Patent ID: 7488206

Claim:
A system for documenting and guiding patch cord connections in a network comprising: a plurality of modular patch panels, each of said modular patch panels having a pair of network connection ports, a plurality of patch panel ports, and a pair of power sharing ports; wherein each of said patch panel ports is adapted to instantly detect the insertion of a patch cord plug into the patch panel port and each of said modular patch panels is adapted to immediately communicate information regarding the insertion of a patch cord plug to a network management system; and wherein each of said patch panel ports has an upper contact and a lower contact, said upper contact and said lower contact being arranged such that a circuit is completed between the upper contact and the lower contatt when a blade contact is positioned between the upper contact and the lower contact, at least one of the upper contact and lower contact having a spring loop adapted to provide sufficient normal force to promote electrical connection between the upper contact and the blade contact.