Method and system for installing different communications jacks into an intelligent data concentrator
Assignee3Com Corporation
InventorsAlan Rubinstein, Gary Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention facilitate coupling electronic devices to an intelligent data concentrator. The intelligent data concentrator is operable for multiplexing data signals from a plurality of client devices to a network interface using client interfaces. Embodiments of the present invention include a faceplate which can hold interface adapters. The interface adapters hold the client interfaces in a substantially fixed position relative to the faceplate.
Claims20
An intelligent concentrator comprising:
- a housing configured to be accessible to a user;
- electronic circuitry residing within said housing for multiplexing data transfer between a first network interface and a plurality of client devices;
- a plurality of interchangeable client interfaces for communicatively coupling said plurality of client devices with said electronic circuitry;
- a faceplate configured to be coupled with said housing and configured to hold a plurality of interface adapters;
- and
- said plurality of interface adapters for holding said plurality of interchangeable client interfaces in a substantially fixed position relative to said faceplate.
A configurable interface for an intelligent concentrator comprising:
- a housing configured to be mounted in a workspace and be accessible to a user;
- electronic circuitry residing within said housing and operable to control the multiplexing of signals from a plurality of interchangeable client interfaces having different physical characteristics to a network interface;
- and
- a cover configured to be coupled with said housing, said cover holding a plurality of interface adapters for fixedly supporting said plurality of interchangeable client interfaces within said cover.
A method for installing communications jacks into an intelligent concentrator comprising:
- coupling said intelligent concentrator to a network interface, said intelligent concentrator configured to be mounted in a workspace in such a manner that said intelligent concentrator is accessible to a user;
- controlling the multiplexing of data signals between a plurality of interchangeable client interfaces and said network interface using electronic circuitry residing within said intelligent concentrator;
- configuring a faceplate to be coupled with said intelligent concentrator and to hold a plurality of interface adapters;
- using said plurality of interface adapters to fixedly support said plurality of interchangeable client interfaces within said faceplate;
- and
- coupling said communications jacks with said plurality of interchangeable client interfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.