Patent ID: 8197280

Claim:
A patch cord comprising: a plurality of signal wires; at least one control wire; a first connector adapted to electrically couple the signal and control wires with a first communication device; and a second connector adapted to connect only the signal wires of the signal and control wires with a second communication device, wherein the second connector includes: an indicator light, control circuitry configured to control the indicator light, a mechanical switch configured to change states when the second connector is inserted into the second communication device; detection circuitry configured to detect whether the second connector is plugged into the second communication device via the mechanical switch, and identification (ID) circuitry configured to provide a unique ID number of the patch cord to the first communication device through the first connector, wherein the control circuitry, the indicator light, the detection circuitry, and the ID circuitry are connected to the at least one control wire but not to the signal wires.