Patent ID: 8708724

Claim:
A communication cord for use in a communication system, comprising: a communication cable including at least one communication channel and a plurality of patch cord management conductors; a first connector connected to one end of said communication cable, said first connector having a plurality of patch cord management contacts each connected to a respective said plurality of patch cord management conductors; a second connector connected to another end of said communication cable, said second connector having a make before break switch connected to said plurality of patch cord management conductors, and at least one indicator connected to said make before break switch wherein at least one indicator includes a first indicator and a second indicator, first indicator and said second indicator indicates a plurality of states of said communication cord, and said plurality of states includes at least one of a) only said first connector connected to the system, b) only said second connector connected to the system, c) both said first connector and said second connector connected to the system, and d) neither said first connector nor said second connector connected to the system.