Methods, systems and computer program products for operating a communications network with enhanced security

Abstract

A communications system includes a plurality of patch panels having a plurality of connector ports connected to individual communication channels, a switch that provides access to multiple networks via one or more switch ports, a system manager that controls interconnections between the patch panels and the switch, and a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect patch panel connector ports. The system manager is configured to receive a request to connect an individual communication channel to a specific network, to identify which patch panel connector ports are required to be patched together via one or more patch cords in order to establish a circuit to the requested network, and to enable a switch port to activate the circuit. The system manager is configured to monitor connectivity of a circuit and to park a switch port associated with the circuit in response to detecting a change in circuit connectivity.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of using a communications patching system that includes one or more patch panels and switches, each of which has a plurality of connector ports configured to be interconnected via patch cords, to prevent unauthorized access to a network, the method comprising:
 storing patch cord connectivity information specifying authorized connections between the connector ports on the one or more patch panels and the one or more switches;   monitoring for unauthorized connections between the connector ports on the one or more patch panels and the one or more switches;   automatically detecting that an unauthorized connection between connector ports has been established; and   automatically parking a switch connector port associated with the unauthorized connection in response to detecting the unauthorized connection.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each patch cord includes opposite ends and a respective connector at each end that is configured to be removably secured within a respective connector port of a patch panel and switch, wherein each end of a patch cord has an associated RFID tag, and wherein each patch panel and switch includes an RF antenna adjacent each respective connector port that is configured to activate and read information from a patch cord RFID tag. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein each patch cord includes opposite ends and a respective connector at each end that is configured to be removably secured within a respective connector port of a patch panel and switch, wherein each end of a patch cord has an identification chip, wherein patch cord identification information is stored within the chip, and wherein each patch panel and switch includes a reader configured to read information from an identification chip. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each patch cord includes opposite ends and a respective connector at each end that is configured to be removably secured within a respective connector port of a patch panel and switch, wherein each end of a patch cord has information displayed thereon, and wherein each patch panel and switch includes an optical camera configured to read information displayed on a patch cord. 
     
     
         18 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising notifying an administrator that the switch connector port has been parked. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the RFID tags for each patch cord have the same unique identifier stored therein. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a microprocessor is configured to selectively energize each antenna such that each antenna activates and reads information from a patch cord RFID tag positioned adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the patch cord identification chips for each patch cord have the same unique identifier stored therein. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the information comprises a patch cord identifier. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein a patch cord has the same unique identifier displayed at each end. 
     
     
         42 . A computer program product for operating a communications system, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the method of  claim 14 .   
     
     
         43 . A communications system, comprising:
 a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports connected to individual communication channels;   a switch that provides access to multiple networks via one or more connector ports;   a plurality of RF antennas, wherein an RF antenna is positioned adjacent a respective patch panel connector port and switch connector port, wherein each RF antenna is configured to activate and read information from an RFID tag;   a patch cord configured to selectively interconnect respective connector ports of the patch panel and switch, wherein the patch cord includes opposite ends with a respective RFID tag attached to each end; and   a system manager that controls interconnections between the patch panel and the switch, wherein the system manager is configured to monitor for unauthorized connections between the connector ports on the patch panel and the switch and to park a switch port associated with an unauthorized connection in response to detecting the unauthorized connection.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the system manager is configured to notify an administrator that a switch port has been parked. 
     
     
         45 . A communications system, comprising:
 a patch panel comprising a plurality of connector ports connected to individual communication channels;   a switch that provides access to multiple networks via one or more switch ports;   a patch cord configured to selectively interconnect respective connector ports of the patch panel and switch, wherein the patch cord includes opposite ends with information displayed at each end;   a reader associated with each connector port and configured to read displayed information from the patch cord; and   a system manager that controls interconnections between the patch panel and the switch, wherein the system manager is configured to monitor for unauthorized connections between the connector ports on the patch panel and the switch and to park a switch connector port associated with an unauthorized connection in response to detecting the unauthorized connection.   
     
     
         46 . The communications system of  claim 45 , wherein the reader comprises an optical camera. 
     
     
         47 . The communications system of  claim 45 , wherein the patch cord includes a respective identification chip at each end, wherein patch cord identification information is stored within each chip, and further comprising a reader associated with each respective connector port that is configured to read information from a patch cord identification chip.