Systems and methods for documenting networks with electronic modules

A documentation system for a network having a source device connected to a plurality of network paths, said documentation system comprising:

• a port corresponding to at least one of said network paths;
• a destination device coupled to said port along said at least one network path;
• an electronic module associated with said port, said electronic module having an identification code;
• an electronic module associated with said destination device, said electronic module having an identification code;
• a transmitter associated with said source device for transmitting query signals along respective ones of said network paths;
• and
• a receiver associated with said source device for receiving response signals from said respective ones of said network paths;
• wherein each of said electronic modules is capable of recognizing a particular query as corresponding to its identification code and responding to a transmission of a query signal by returning a response signal having its identification code back to said source device, said source device being adapted to re-transmit one of said query signals upon failing to receive response signals.

A method for identifying and locating devices within a network comprising:

• sending a query from a source device along a network path having a port in communication with said source device and a destination device connected to said port, said port having a port electronic module associated therewith, said destination device having a destination device electronic module associated therewith, each of said electronic modules having an identification code associated therewith;
• receiving said query at said port;
• responding to said query by sending from said port to said source device a port response signal containing said identification code associated with said port electronic module;
• receiving said query at said destination device;
• responding to said query by sending from said destination device to said source device a destination device response signal containing said identification code associated with said destination device electronic module;
• monitoring said port response signal and said destination device response signal at said source device;
• and
• re-sending said query from said source device along said network path if either of said port response signal or said destination device response signal is not received by said source device.

A method for documenting network systems having a network path with source device at a first end, a port having a port electronic module along said network path, and a destination device having a destination device electronic module at a second end comprising:

• sending a query signal from said source device;
• monitoring at said source device a port response signal comprising a port identification code from said port and a destination device response signal comprising a destination device identification code from said destination device;
• and
• repeating said step of sending said query signal if both said port response signal and said destination device response signal are not received by said source device.

A network documentation system comprising:

• a source device for sending a query signal;
• a network path for carrying said query signal;
• a port along said network path, said port comprising a port electronic module storing a port identification code associated with said port, said port electronic module adapted to respond to said query signal by sending to said source device along said network path a port response signal comprising said port identification code;
• a destination device in communication with said port, said destination device comprising a destination device electronic module storing a destination device identification code associated with said destination device, said destination device electronic module adapted to respond to said query signal by sending to said source device along said network path a destination device response signal comprising said destination device identification code.

A system for locating devices within a network having a source device which is connected to at least one network path having a destination device connected thereto, said system comprising:

• a port which includes an electronic module with an identification code on said at least one network path;
• said destination device including an electronic module with an identification code;
• said source device having the capability to send a query signal along said at least one network path;
• said electronic module corresponding to said port responding to said query by transmitting its identification code to said source device;
• and
• said electronic module of said destination device responding to said query by transmitting its identification code to said source device;
• wherein said source device is adapted to re-send said query signal if a collision results between said identification codes.

A documentation system for a network having a source device connected to a plurality of network paths, said documentation system comprising:

• a port corresponding to at least one of said network paths;
• a destination device coupled to said port along said at least one network path;
• an electronic module associated with said port, said electronic module having an identification code;
• an electronic module associated with said destination device, said electronic module having an identification code;
• a transmitter associated with said source device for transmitting query signals along respective ones of said network paths;
• and
• a receiver associated with said source device for receiving response signals from said respective ones of said network paths;
• wherein each of said electronic modules is capable of responding to a transmission of a query signal by returning a response signal having its identification code back to said source device, said source device being adapted to re-transmit one of said query signals upon failing to receive a response signal.

A method for identifying and locating devices within a network comprising:

• sending a first query from a source device along a network path having a port in communication with said source device and a destination device in communication with said port, said first query directed to said port, said port having a port electronic module associated therewith, said destination device having a destination device electronic module associated therewith, each of said electronic modules having an identification code associated therewith;
• sending a second query from said source device directed to said destination device receiving said first query at said port;
• responding to said first query by sending from said port to said source device a port response signal containing said identification code associated with said port electronic module;
• receiving said second query at said destination device;
• responding to said second query by sending from said destination device to said source device a destination device response signal containing said identification code associated with said destination device electronic module;
• monitoring said port response signal and said destination device response signal at said source device;
• and
• re-sending said first and second queries from said source device along said network path if either of said port response signal or said destination device response signal is not received by said source device.

A network system comprising:

• a network path;
• a source device at one end of said network path adapted to send a query down said network path;
• a port along said network path adapted to receive said query and respond with a port identification signal;
• and
• a destination device along said path adapted to receive said query and respond with a destination device identification signal.