Intelligent telecommunications patching system

Abstract

A telecommunications patching system having point-to-point tracing capabilities includes: a plurality of end devices; at least one rack structure; a plurality of patch panels mounted to each rack structure; a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of the patch panels; a plurality of patch cords for selectively interconnecting different pairs of connector ports; a plurality of cables for selectively interconnecting the connector ports on the patch panels with respective end devices; tracing modules associated with said connector ports and end devices that monitor connectivity of the connector ports and end devices; and a display associated with the tracing modules configured to display the connectivity of a circuit comprising one or more of the connector ports and one or more of the end devices.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A telecommunications patching system having point-to-point tracing capabilities, comprising:
 a plurality of patch panels each configured to mount to a rack structure; 
 a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of the patch panels, wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to selectively interconnect with respective end devices through a plurality of cables, and wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to be selectively interconnected with each other through a plurality of patch cords; 
 tracing modules associated with said connector ports and end devices that monitor connectivity of the connector ports and end devices; and 
 a graphical user interface display associated with the tracing modules configured to graphically display at least a portion of a circuit comprising one or more of the connector ports and one or more of the end devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The patching system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tracing modules are associated with a database that includes information regarding fixed cabling and the connector ports of the patch panels. 
     
     
       3. The patching system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface display may display one or more icons of or representing: faceplates; wall jacks; patch panels; connector ports; patch cords; external data service; personal computers; phones; printers; fax machines; wireless access points; consolidation points; splice enclosures; mainframe computers; server computers; LAN switches; environmental monitoring devices; storage devices; private branch exchanges; point-of-sale terminals; and security cameras. 
     
     
       4. The patching system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the graphical user interface display may display one or more icons that expand to display additional information about a component of the circuit. 
     
     
       5. A method of interconnecting telecommunications devices, comprising the steps acts of:
 (a) providing an intelligent patch system having:
 a plurality of patch panels each mounted to a rack structure; 
 a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of the patch panels, wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to selectively interconnect with respective end devices through a plurality of cables, and wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to be selectively interconnected with each other through a plurality of patch cords; 
 tracing modules associated with said connector ports and end devices that monitor connectivity of the connector ports and end devices; and 
 a graphical user interface display associated with the tracing modules configured to graphically display at least a portion of a circuit comprising one or more of the connector ports and one or more of the end devices; 
 
 (b) moving one of the patch cords from one of the connector ports to another of the connector ports; and 
 (c) illuminating on the graphical user interface display icons representing components or connections for at least a portion of a new patching circuit formed by the patch cord moved in step (b) to verify the correctness of the new patching circuit. 
 
     
     
       6. The method defined in  claim 5 , wherein the tracing modules are associated with a database that includes information regarding fixed cabling and the connector ports of the patch panels. 
     
     
       7. The method defined in  claim 5 , wherein the graphical user interface display may display one or more icons of or representing: faceplates; wall jacks; patch panels; connector ports; patch cords; external data service; personal computers; phones; printers; fax machines; wireless access points; consolidation points; splice enclosures; mainframe computers; server computers; LAN switches; environmental monitoring devices; storage devices; private branch exchanges; point-of-sale terminals; and security cameras. 
     
     
       8. The method defined in  claim 5 , wherein the graphical user interface display may display one or more icons that expand to display additional information about a component of the circuit. 
     
     
       9. A telecommunications patching system having point-to-point tracing capabilities, comprising:
 a plurality of patch panels each configured to mount to a rack structure; 
 a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of the patch panels, wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to selectively interconnect with respective end devices through a plurality of cables, and wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to be selectively interconnected with each other through a plurality of patch cords; 
 tracing modules associated with said connector ports and end devices that monitor connectivity of the connector ports and end devices; and 
 a controller configured to receive search criteria and graphically display search results conforming to the search criteria and regarding the end devices, patch panels, ports, patch cords and cables. 
 
     
     
       10. The telecommunications patching system defined in  claim 9 , wherein the tracing modules are associated with a database that includes information regarding fixed cabling and the connector ports of the patch panels. 
     
     
       11. The telecommunications patching system defined in  claim 10 , wherein the tracing modules further comprise indicator lights associated with the connector ports, and wherein the controller is configured to, upon request, illuminate the indicator lights associated with a patching circuit identified in its search results. 
     
     
       12. The telecommunications patching system defined in  claim 9 , wherein the tracing modules are associated with a database that includes information regarding fixed cabling and the connector ports of the patch panels. 
     
     
       13. A network patching system, the system comprising:
 a plurality of patch panels;   a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of the plurality of patch panels, wherein one or more of the connector ports of the plurality of patch panels are configured to selectively interconnect with end devices through a plurality of cables, and wherein the one or more connector ports of the patch panels are configured to be selectively interconnected with each other through a plurality of patch cords;   wherein the system is configured to store information about connectivity of the connector ports and devices; and   a graphical user interface display in communication with a system manager and configured to graphically display at least a portion of a circuit comprising one or more of the connector ports and one or more of the end devices.   
     
     
       14. The system of claim 13, wherein the graphical user interface display is configured to display one or more icons representing at least one of: a faceplate, a wall jack, a patch panel, a connector port, a patch cord, an external data service, a personal computer, a phone, a printer, a fax machine, a wireless access point, a consolidation point, a splice enclosure, a mainframe computer, a server computer, a LAN switch, an environmental monitoring device, a storage device, a private branch exchange, a point-of-sale terminal, and a security camera. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a rack controller coupled to the graphical user interface, wherein the rack controller controls the illumination of one or more light-emitting devices, included at each of the plurality of connector ports, for connector ports associated with the circuit graphically displayed on the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 13, wherein the system manager comprises a connectivity database that stores cabling infrastructure and connectivity information for the connector ports and end devices. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 13, further comprising tracing modules associated with the plurality of connector that monitor connectivity of the plurality of connector ports. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 17, wherein the tracing modules are further associated with the end devices and monitor connectivity of the end devices. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 17, wherein the tracing modules communicate the connectivity information to a connectivity database. 
     
     
       20. A network patching system, the system comprising:
 a plurality of patch panels;   a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of the plurality of patch panels, wherein one or more of the connector ports of the plurality of patch panels are configured to selectively interconnect with end devices through a plurality of cables, and wherein the one or more connector ports of the patch panels are configured to be selectively interconnected with each other through a plurality of patch cords;   wherein the network patching system is configured to monitor connectivity of the connector ports and end devices; and   a graphical user interface display configured to access information about the connectivity of the connector ports and end devices and graphically display at least a portion of a circuit comprising one or more of the connector ports and one or more of the end devices.   
     
     
       21. The system of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface display is configured to display one or more icons representing at least one of: a faceplate, a wall jack, a patch panel, a connector port, a patch cord, an external data service, a personal computer, a phone, a printer, a fax machine, a wireless access point, a consolidation point, a splice enclosure, a mainframe computer, a server computer, a LAN switch, an environmental monitoring device, a storage device, a private branch exchange, a point-of-sale terminal, and a security camera. 
     
     
       22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a rack controller coupled to the graphical user interface, wherein the rack controller controls the illumination of one or more light-emitting devices, included at each of the plurality of connector ports, for connector ports associated with the circuit graphically displayed on the graphical user interface. 
     
     
       23. The system of claim 20, further comprising a system manager that includes a connectivity database that stores cabling infrastructure and connectivity information for the connector ports and end devices. 
     
     
       24. The system of claim 20, further comprising tracing modules associated with the plurality of connector that monitor connectivity of the plurality of connector ports. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 24, wherein the tracing modules are further associated with the end devices and monitor connectivity of the end devices. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 24, wherein the tracing modules communicate the connectivity information to a connectivity database. 
     
     
       27. A method of interconnecting telecommunications devices, the method comprising:
 (a) providing an intelligent patch system having:
 a plurality of patch panels each mounted to a rack structure; 
 a plurality of connector ports disposed on each of the patch panels, wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to selectively interconnect with respective end devices through a plurality of cables, and wherein the connector ports of the patch panels are configured to be selectively interconnected with each other through a plurality of patch cords; and 
 a graphical user interface display associated with the tracing modules configured to graphically display at least a portion of a circuit comprising one or more of the connector ports and one or more of the end devices; 
 wherein the intelligent patch system is configured to store information about connectivity of the connector ports and devices; 
   (b) moving one of the patch cords from one of the connector ports to another of the connector ports; and   (c) illuminating on the graphical user interface display icons representing components or connections for at least a portion of a new patching circuit formed by the patch cord moved in (b) to verify the correctness of the new patching circuit.    
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27, the intelligent patch system further comprising a system manager that includes a connectivity database, the method further comprising:
 storing cabling infrastructure and connectivity information for the connector ports and end devices in the connectivity database.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 27, the intelligent patch system further comprising tracing modules associated with said connector ports and end devices, the method further comprising:
 monitoring connectivity of the connector ports and end devices with the tracing modules.   
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein the tracing modules are associated with a database that includes information regarding fixed cabling and the connector ports of the patch panels. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 27, wherein the graphical user interface display is configured to display one or more icons representing at least one of: a faceplate, a wall jack, a patch panel, a connector port, a patch cord, an external data service, a personal computer, a phone, a printer, a fax machine, a wireless access point, a consolidation point, a splice enclosure, a mainframe computer, a server computer, a LAN switch, an environmental monitoring device, a storage device, a private branch exchange, a point-of-sale terminal, and a security camera. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 27, wherein the graphical user interface display is configured to display one or more icons that expand to display additional information about a component of the circuit.