Patch panel cable information detection systems and methods

A communications system, comprising:

• a plurality of patch panels, each patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports on a front surface thereof, each connector port connected to a respective communication line, and each patch panel comprising a connector port on a rear surface thereof;
• a cable configured to link two of the patch panels via their respective rear surface connector ports, wherein the cable comprises opposite ends and a respective connector at each end that is configured to be removably secured within a respective rear surface connector port, and wherein each end of the cable has an identification chip attached thereto, wherein cable identification information is stored within the chip;
• and
• a reader associated with each respective rear surface connector port, wherein each reader is configured to read information from a cable identification chip.

A communications system, comprising:

• a plurality of patch panels, each patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports on a front surface thereof, each connector port connected to a respective communication line, and each patch panel comprising a connector port on a rear surface thereof;
• a cable configured to link two of the patch panels via their respective rear surface connector ports, wherein the cable comprises opposite ends and a respective connector at each end that is configured to be removably secured within a respective rear surface connector port, and wherein each end of the cable has an identification number displayed thereon;
• and
• an optical camera associated with each respective rear surface connector port, wherein each camera is configured to read a displayed identification number from the cable.