Managed connectivity devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment is directed to an end node comprising a programmable processor configured to execute software and an ETHERNET network interface communicatively coupled to the programmable processor. The network interface is configured to couple the end node to a network. The ETHERNET network interface comprises a media access control device, an ETHERNET physical layer device, and a port to connect a cable to the network interface. The physical layer device comprises an integrated storage-device interface to communicate with a storage device associated with a connector attached to an end of the cable when connected to the network interface via the port. The software is configured to use the integrated storage-device interface to read information stored in the storage device and to communicate the read information over the network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 at least one patching device comprising a plurality of ports and a plurality of port interfaces, wherein the patching device is configured to use the port interfaces to automatically determine first information about connections of cables to the ports of the patching device;   an aggregation device, separate from the least one patching device, that is communicatively coupled to the patching device over a network;   wherein the aggregation device is configured to receive, from the at least one patching device, at least some of the first information;   wherein the aggregation device is further configured to receive second information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device; and   wherein the aggregation device is further configured to store at least some of the first and second information received thereby in a data store associated with the aggregation device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device comprises respective X, Y, and Z location information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device comprises respective ANSI/TIA/EIA 606-A Standard—Administration Standard For The Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure X, Y, and Z location information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patching device is configured to use the port interfaces to automatically determine the first information about the connections of the cables to the ports of the patching device by detecting changes in a connection state of at least one of the ports. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patching device is configured to use the port interfaces to automatically determine the first information about the connections of the cables to the ports of the patching device by reading storage device information stored in a storage device that is a part of a connector that is a part of a cable connected to at least one port of the at least one patching device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the storage device of the connector of the cable connected to the at least one port of the at least one patching device is configured to be read wirelessly. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the storage device of the connector of the cable connected to the at least one port of the at least one patching device is configured to be read wirelessly using an optical or infrared interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the storage device of the connector of the cable connected to the at least one port of the at least one patching device is configured to be read via one or more contacts connected to the storage device 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the storage device comprises non-volatile memory. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the patching device is configured to write information to the storage device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one cable comprises at least one of a copper cable and an optical cable. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cables comprises an MPO connector. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ports comprises at least one MPO port. 
     
     
         14 . A method for using in a system comprising at least one patching device comprising a plurality of ports, the method comprising:
 automatically determining, by the at least one patching device using a plurality of port interfaces included in the at least one patching device, first information about connections of cables to the ports of the patching device;   receiving, by the aggregation device from the at least one patching device, at least some of the first information;   receiving, by the aggregation device, second information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device; and   storing, by the aggregation device in a data store associated with the aggregation device, at least some of the first and second information received by the aggregation device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second information indicative of the respective locations of each of the ports of the patching device comprises respective X, Y, and Z location information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second information indicative of the respective locations of each of the ports of the patching device comprises respective ANSI/TIA/EIA 606-A Standard—Administration Standard For The Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure X, Y, and Z location information indicative of the respective location of each of the ports of the patching device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein automatically determining the first information about the connections of the cables to the ports of the patching device comprises:
 detecting changes in a connection state of at least one of the ports.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein automatically determining the first information about the connections of the cables to the ports of the patching device comprises:
 reading storage device information stored in a storage device that is a part of a connector that is a part of cable connected to at least one port of the at least one patching device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the storage device of the connector of the cable connected to the at least one port of the at least one patching device is configured to be read wirelessly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the storage device of the connector of the cable connected to the at least one port of the at least one patching device is configured to be read wirelessly using an optical or infrared interface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the storage device of the connector of the cable connected to the at least one port of the at least one patching device is configured to be read via one or more contacts connected to the storage device 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the storage device comprises non-volatile memory. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 writing, by the at least one patching device using at least one of the port interfaces, information to the storage device.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one cable comprises at least one of a copper cable and an optical cable. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the cables comprises an MPO connector. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of ports comprises at least one MPO port.