Apparatus, system and method for connector and port management

A system, comprising:

• a fiber optic cable connector terminating a fiber optic communication cable that establishes a first optical communication path that terminates at the fiber optic cable connector;
• an optical communication port connector receptacle operable to removably engage and communicatively couple with the fiber optic cable connector to establish an optical communication port connection between the first optical communication path and a second optical communication path that terminates at the optical communication port connector receptacle;
• a light source;
• and
• an optical detector;
• wherein the optical communication port connector receptacle further comprises an optical path operable to pass light from the light source to the optical detector in at least one state of the system;
• wherein the optical path is separate from each of the first optical communication path, the second optical communication path, and the optical communication port connection;
• wherein the system is operable to detect at least one of:
• an engagement of the fiber optic cable connector at the optical communication port connector receptacle;
• and
• an absence of engagement of the fiber optic cable connector at the optical communication port connector receptacle;
• and
• wherein the system is operable to accomplish the detection by performing at least one of the following steps:
• detecting a presence of light communicated along the optical path to the optical detector;
• and
• detecting an absence of light communicated along the optical path to the optical detector;
• and
• detecting a change in at least one characteristic of light communicated along the optical path to the optical detector.

A method, comprising:

• a first step comprising at least one of:
• engaging a communication cable connector with a communication port connector receptacle;
• and
• disengaging a communication cable connector from a communication port connector receptacle;
• and
• detecting at least one of:
• an engagement of the communication cable connector at the communication port connector receptacle;
• and
• an absence of engagement of the communication cable connector at the communication port connector receptacle;
• wherein the communication port connector receptacle is operable to removably engage and communicatively couple with the communication cable connector;
• wherein the communication cable connector terminates a communication cable that establishes a first communication path that terminates at the communication cable connector;
• wherein the communication port connector receptacle is operable to establish through the communication port connector receptacle a communication port connection between the first communication path and a second communication path that terminates at the communication port connector receptacle;
• wherein the communication port connector receptacle further comprises an optical path operable to pass light from the light source to the optical detector in at least one state of the system;
• wherein the optical path is separate from each of the first communication path, the second communication path, and the communication port connection;
• and
• wherein the detecting step comprises detecting at least one of a presence of light communicated along the optical path to the optical detector, and an absence of light communicated along the optical path to the optical detector, and a change in at least one characteristic of light communicated along the optical path to the optical detector.