VOIP telephone location system

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;
• a receiver associated with said source device for receiving response signals from said respective ones of said network paths;
• and
• a local power source providing power to said electronic module of said port and to said electronic module of said destination device.

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;
• providing power to said electronic module associated with said port and to said electronic module associated with said destination device using a local power source;
• 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;
• and
• monitoring said port response signal and said destination device response signal at 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;
• providing power to said port electronic module and said destination device electronic module using a local power source and a power patch cord;
• and
• 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.

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 local power source providing power to said port electronic module and said destination device electronic module;
• and
• a patch cord conveying said power from said local power source to said port electronic module and to said destination device electronic module.

A patch cord for supplying power to and transferring data between a port and a destination device in a network comprising:

• a local port termination having comprising local port data conductors and local port power conductors;
• a destination device data termination comprising destination device data conductors in communication with said local port data conductors;
• a destination device power termination comprising destination device power conductors;
• and
• a power supply termination comprising power supply power conductors, said power supply power conductors being connected to said local port power conductors and said destination device power conductors for providing power to said local port power conductors and to said destination device power conductors.