Abstract
Disclosed is a system for operating a network incorporating high-density connections for increased efficiency, network operation and management. The high-density connections are incorporated into the patch panel, network switch, and cables that connects them, as well as into cable analyzers and printed circuit boards (PCBs) which allow for a complete network within a single computer running virtualization software.
Claims
1. A high density (HD) data communications patch panel comprising: a patch panel frame having a front face and a rear face, said front face having a first 192 pin connection port and a second 192 pin connection port; said rear face having a first cable connection group electrically coupled to said first 192 pin connection port and a second cable connection group electrically coupled to said second 192 pin connection port; said first cable connection group comprising a first row of 12 insulation-displacement connectors (IDC's) equally spaced across a width along an upper edge of said rear face and a second row of 12 IDC's equally spaced across the width of said rear face between said first row and a lower edge; said second cable connection group comprising a third row of 12 IDC's equally spaced across the width of said rear face between said second row and said lower edge and a fourth row of 12 IDC's equally spaced across the width of said rear face along said lower edge.
2. The data communications patch panel according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes brackets secured to each end of said patch panel for mounting to a network rack.
3. A high density (HD) data communications patch panel comprising: a patch panel frame having a front face and a rear face, said front face having a first 200 pin connection port and a second 200 pin connection port; said rear face having a first cable connection group electrically coupled to said first 200 pin connection port and a second cable connection group electrically coupled to said second 200 pin connection port; said first cable connection group comprising a first row of 12 insulation-displacement connectors (IDC's) equally spaced across a width along an upper edge of said rear face and a second row of 12 IDC's equally spaced across the width of said rear face between said first row and a lower edge; said second cable connection group comprising a third row of 12 IDC's equally spaced across the width of said rear face between said second row and said lower edge and a fourth row of 12 IDC's equally spaced across the width of said rear face along said lower edge.
4. The data communications patch panel according to claim 3 wherein said frame includes brackets secured to each end of said patch panel for mounting to a network rack.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
(1) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a 24-port HD patch panel.
(2) FIG. 2 is a front view of a 192-pin Jack.
(3) FIG. 3 is a rear view of a 24-port HD patch panel.
(4) FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the 8 wire configuration on the back of the HD patch panel.
(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the jack pin layout of the 24-port HD patch panel.
(6) FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the 8 wire configuration on the back of the HD patch panel.
(7) FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a 48-port HD patch panel.
(8) FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a 48-port HD patch panel.
(9) FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a 24-port HD patch panel with status indicator lights (HD Port Converter).
(10) FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a 48-port HD patch panel with status indicator lights (HD Port Converter).
(11) FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a 24-port HD patch panel with indicator lights.
(12) FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a 48-port HD patch panel with indicator lights.
(13) FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a 24-port HD switch.
(14) FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of a 24-port HD switch.
(15) FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of a 48-port HD switch.
(16) FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of a 48-port HD switch.
(17) FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of a 240-port HD switch.
(18) FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of a 240-port HD switch.
(19) FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of a rack containing 1 240-port HD switch and HD patch panel setup.
(20) FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of a 240-port HD switch with removable switch modules.
(21) FIG. 21 is a front perspective view of a 480-port HD switch.
(22) FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of a 960-port HD switch.
(23) FIG. 23 is perspective view of a computer board with a HD jack connection.
(24) FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a set of an HD cable analyzer.
(25) FIG. 25 is front perspective view of a HD cable head.
(26) FIG. 26 is a front perspective view of a HD cable.
(27) FIG. 27 is a front perspective view of an HD split cable with standard UTP connectors.
(28) FIG. 28 is a front perspective view of an HD split cable with jack port connectors.
(29) FIG. 29 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a 24-port HD patch panel (HD Port Converter).
(30) FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a 48-port HD patch panel (HD Port Converter).
(31) FIG. 31 is alternate embodiment of a wiring schematic demonstrating 8 spare conductors which can be used for optional accessories such as status indicator lights.
(32) FIG. 32 is an alternate embodiment front perspective view of an HD cable.
(33) FIG. 33 is an alternate embodiment front perspective view of an HD split cable with standard UTP connectors.
(34) FIG. 34 is an alternate embodiment front perspective view of a 24 port HD patch panel equipped with (4) modular 2 pin jacks.
(35) FIG. 35 is an alternate embodiment front perspective view of a 48 port HD patch panel equipped with (8) modular 2 pin jacks.
(36) FIG. 36 is an alternate embodiment front perspective view of a 24 port patch panel with (4) modular 2 pin jacks.
(37) FIG. 37 is an alternate embodiment front perspective view of a 48 port patch panel with (8) modular 2 pin jacks.
(38) FIG. 38 is an alternate embodiment of a wiring schematic demonstrating the pin layout for an HD jack that encompasses (24) UTP cable connections and (4) sets of 2 pin connections.
(39) FIG. 39 is an alternate embodiment rear perspective view of a switch demonstrating FXO/FXS accessory cards occupying the optional accessory slots.
(40) FIG. 40 is an alternate embodiment of a wiring schematic of an HD jack on a switch demonstrating (4) sets of 2 wire connections directly wired to the rear of the switch for interfacing with optional FXO/FXS accessory cards.
(41) FIG. 41 is a 200 Jack Pin pinout illustration.
(42) FIG. 42 is an 8 pin punch down block illustration.
(43) FIG. 43 is a 200 Jack Pin layout with an illustrated pin group and punch down block illustration.
(44) FIG. 44 is a vertical patch panel illustration.
(45) FIG. 45 is a patch panel 48 with RJ11 plugs illustration.
(46) FIG. 46 is a patch panel 24 port convertor and 192 pins illustration.
(47) FIG. 47 is a patch panel illustration with 48 port convertor illustration.
(48) FIG. 48 is a switch illustration with 24 ports.
(49) FIG. 49 is a switch illustration with 48 ports.
(50) FIG. 50 is a jack modular illustration.
(51) FIG. 51 is a high density switch illustration with 2 Jacks.
(52) FIG. 52 is a high density switch illustration with 4 Jacks.
(53) FIG. 53 is a high density switch illustration with 10 Jacks.
(54) FIG. 54 is a high density switch illustration with 10 slots for use with 10 removable switch blades.
(55) FIG. 55 is a high density switch illustration with 20 slots for use with 20 removable switch blades.
(56) FIG. 56 is a high density switch illustration with 40 slots for use with 40 removable switch blades.
(57) FIG. 57 is a high density patch panel color pin illustration with 200 pins.
(58) FIG. 58 is an illustration of a switching/routing software for use in a virtual environment with high density switching blades.
(59) FIG. 59 is an illustration of a high density jack with a spring a securing bracket.
(60) FIG. 60 is an illustration of a high density jack with spring loaded clamps.
(61) FIG. 61 is an illustration of a high density jack with Velcro strap attachment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(62) While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
(63) Referring to the figures in general, disclosed is a system for a high-density (HD) network system, including cable connections, to manage and organize a computer or telecommunications network for greater efficiency. The system includes an HD patch panel (10, 30), an HD cable (110), and an HD switch (60, 80, 96, 104, 106) which is used to connect remote computer terminals to a local area network (LAN), Internet, or other network. It also includes an HD cable analyzer (130) and an HD PCB (Printed Circuit Board) (108) enabling a computer to also serve as a network switch.
(64) Referring to FIGS. 1-6, disclosed is a 24-port HD patch panel (10). Like a normal patch panel, it includes brackets (12) so that it can attach to a rack. On the front face (16) of the panel (10) there is an HD jack (20), which can connect the remote computer terminals to the network. Additionally, securing brackets (14) can be employed to secure the connection with clips or straps. In FIG. 4 the rear face (18) of the panel can be seen. There are 24 connection groups (22), each configured to connect to a traditional network cable, containing 8 copper wires.
(65) FIG. 6 shows a close up of a connection group (22). A traditional network cable contains 8 copper wires, color coded by the wire casing. FIG. 6 shows where each copper wire connects to the group (22) based on the color.
(66) Looking to FIG. 5 and FIG. 31, a technical schematic is shown, disclosing the electrical configuration and relationship between the connection groups (22) on the rear face (18) of the HD patch panel (10), and the pin configuration in the HD jack (20) on the front face (16) of the HD patch panel (10).
(67) FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternate HD patch panel (30) with 48 ports. On the front face (34) of the 48-port HD patch panel (30) there is a first HD jack (38) and a second HD jack (40) as well as brackets (32) to attach the patch panel (30) to a network rack. On the rear face (36) there are 48 connection groups (22), where a first set of 24 cable connection groups corresponds to the first HD jack (38), and a second set of 24 cable connection groups corresponds to the second HD jack (44), using the same connection schematic as diagramed in FIG. 5 & FIG. 31.
(68) In FIGS. 9, 10, 29 and 30, alternate input HD patch panels are shown. In FIG. 9 and FIG. 29, an alternate input 24-port standard connection, 24-port HD connection patch panel is shown (50). The front face (52) has an HD jack (20) and 24 standard 8 pin jack connections (54) instead of the hard wired configuration on the back of the panel. In FIGS. 10 and 30, the alternate input HD patch panel (58) is shown with two HD jacks (20), and two sets of 24 standard 8 pin jack connections (54). Each alternate input HD patch panel (50, 58) attaches to an equipment rack with brackets (56, 57). Additionally, indicator lights (48) are shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 to indicate network activity for each connection, allowing a network administrator to quickly identify any connectivity problems. Furthermore, securing brackets (14) are shown in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30
(69) In FIGS. 11 and 12, alternate embodiments of the 24-port (51) and 48-port (59) HD patch panels are shown. With these embodiments, the front faces (53, 65) employ indicator lights (48) to alert a network administrator to activity of the connections in the HD jacks (20).
(70) FIGS. 13-22 disclose different embodiments of HD switches. In FIG. 13, an HD switch (60) is disclosed, with a single HD jack (20) accommodating up to 24 UTP network ports. The front face (64) has an HD jack (20) input as well as two high throughput uplink ports (68). Additionally, there are indicator lights (70) which indicate activity each connection. Each individual connection contained within the HD jack is represented in the row of lights (70) on the front face (64), and each of the ports (68) have indicator lights (48) next to them, showing activity in those ports. The HD switch (60) also contains brackets (72) to connect the switch (60) to an equipment rack, as well as securing brackets (14). On the rear face (74) of the switch (60), shown in FIG. 14, is a power input (76) and two accessory panels (78).
(71) An alternate HD switch (80) having two HD jacks, accommodating up to 48 UTP network ports is disclosed in FIG. 15. On the front face (82) there are two HD jacks (20), as well as two sets of high throughput uplink ports (68). Also shown are indicator lights (70) arranged to correspond with each connection, either through the HD jacks (20) or the high throughput uplink ports (68). Brackets (72) are used to connect the switch (80) to the equipment rack. On the rear face (94), shown in FIG. 16, there is a power input (76), and a pair of accessory panels (78).
(72) FIG. 17 shows a 240-port HD switch (96), arranged with 10 HD jack inputs (20) on the front face (100), which can attach to an equipment rack with brackets (102). In FIG. 18, on the rear there are two power inputs (76), as well as ventilation panels (104) to prevent overheating as well as accessory panels (78). In FIG. 19, a 240-port HD switch (96) is connected to a rack (106), with a series of HD patch panels (10) above and below. In FIG. 20, the 240-port HD switch (96) is shown with removable panels (98). Each of the removable panels (98) has a 24-port HD jack (20), and contains network activity indicator lights (70). In FIG. 21, the idea is further expanded to include a 480-port HD switch (104). FIG. 22 shows a 960-port HD switch (106). The 240-port, 480-port, and 960-port HD switch also incorporate removable panels (98) for each 24-port HD jack, with indicator lights (70) for each data connection line within each 24-port HD jack (20).
(73) FIG. 23 shows a printed circuit board (PCB) (108) containing an HD jack (20). These HD PCBs can be added to a computer/server enabling network administrators the ability to make their own network switches. Additionally, with the widespread use of virtualization software, one can truly deploy an Office in a Box solution by adding HD PCBs to a physical server running virtual applications, one of which would be virtualized network switching software. Using the HD PCB (108) allows for smaller networks to deploy and manage less network equipment and less cabling. This reduces the amount of hardware needed, installation time, space, energy, and cost.
(74) FIG. 24 shows how cable analyzers (130) can incorporate the HD jack (20). Here, by plugging the first cable analyzer (132) into the HD jack (20) on the HD patch panel (10,30) a user can go check each of the 24 remote network station connections extending from the HD patch panel by attaching the second cable analyzer (134) at the remote location. The second cable analyzer (134) has a standard network connection port (RJ45) (136) so that it can attach to the network cable at the remote network station to test the cable connection. A network administrator can also perform the same operation when testing a traditional 24 port non-HD patch panel by connecting an HD split cable (FIGS. 27, 28, and 33) (110) to a legacy patch panel.
(75) FIG. 25 shows the HD plug (112) with an HD pin configuration (114) and surrounding wall (116), which corresponds with an HD jack. The pin configuration (114) shows a copper wire connection for each connection, in groups of 8, corresponding to the configuration laid out in the schematic in FIG. 5 and FIG. 31. The copper wire connections are then grouped together and insulated within the HD cable (118). In FIG. 26 and FIG. 32, an HD cable (110) is shown with an HD plug (112) on each end, so that it can connect a device equipped with an HD jack to another device equipped with an HD jack.
(76) In FIGS. 27, 28, and 33 different HD split cables are shown. The HD split cable (120) shown in FIG. 27, splits the copper wires from the HD cable head (112) into the 24 groupings of traditional UTP cords (124). There are 8 pin male connectors (124) on these ends which can be inserted into standard network RJ45 jacks. In this way, a network administrator can upgrade either to an HD patch panel or an HD switch, and be able to connect with a non-HD switch or non-HD patch panel, respectively. FIG. 33 shows the HD split cable (120) from FIG. 27 with an alternate configuration between the HD cable (110) and the HD cable head (112)
(77) FIG. 34 shows an alternate 24-port patch panel (130) equipped with an HD jack (20) on the front face (132) along with 4 sets of 2 pin jacks (134). These 4 sets of 2 pin jacks are wired to the HD Jack (20) to the unused 8 conductors. These 4 sets of 2 pin jacks (134) on the front face (132) of the HD patch panel (130) allow an administrator to patch analog devices in and extend them across the network using an HD switch equipped with FXO/FXS cards as illustrated in FIG. 39. FIG. 35 shows an alternate 48-port patch panel (140) equipped with two HD jacks (20) on the front face (142) along with 8 sets of 2 pin jacks (134).
(78) FIG. 36 is an alternate 24-port HD port converter (150) that incorporates 4 sets of 2 pin jacks (134). FIG. 37 is an alternate 48-port HD port converter (160) that incorporates 8 sets of 2 pin jacks (134).
(79) FIG. 38 is a wiring schematic demonstrating how the 2 pin jacks (134) on the front face of FIG. 34-37 are wired directly to the HD jack (20).
(80) FIG. 39 illustrates a switch (170) where the front face is equipped with an HD jack that is connected to a patch panel, as illustrated in FIG. 34-37, where 2 pin analog connections (134) get directly wired to the expansion slots (174) on the rear face (172) of the network switch. These expansion slots (174) in FIG. 39 are equipped with FXO/FXS cards that allow the network administrator to send/receive analog signals via the network without having to employee the use of an external FXO/FXS gateway or have additional wiring to contend with in the rack.
(81) FIG. 40 illustrates the reverse of FIG. 38 demonstrating how the sets of 2 pin connections (134) noted above are connected to the expansion slots on the back of the switch.
(82) All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
(83) It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
(84) One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
