Patent ID: 7605707

Claim:
A telecommunications patching system, comprising: a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports; a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect pairs of the connector ports, wherein each patch cord comprises opposite ends and a respective connector secured to each end, wherein each connector is configured to be removably secured within a connector port, and wherein each connector of a respective patch cord comprises an RFID tag, and wherein the RFID tags for a respective patch cord have the same unique identifier stored therewithin; an RFID reader; and an RF antenna associated with at least one of the connector ports, wherein the RF antenna emits RF signals configured to cause a patch cord connector RFID tag to transmit its identifier when excited by emitted RF signals, wherein the RF antenna detects the transmitted identifier of a patch cord connector RFID tag when a patch cord connector is inserted within, and removed from, one of the connector ports, and wherein the RF antenna transmits detected RFID tag identifiers to the RFID reader, wherein each connector port comprises a visual indicator, a manual signal button and tracing circuitry, and wherein when a manual signal button for a connector port containing an end of a patch cord is activated by a user, the tracing circuitry locates a connector port in which an opposite end of the patch cord is located and illuminates a respective visual indicator at the located connector port.