Patent ID: 7370106

Claim:
A method of inserting a patch cord into first and second data ports in a local area network (LAN) comprising a computer system that controls the LAN, a plurality of data ports, a plurality of local system ports in communication with the computer system, and a visual indicator adjacent to each data port, the method comprising: the computer system determining whether instructions to insert the patch cord into the first data port have been correctly completed by analyzing a temporary connection formed by insertion of one end of the patch cord into one of the data ports and insertion of another end of the patch cord into one of the system ports; of the visual indicators adjacent to the data ports, altering a state of only the visual indicator adjacent to the first data port after the computer system determines that the instructions have been correctly completed to indicate that the instructions have been correctly completed, the state being altered before subsequent instructions to insert the other end of the patch cord into the second data port have been completed, the patch cord having been removed from the one of the system ports, thereby terminating the temporary connection, before the subsequent instructions have been completed; providing the subsequent instructions after the instructions have been correctly completed, the second data port belonging to the subset of the plurality of data ports; and of the visual indicators adjacent to the data ports, altering a state of only the visual indicator adjacent to the second data port after the subsequent instructions have been correctly completed to indicate that the subsequent instructions have been correctly completed.