tightly within the aperture  31 . In this manner, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the piece of the female connector  28  that replicates to a substantial degree the male connector  39  may be inserted into another female connector  28 , and repeated with a plurality of female connectors  35 , to allow for convenient storage and portability. 
     In addition, the shape of embodiments of the connector identification device may vary in shape according to stylistic preference as well as desired functionality. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9 , one female connector embodiment  30  may have some rounded or curved edges  34 , which may assist to prevent snagging of the female connector  30  while tracing is being performed. In addition, the aperture  32  of the front end  37  of the female connector  30  may comprise a recessed area  40  adapted to releasably secure a clip portion  41  of the male connector  19  in a locked position. The particular location of connection cable identification means/distinguishing marks  42  along the female connector  30  may vary, but in the embodiment shown may be located along the exterior surface of a lateral part  43  in between the front end  37  and the back end  33  of the device  30 . As shown in  FIG. 8B , the female connector  30  may attach to the male connector  19  but need not cover completely said male connector  19 .