Integration of wired information and wireless information to locate a wireless device

A network system comprising:

• a plurality of network devices including at least one wireless access point coupled to an aggregation point through a patch panel;
• a plurality of wired communication mediums coupling the plurality of network devices together, wherein at least some of the plurality of wired communication mediums include one of a storage device associated with a connector, the storage device having identifying information stored therein or an out-of-band conductor for out-of-band signaling in addition to in-band conductors;
• wherein one or more of the plurality of network devices are configured to capture wired information about layer one and layer two used by wired components in a network, wherein capture wired information includes one or more of:
• read information from the storage device associated with a connector of a wired communication media, wherein read information from the storage device associated with a connector includes read information from a chip integrated in the connector, wherein the connector includes conductors to electrically couple the chip to conductors on a corresponding jack;
• and
• communicate a signal over the out-of-band conductor;
• wherein one or more of the plurality of network devices are configured to capture wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the at least one wireless access point;
• and
• wherein the aggregation point is configured to integrate at least some of the wired information and the wireless information and use the integrated wired information and wireless information to locate the wireless device.

A method of determining a location of a wireless device, the method comprising:

• capturing wired information about physical layer connections of devices in a network by doing at least one of:
• reading such information from a storage device associated with a connector of a wired communication media or communicating a signal over an out-of-band conductor included in a cable in addition to the in-band conductors, wherein reading such information from a storage device associated with a connector includes:
• reading information from a chip integrated in the connector, wherein the chip is electrically connected to corresponding conductors on a corresponding jack;
• or
• reading information from a chip connected to a radiating component with a device on a corresponding jack;
• capturing wireless information about a wireless device communicatively coupled to the network;
• integrating the wired information and the wireless information;
• identifying physical layer connections in a physical communication path between the wireless device and a patch panel;
• determining a location of the wireless access point with which the wireless device is communicating based on the physical communication path between the wireless device and the patch panel;
• and
• using the location of the wireless access point to determine the location of the wireless device.