# US 10,374,921 B2 · Systems, equipment and methods for automatically tracking cable connections and for identifying work area devices and related methods of operating communications networks

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- Number: US 10,374,921 B2
- Document ID: US10374921B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/392,094
- Filed: 2016-12-28
- Published: 2017-04-20
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-21
- Assignees: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
- Applicants: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
- Inventors: Michael G. German; Peter T. Tucker; Matias Peluffo; Luc Walter Adriaenssens
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374921B2

## CPC

- H04L 43/0811: by checking connectivity
- G06F 13/36: for access to common bus or bus system
- G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling}
- G06F 13/4282: {on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus (on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247)}
- H04B 10/808: {Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system}
- H04Q 1/136: {having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements}
- H04Q 11/0071: {Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface}
- G08B 5/00: Visible signalling systems, e.g. visible personal calling systems or remote indication of seats occupied
- H04Q 2011/0077: {Labelling aspects, e.g. multiprotocol label switching [MPLS], G-MPLS, MPAS}
- H04Q 2011/0083: {Testing; Monitoring}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

Systems, equipment and methods for automatically tracking cable connections and for identifying work area devices and related methods of operating communications networks are provided. In one embodiment, a method of automatically identifying an end device that is connected to a local area network, the method comprising: transmitting a first control signal over a control channel that runs from a first connector port on a patch panel of the local area network to an integrated circuit chip mounted on the end device through at least a communications cable, a second connector port and a patch cord; receiving a second control signal from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel in response to the first signal, the second signal including identifying information for the end device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of automatically identifying an end device that is connected to a local area network, the method comprising:
transmitting a first control signal over a control channel that runs from a first connector port on a patch panel of the local area network to an integrated circuit chip mounted on the end device through at least a communications cable, a second connector port and a patch cord;
receiving a second control signal from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel in response to the first signal, the second signal including identifying information for the end device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip comprises a first serial identification (ID) chip.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying information comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) identification (ID).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second connector port includes a second serial identification (ID) chip that is electrically connected to the control channel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second connector port includes a sensor that is configured to detect when a patch cord is plugged into the second connector port.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first control signal is transmitted in response to determining that the patch cord was plugged into the second connector port.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the method further comprising powering the integrated circuit chip by a first conductive path of the control channel to a voltage sufficient to power the integrated circuit chip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit chip is part of a label that is mounted adjacent a third connector port that is included on the end device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the label is a passive electronic label, and wherein the integrated circuit chip is powered by a voltage carried over the control channel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method is carried out during a time period where the end device is not powered on.