RFID patch panels and cables

A system for identifying ends of an interconnect cable connected between a pair of components of a network, said system comprising:

• an interconnect cable having a first end connector attached at one end of said cable, a second end connector attached at an opposite end of said cable, an outer sheath, and at least one signal conductor disposed within said sheath;
• a first RFID transponder mounted to said first end connector and a second RFID transponder mounted to said second end connector of said cable;
• a first memory module incorporated in a first component of said pair of components, and a second memory module incorporated in a second component of said pair of components, said first RFID transponder communicating with said first memory module for receiving information reflective of the connection port to which the first end is connected, and said second RFID transponder communicating with said second memory module for receiving information reflective of the connection port to which the second end is connected;
• an RFID scanner communicating with said first and second RFID transponders for selectively querying said transponders thereby receiving and storing information reflective of the identity of the end connectors;
• and
• each said RFID transponder has a plurality of primary contacts electrically coupled to a corresponding memory element of each RFID transponder, and each component interconnected by said cable has a plurality of secondary contacts wherein contact of the primary contacts with the secondary contacts completes a circuit to each memory element thereby generating the information reflective of the identity of the end connectors and the locations on the components where said cable is connected.

An interconnect cable comprising:

• a first end connector attached at one end of said cable;
• a second end connector attached at an opposite end of said cable;
• at least one signal conductor disposed in said cable;
• a first RFID transponder integral with said first end connector;
• and
• a second RFID transponder integral with said second end connector, and each said RFID transponder further includes a plurality of primary contacts electrically coupled to said corresponding memory element, and each component interconnected by said cable has a plurality of secondary contacts wherein contact of the primary contacts with the secondary contacts completes a circuit to each memory element thereby generating an identification signal for uniquely identifying the ends of the cable and the identity of the components to which the cable is connected.