Patent Abstract:
Methods having corresponding apparatus and computer programs comprise: receiving a command to identify a connected port at a far end of a cable providing a communication link; and changing a state of the communication link at a near end of the cable according to a repeating pattern in response to the command.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/987,225, filed Nov. 12, 2007, the disclosure thereof incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to data communications over cable. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to identifying the port connected to the far end of a cable using a device connected to the near end of the cable. 
     In a typical office, devices such as personal computers, printers, and the like are connected to a corporate network by cables such as Ethernet cables. Each cable is generally connected to one or more switches, which are located away from the devices, for example in a separate room. Each switch has many ports, each connected to one of the cables. In such a system, one problem commonly encountered by a network administrator is how to visually identify the switch port to which a particular device is connected. 
     Some network configuration utilities include a function to identify the local network card using a flashing LED. However, this function only helps to identify a specific network port of a local device with several network cards installed. The function is unable to identify a port connected to the far end of a cable connected to the local device. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, in one aspect, an embodiment features a method comprising: receiving a command to identify a connected port at a far end of a cable providing a communication link; and changing a state of the communication link at a near end of the cable according to a repeating pattern in response to the command. 
     Embodiments of the method can include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the state of the communication link includes at least one of: link activity up/down status; link speed; and link half/full duplex status. Some embodiments comprise displaying an indication of the repeating pattern on a monitor at the near end of the cable. In some embodiments, the command indicates the repeating pattern. In some embodiments, the cable is an Ethernet cable. In some embodiments, the cable is selected from the group consisting of: a USB cable; a IEEE 1394 firewire cable; an ISDN cable; an analog telephone cable; a digital telephone cable; and an optical cable. 
     In general, in one aspect, an embodiment features an apparatus comprising: a first port to connect with a near end of a cable providing a communication link; and a controller to change a state of the communication link at the near end of the cable according to a repeating pattern in response to a command to identify a second port connected with a far end of the cable. 
     Embodiments of the apparatus can include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the state of the communication link includes at least one of: link activity up/down status; link speed; and link half/full duplex status. Some embodiments comprise a monitor at the near end of the cable to display an indication of the repeating pattern. In some embodiments, the command indicates the repeating pattern. In some embodiments, the cable is an Ethernet cable. In some embodiments, the cable is selected from the group consisting of: a USB cable; a IEEE 1394 firewire cable; an ISDN cable; an analog telephone cable; a digital telephone cable; and an optical cable. Some embodiments comprise a network device comprising the apparatus. In some embodiments, the network device is selected from the group consisting of: a network switch; a router; and a network interface controller. Some embodiments comprise a computer comprising the network device. 
     In general, in one aspect, an embodiment features a computer program comprising: instructions for receiving a command to identify a connected port at a far end of a cable providing a communication link; and instructions for changing a state of the communication link at a near end of the cable according to a repeating pattern in response to the command. 
     Embodiments of the computer program can include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the state of the communication link includes at least one of: link activity status; link speed; and link half/full duplex status. Some embodiments comprise instructions for displaying an indication of the repeating pattern on a monitor at the near end of the cable. In some embodiments, the command indicates the repeating pattern. In some embodiments, the cable is an Ethernet cable. In some embodiments, the cable is selected from the group consisting of: a USB cable; a IEEE 1394 cable; an ISDN cable; an analog telephone cable; a digital telephone cable; and an optical cable. 
     In general, in one aspect, an embodiment features an apparatus comprising: first port means for connecting with a near end of a cable providing a communication link; and controller means for changing a state of the communication link at the near end of the cable according to a repeating pattern in response to a command to identify a second port connected with a far end of the cable. 
     Embodiments of the apparatus can include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the state of the communication link includes at least one of: link activity status; link speed; and link half/full duplex status. Some embodiments comprise monitor means, at the near end of the cable, for displaying an indication of the repeating pattern. In some embodiments, the command indicates the repeating pattern. In some embodiments, the cable is an Ethernet cable. In some embodiments, the cable is selected from the group consisting of: a USB cable; a IEEE 1394 cable; an ISDN cable; an analog telephone cable; a digital telephone cable; and an optical cable. Some embodiments comprise a network device comprising the apparatus. In some embodiments, the network device is selected from the group consisting of: a network switch; a router; and a network interface controller. Some embodiments comprise A computer comprising the network device. 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a port for a conventional network device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a data communications system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a process for the data communications system of  FIG. 2  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows an “Identify Adapter” window that can be used to generate a command to begin link identification according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The leading digit(s) of each reference numeral used in this specification indicates the number of the drawing in which the reference numeral first appears. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to identifying the port connected to the far end of a cable using a device having a port connected to the near end of the cable using link state indicators of the far-end port. In a typical network device, one or more link state indicators is provided for each port. For example, each port may have one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to indicate the state of the link associated with the port. In embodiments of the present invention, these indicators are manipulated using repeating patterns so the far-end port can easily be identified. The manipulations of the far-end indicators is done using the default communication protocol between both peers. The far end peer does not need any special hardware or software to be able to show the manipulated pattern. 
       FIG. 1  shows a port  100  for a conventional network device. Referring to  FIG. 1 , port  100  includes a connector  102  for connecting a cable to provide a communication link, and LEDs  104 A-E. LEDs  104  indicate the link state of the link for port  100 . LED  104 A indicates the link activity state, that is, whether the link is up or down. LEDs  104 B-D indicate the link speed in Mb/s. LED  104 E indicates the duplex state of the link, that is, whether the link is full duplex or half duplex. 
     While a user device such as a computer or printer may have only one port, a switch generally has many. When a network administrator is troubleshooting a link at the switch, it can be difficult to identify the switch port connected to a particular device. To solve this problem, embodiments of the present invention manipulate the link state at the device, which is connected to the “near end” of the cable, so as to produce a repeating pattern in the LEDs at the switch port connected to the “far end” of the cable. The pattern is selected to be significantly different from normal operation patterns, and therefore easily recognizable to humans, so that the network administrator can identify the switch port for the device at a glance. 
       FIG. 2  shows a data communications system  200  according to one embodiment. Data communications system  200  includes a computer  202  that includes a network interface controller (NIC)  204  connected to a switch  206  by a network cable  208 . While various embodiments are described with respect to computer  202 , and NIC  204 , they are equally applicable to other sorts of devices such as printers, scanners, routers, switches, and the like. In addition, while various embodiments are described with respect to network communications, they are equally applicable to devices employing other forms of data communications, which can use different signaling protocols, such as direct links and the like. For example, while in the described embodiments cable  208  is an Ethernet cable, in other embodiments, cable  208  can be a USB cable, a IEEE 1394 cable (also known as firewire), and the like. In addition, cable  208  is not limited to electrical cables, and in other embodiments can be an optical cable or the like. 
     As another example, data communications system  200  can be a telephone system where computer  202  is replaced by a telephone and cable  208  can be an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) cable, an analog telephone cable, a digital telephone cable, or the like. In such embodiments, visual indicators (such as LEDs) can be augmented or replaced by audible indicators such as specific ringtones which are not used during normal operation and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , computer  202  includes NIC  204 , which is connected by a bus  210  to a processor  212 , a memory  214 , and a hard drive  216 . NIC  204  includes a controller  218 , a physical-layer device (PHY)  220 , and a port  222 . Port  222  includes a connector  224  and LEDs  226 , which can be arranged as shown for port  100  of  FIG. 1 . In various embodiments, controller  218  includes a processor  228 , an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuits)  230 , or both. 
     Switch  206  includes a plurality of ports  232 A-N, each including a respective one of connectors  234 A-N and a respective group of LEDs  236 A-N. Cable  208  is connected to port  232 A of switch  206 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . For clarity, the end of cable  208  connected to computer  202  is referred to as the “near end,” while the end of cable  208  connected to switch  206  is referred to as the “far end.” LEDs  236 A-N at the “far end” may be different in alignment, number, and color from LEDs  226  at the “near end”. Data communications system  200  can also include a monitor  240  connected to computer  202 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a process  300  for data communications system  200  of  FIG. 2  according to one embodiment. Although in the described embodiments, the elements of process  300  are presented in one arrangement, other embodiments may feature other arrangements. For example, in various embodiments, some or all of the steps of process  300  can be executed in a different order, concurrently, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , computer  202  receives a command to identify the connected port  232  at the far end of cable  208  (step  302 ). In some embodiments, the command is generated by a local user. For example, the user can employ a graphical user interface of the operating system of computer  202  to generate the command. 
       FIG. 4  shows an example “Identify Adapter” window  400  that can be used to generate the command to begin link identification according to one embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4 , window  400  includes a “Start” button  402  that can be used to generate the command. Once far end port identification is complete, a “Stop” button  404  can be used to stop link identification. 
     In some embodiments, the command can be generated by a remote user. For example, a window similar to window  400  of  FIG. 4  can be displayed to a network administrator at a remote computer. 
     In response to the command, computer  202  changes a state of the communication link provided by cable  208  at the near end of cable  208  according to a repeating pattern (step  304 ). For example, as indicated by example window  400  of  FIG. 4 , the state change can be making and breaking the link. This and other state changes can be employed, alone or in combination, for example by changing the link speed, the link half/full duplex status, and the like. The repeating pattern can be, for example, changing the link state every 1-3 seconds. 
     In some embodiments, the command indicates the repeating pattern. For example, the user can select different patterns using different link states. In other embodiments, the pattern is predetermined. 
     The visual or audible indicators at the “far end” and the “near end” may generate different patterns due to different hardware or software on both sides. For example, the alignment, number, or color of the LEDs  226  may be different from the LEDs  236 A-N so that both sides may show different patterns. 
     The changes in link state are indicated by LEDs  226  of the port  222  connected to the near end of cable  208 . The changes in link state are also indicated by the LEDs  236  of the port  232  of switch  206  connected to the far end of cable  208  (step  306 ). LEDs  236  can flash, change color, or the like. The repeating pattern should be chosen so that the changes in LEDs  236  are significantly different from normal operating patterns, and therefore easily recognizable by the human eye. For example, when the link is made and broken every 3 seconds, the ACT LED  236  of the connected port  232  of switch  206  should flash in a pattern that repeats every 3 seconds. 
     In some embodiments, an indication of the repeating pattern is displayed on monitor  240 . For example, referring to  FIG. 4 , window  400  can include an indicator  406  that can show a preview of the visual pattern (such as flashing, changing color, or the like) in the manner expected at the far end of cable  208 , thereby making identification of the connected far end port even easier. In other embodiments, indicator  406  can generate audible indications to preview an audible pattern. 
     In some embodiments, link identification ends automatically (step  308 ). For example, process  300  can end automatically after one minute. Ending automatically is especially useful when link identification is initiated remotely using the link being identified. Alternatively, a user can end link identification using “Stop” button  404  of  FIG. 4 . 
     Process  300  of  FIG. 3  can be implemented in hardware, software, or combinations thereof. For example, software can be stored in memory  214  and or hard drive  216  of computer  202 , as well as in a memory of NIC  204 , and can be executed by processor  212  of computer  202 , processor  228  of NIC  204 , or both. As another example, hardware can be implemented in ASIC  230  of NIC  204 . 
     Various embodiments can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor; and method steps can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. Embodiments can be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Generally, a computer will include one or more mass storage devices for storing data files; such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and optical disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks. Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the disclosed techniques can be used for any communications where a link will be established between two peers. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7