Port-to-Port Visual Identification System

Abstract

A distribution system that includes central ports connected by electrical or fluid (gas or liquid) lines to respective remote ports includes a visual identification system that enables either identifying the central ports connected with selected remote ports, or identifying the remote ports connected with selected central ports. The visual identification system includes signal paths extending between the central and remote ports. The signal paths are connected to output devices that generate visual, auditory, or tactile feedback to identify the ports. The signal paths operate independently of the electrical or fluid lines connecting the ports.

Claims

1. A distribution system for distributing electrical or fluid communications from a central location to a number of remote locations, the distribution system comprising: a plurality of central ports; a plurality of remote ports remote from and spaced away from the plurality of central ports; each central port being connected to a respective remote port by a line for electrical or fluid communication between the central port and the remote port through the line; the plurality of central ports defining a plurality of sets of central ports, each set of central ports comprising at least one central port, the plurality of remote ports defining a plurality of sets of remote ports, each set of central ports being connected to a respective set of remote ports; an identification system comprising a plurality of signal paths and a plurality of output devices, the plurality of signal lines being separate from the lines connecting the central ports and the remote ports; each signal path being connected to a respective output device, each signal path being capable of having a signal injected into the signal path, the output device connected to the signal path being configured to generate a visual, auditory, or tactile output signal when a signal is injected into the signal path; each signal path being associated with a respective set of central ports and the set of remote ports connected to the respective set of central ports; each signal path comprising a first end portion and an opposite second end portion, the first end portion being disposed at a first location associated with either the set of central ports or the set of remote ports associated with the signal line, the second end portion being disposed at a second location associated with the other of the set of central port or the set of remote ports associated with the signal line, the first end portion comprising a signal receiver being configured to inject a signal into the signal path, the output device connected to the signal line being disposed at the second location whereby injecting a signal into the signal line at the first location actuates the output device at the second location to identify the set of central or remote ports associated with the signal line at the second location.

2. A method for identifying a subset of one or more central or remote ports connected to a subset of one or more remote or central ports in a distribution system having a plurality of central ports connected to a plurality of remote ports by respective lines extending from the central ports to the remote ports, the method comprising the steps of: (a) injecting a signal into a first end portion of a signal line extending from the first end portion being disposed at a first location associated with the subset of one or more of the remote ports or the subset of one or more central ports to a second end portion of the signal line being disposed at a second location associated with the other of the set of remote ports or the set of central ports, the signal line being separate from the lines connecting the subset of central ports with the subset of remote ports; (b) actuating an output device located at the second location while a signal is being injected into the second line, the output device being configured to generate a visual, auditory, or tactile output signal while the signal is injected into the signal path whereby the output device identifies the subset of ports at the second location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates part of a first embodiment telecommunications system utilizing the disclosed identification system to identify sets of remote telecommunication ports and their associated sets of central telecommunication ports.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the signal connections used between a set of central ports and the associate remote ports of the telecommunications system of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates part of a second embodiment telecommunications system utilizing the disclosed identification system to identify sets of remote telecommunication ports and their associated central telecommunication ports.

[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates part of a residential electrical system utilizing the disclosed identification system to identify the circuit breakers at the breaker box associated with different sets of remote electrical outlets.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates part of a second embodiment telecommunications system similar to the system shown in FIG. 3 but with socket faceplates that contain only telecommunications sockets.

[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates part of a third embodiment telecommunications system similar to the shown in FIG. 5 but the signal paths being associated to the sets of remote sockets by being associated with respective cubicles or rooms of an office.

[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates part of a fourth embodiment telecommunications system similar to the system shown in FIG. 1 but with the central telecommunications sockets in the patch panel connected to the remote central telecommunications sockets through an intermediate patch panel.

[0038] FIG. 8 illustrates a residential electrical distribution system utilizing the disclosed identification system to identify the circuit breakers contained in a breaker box that are connected to different sets of remote electrical outlets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates part of an office telecommunications network 10 utilizing an identification system 12 in accordance with this disclosure to identify sets of remote telecommunication ports and their associated sets of central telecommunications ports.

[0040] The telecommunications system 10 includes a patch panel 14, the front of the patch panel shown in the figure. The patch panel 14 interconnects multiple computers and printers distributed throughout the office to an external network for web access, email, and the like.

[0041] The illustrated patch panel 14 is a 48-port patch panel having a first row 16 of twenty-four horizontally spaced upper knockouts 18 and a second row 20 of twenty-four horizontally spaced lower knockouts 18. Pairs of upper and lower knockouts are vertically aligned with one another as shown in FIG. 1. Each knockout 18 holds a telecommunications port 22 such as (but not limited to) an Ethernet RJ-45 port (to simplify the drawing, the patch panel 14 is shown with three ports 22).

[0042] Telecommunications cabling extends away from the patch panel 14 from each of the central patch panel ports 22. The communications cabling extends on a per-port arrangement to corresponding sets of remote ports 24 located throughout the office. The remote ports include a first set 24A of two ports in a first room or cubicle, a second set 24B of four ports in a second room or cubicle, and a third set 24C of four ports in a third room or cubicle. Each set of ports 24 is contained in a respective faceplate 26 (see the two-port faceplate 26A and four port faceplates 26B and 328C containing respectively port set 24A, port set 24B, and port set 24C) attached to the room or cubicle wall.

[0043] FIG. 1 illustrates the telecommunications cabling including, in the illustrated embodiment, Ethernet cables 28 connected to and extending from respective patch panel ports 22 to a remote Ethernet port of each of the remote port sets 24A, 24B, and 24C. To simplify the drawing, other telecommunications cabling from the patch panel to the remote port sets is omitted from FIG. 1.

[0044] The identification system 12 enables a technician to identify which ports 22 of the patch panel 14 are associated with (connected to) the respective remote port 24 distributed throughout the office.

[0045] A separate signal path 32 extends from each faceplate 26 to the patch panel 14 (to distinguish signal paths 32 from cabling 28, signal paths 32 are shown in dashed lines in the figures). As described in more detail below, injecting a signal into a signal path 32 generates an output signal at the patch panel 14 identifying the patch panel ports 22 that are connected to the set 24 of remote ports associate with the signal path. The illustrated signal paths 32A, 32B, and 32C extend respectively from the faceplates 26A, 26B, and 26C to the patch panel 14.

[0046] The illustrated identification system 12 uses LEDs forming part of the signal paths 32 to generate a visual output signal when a signal is injected into a signal path. The patch panel 14 includes a row 34 of twenty-four horizontally spaced LEDs 36 vertically aligned with the knockouts 18 as shown in FIG. 1. Each LED 36 is vertically aligned with a respective pair of upper and lower knockouts 18. The LEDs 36 are mounted on a common printed circuit board 38 (see FIG. 2) mounted on a rear side of the patch panel 14. The printed circuit board 38 includes conventional circuitry that enables each LED to be attached to the circuit board without regard to the polarity of the LED.

[0047] The patch panel ports 22 are arranged so that central ports 22 connected to the same set of remote ports 24 are located together in the same area of the patch panel. In FIG. 1, the two ports 22 connected to the remote port set 24A are vertically aligned with each other and contained within the rectangle 40. The four ports 22 connected to the four ports of the remote port set 24b are arranged as vertically aligned adjacent pairs of ports contained within the rectangle 42. Similarly the four ports 22 connected to remote port set 24C are contained within the rectangle 44.

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates as a representative signal path the signal path 32C extending from the faceplate 26C to the patch panel 14. The signal path 32C is formed as an electrical circuit extending from a tubular female electrical mini-jack 46 mounted in the faceplate 26C to the LED 36C on the patch panel 14. An electrical receptacle 48 on the PCB 38 is disposed in series with the LED 36 and receives a two-wire conductor 50 connected in series with the faceplate mini-jack 46. Other types of jacks and other conductors, including other types of multi-wire conductors, optical fiber conductors, and wireless transmission paths may also be used in alternative embodiments of a signal path.

[0049] A signal is injected into the signal path 32C using a hand-held probe or signal injector 52. The signal injector includes a battery 54 disposed inside a case 56. A male mini-jack 58 compatible with the faceplate mini-jack 46 extends from the case and is selectively connected to the battery by pressing a pushbutton 60. An LED 62 mounted on the case is connected in series between the battery 54 and the mini-jack 58.

[0050] In other embodiments of a signal path, a battery is connected in series in the signal path and applies a voltage when the signal path is closed. The signal injector merely closes the circuit and does not provide power to the circuit.

[0051] When a technician inserts the signal injector mini-jack 58 into the faceplate mini-jack 46 and the button 60 is pressed, the signal path 32C becomes a closed electrical circuit extending from the battery 54 to the LED 36C. A signal is injected into the signal path 32C by the battery applying voltage to the signal path 32C and generating electrical current energizing and illuminating the LED 36C at the patch panel 14. The LED 36C can be selected to output a desired color and intensity light output and may be configured to pulse or blink when energized.

[0052] The signal injector LED 62 is also energized and illuminates, indicating electrical continuity along the signal path 32C and assuring the technician that the patch panel LED 36C is illuminated.

[0053] A technician at the patch panel 14 sees the LED 36C being illuminated. Knowing that the faceplate 24C is a four-port faceplate, the patch panel LED 36C identifies to the technician that the four ports 22 contained within the rectangle 44 are the four patch panel ports 22 connected to the set of four faceplate ports 24C. By installing the four patch panel ports 22 in the same arrangement as the four faceplate ports 24C, the technician can identify which respective patch panel port 22 contained within the rectangle 44 is connected to which respective faceplate port contained within the faceplate 26C.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, a single signal path 32 extends from a faceplate 26 to a patch panel LED 36. Experience in developing the disclosed identification system 12 has found that using a single LED to identify a set of ports associated with a remote faceplate works well in practice, and minimizes installation costs because a one-to-one port-to-LED correspondence is not required.

[0055] The illustrated identification system 12 also includes an optional, separate identification subsystem that identifies which faceplate 26 is associated with respective sets of patch panel ports 22. The patch panel 14 includes a horizontal row 64 of spaced-apart female mini-jacks 66 (like the mini-jacks 46) accessible from the front of the patch panel 14. The mini-jacks 66 are below and vertically aligned with the patch panel LEDs 36 as seen in FIG. 1.

[0056] Signal paths 68 extend from the patch panel 14 to the faceplates 26. Each signal path 68 is similar to a signal path 32 but extends from the a patch panel mini-jack 66 to an LED 70 mounted in a faceplate 26 (see signal path 68A extending from mini-jack 66A to LED 70A, signal path 68B extending from mini-jack 66B to LED 70B, and signal path 68C extending from mini-jack 66C to LED 70B).

[0057] A representative signal path 68C is shown in FIG. 2. A two-wire conductor 72 like the conductor 50 connects the mini-jack 66C and faceplate LED 70C. The LED 70C includes circuitry 74 that enables operation of the LED regardless of the polarity of the connection of the LED with respect to the signal path.

[0058] A technician desiring to know which faceplate 26 is associated with a patch panel port 22 plugs the signal injector 52 into the mini-jack 66 associated with the port 22. A signal path 68 extends from the mini-jack 66 located vertically below the LED 36 associated with the signal path 32 extending from the faceplate containing the remote port 24 connected to the patch panel port 22, enabling the technician to readily identify which mini-jack 66 to insert the signal injector 52.

[0059] Experience developing the disclosed identification system 12 has also found that using a single mini-jack 66 to identify which faceplate is associated with a remote faceplate works well in practice, and minimizes installation costs.

[0060] The identification system 12 further includes an audio speaker 76 (see FIG. 1) disposed in the patch panel 14 and an audio speaker 78 in each faceplate 26.

[0061] The patch panel audio speaker 76 is connected to the PCB 38 and is configured to issue an audio alert when an LED 36 is energized. The audio alert is intended to inform technicians in the vicinity of the patch panel 14 that an LED 36 has been energized. The use of the audio speaker being activated in response to signal injection is an example that signal injection can be used to initiate other actions in addition to visual identification.

[0062] Each faceplate audio speaker 78 is electrically connected in series with the faceplate LED 70 and is configured to issue an audio alert when the faceplate LED 70 is energized. The audio alert is intended to inform technicians that the faceplate LED 70 has been energized and can be useful in identifying the location of the faceplate 26 within the office.

[0063] In FIG. 1, a faceplate mini-jack 46, LED 70, and audio speaker 78 are associated with a remote port set 24 by being mounted in the same faceplate 26 that also mounts the port set 24. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate non-limiting examples of other ways components of the identification system 12 can be associated with a remote port set 24.

[0064] FIG. 3 illustrates use of the identification system 12 but with a conventional faceplate 27 that mounts only the port set 24. The mini-jack 46, LED 70, and speaker 78 are mounted in a separate faceplate 29 designed to hold only those components. The identification system components held by the faceplate 29 are associated with the port set 24 by the close proximity of the faceplate 29 to the faceplate 27.

[0065] FIG. 4 illustrates the footprint of an office cubicle C in which a faceplate 27 and faceplate 29 like those shown in FIG. 2 are used by the identification system 12. The faceplate 27 (and its associated port set, not shown) are attached to an inside wall of the cubicle. The faceplate 29 (and its associated identification components, not shown) are attached to an external wall of the cubicle. The identification system components held by the faceplate 29 are associated with the port set 24 by the faceplates 27, 29 being attached to the same cubicle.

[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates use of a second embodiment identification system 112 with a second embodiment telecommunications system 110. The same reference numbers are used in describing elements of the second embodiment systems 110, 112 corresponding to like or similar elements of the first embodiment systems 10, 12. Only differences are discussed.

[0067] The telecommunications system 110 utilizes a segmented cabling arrangement. The ports 22 of the patch panel 14 are connected to respective remote ports 24 contained in the faceplate 26 through a subpanel or intermediate patch panel 114.

[0068] Telecommunication lines 28 extend from respective patch panel ports 22 of the patch panel 14 to the remote ports 24. For clarity, only a single telecommunications line 28 is shown in the Figure. Each telecommunication line 28 includes a home run cable 28a extending from a respective patch panel port 22 to a respective port 122 of the intermediate patch panel 114, an intermediate cable 28b extending from the port 122 to a cable connector 124, and a cable 28c extending from the cable connector 124 to the remote port 24.

[0069] The cable connector 124 has mating male and female electrical connectors 124m, 124f that electrically interconnect the cables 28c and 28b extending between the remote ports 24 and the intermediate patch panel 114.

[0070] Signal lines 32 extend from each respective remote port 24 to a respective patch panel port 22 of the patch panel 14. For clarity, only a single signal line 32 is shown in FIG. 5. Each signal line 32 includes a home run signal line 32a extending from the faceplate mini-jack 46 to the cable connector 124, an intermediate signal line 32b extending from the cable connector 124 to the intermediate patch panel 114, and a an end signal line 32c extending from the intermediate patch panel 114 to the patch panel LED 36 associated with the remote ports 24.

[0071] In the illustrated embodiment the cable connector 124 connects all communication line segments 28c and connects all signal line segments 32a to respective communication line segments 28b and signal line segments 32a extending from the intermediate patch panel 114.

[0072] The intermediate patch panel 114 includes a display LED 136 and a speaker 176. The LED 136 is connected to energize whenever a signal is injected into a signal line 32. The audio speaker 176 generates an audio alert whenever a signal is injected into a signal line 32 extending through the intermediate patch panel 114.

[0073] A signal is injected into the signal line 32 by inserting the mini-jack of the signal injector 52 into the mini-jack 46. The signal energizes the LED 36A in the patch panel 14 to identify the ports 22 of the patch panel associated with the signal as described previously with respect to FIG. 1.

[0074] The illustrated identification system 112 also includes the separate identification subsystem that includes signal paths extending from mini-jacks mounted in the patch panel 14 that extend to LEDs mounted in the remote faceplaces as previously described with respect to the identification system 12.

[0075] Embodiments of the disclosed identification system can be used to identify ports other than telecommunication ports.

[0076] FIG. 6 illustrates a residential electrical system 210 having an identification system 212 in accordance with this disclosure that identifies circuit breakers connected to electrical outlets of the residence.

[0077] The electrical system 210 receives power through external power lines 214 that is received into a central panel box or electrical breaker box 216. Mounted in the breaker box are ten circuit breakers 218. Circuit breaker 218A of the circuit breakers 218 distributes power to remote electrical ports realized as electrical sockets 220. The other circuit breakers distribute power to other remote electrical ports (not shown). The electrical sockets 220 are contained in a two-outlet faceplate 222A, a four-outlet faceplate 222B, and a four-outlet faceplate 222C. The electrical sockets 220 illustrated in FIG. 6 are NEMA 5-15 electrical sockets commonly used in the United States with 110V, 60 Hz electrical service.

[0078] Electrical lines extend from the circuit breakers to the electrical sockets. For clarity, only a single electrical line 228 is shown extending from the circuit breaker 218A to the electrical sockets 220 located in a different part of the residence away from the breaker box 216. The wiring of the circuit breakers and electrical sockets is conventional residential electrical wiring and so will not be described in further detail.

[0079] The identification system 212 includes a set of ten LEDs 236 mounted in the breaker box 218. Each LED 236 is located closely adjacent to a respective circuit breaker 218 to associate that LED 236 with the adjacent circuit breaker. The LEDs may be mounted on a printed circuit board or circuit boards (not shown) similar to the printed circuit board 38 to simplify LED wiring and installation.

[0080] The identification system 212 further includes a female mini-jack 246 in each faceplate 222. The mini-jacks 246 are connected in parallel to form part of a signal line 232 extending between pairs of mini-jacks 246 and to the breaker box 218. The signal line terminates at an LED 236A adjacent to the circuit box 218A that is electrically connected to the electrical sockets 220 contained in the faceplates 222 holding the mini-jacks 246.

[0081] A signal is injected into the signal line 232 by inserting the male mini-jack of the signal injector 52 (see FIG. 2) into a mini-jack 246 as previously described for a signal line 32. The LED 236A of the signal line illuminates and identifies the circuit breaker 218A connected to the electrical sockets associated with the mini-jack 246.

[0082] The identification system 212 also includes a speaker 276 mounted in the breaker box 218. The speaker 276 emits an audible alert whenever an LED 236 is illuminated.

[0083] The illustrated identification system 212 further places a normally-open relay in each signal line that closes when a signal is injected into the signal line. FIG. 6 illustrates a relay 237 in the signal line 232. The relay 237 closes when a signal is injected into the signal line 232. In the illustrated embodiment each relay is connected to a common external speaker 239. When any relay closes, the speaker 239 emits an audio alert away from the breaker box 218 indicating that an LED 236 has been energized.

[0084] The illustrated identification system 212 also includes an optional, separate identification subsystem. The subsystem identifies which electrical socket faceplates are associated with a circuit breaker. The subsystem includes a set of female mini-jacks 266 (like the mini-jacks 246) mounted in the breaker box 218. Each female mini-jack 266 is located closely adjacent to a respective circuit breaker 218 to associate that jack 246 with the adjacent circuit breaker. Signal lines extend from each respective female mini-jack to LEDs located in the faceplates surrounding the electrical sockets connected to the circuit breaker adjacent the mini-jack.

[0085] FIG. 6 illustrates a signal line 268 extending from the breaker box mini-jack 266A adjacent to the circuit breaker 218A. The signal line 268 includes and extends to LEDs 270 mounted in the faceplates 222. The LEDs 270 are wired in series in the signal line 268. When a signal is injected into the signal line 268, the LEDs 270 are simultaneously illuminated to identify all the electrical sockets 220 connected to the circuit breaker 218A.

[0086] Each faceplate 222 also includes an audio speaker 278 that emits an audio signal while a signal is injected into the signal line 230.

[0087] Another non-limiting example of a system that can employ the disclosed visual identification system includes an irrigation system that receives water into a central manifold. The irrigation system distributes water for irrigation from distribution ports of the manifold connected to hoses that extend to remote discharge ports. The disclosed identification system can be used to identify the discharge port(s) connected to a distribution port or to identify the distribution port connected to a discharge port or discharge ports.

[0088] While this disclosure includes one or more illustrative embodiments described in detail, it is understood that the one or more embodiments are each capable of modification and that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the precise details set forth herein but include such modifications that would be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art including (but not limited to) changes in material selection, signal circuit electrical design, visual, audio, and other output devices, environment of use, and the like, as well as such changes and alterations that fall within the purview of the following claims.