U.S. patent application number 10/910899 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-30 for network managed device installation and provisioning technique.
Invention is credited to Bolouri-Saransar, Masud, Caveney, Jack E., Conneely, Richard J., Doorhy, Michael V., Farrimond, Alan, Farrimond, Elizabeth, Jacks, Steven A., Kozicki, Kenneth C., Leshin, Brian D., Nordin, Ronald A., Tison, Jack D..
Application Number | 20050141431 10/910899 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34193153 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050141431 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Caveney, Jack E. ; et
al. |
June 30, 2005 |
Network managed device installation and provisioning technique
Abstract
A system for managing and documenting a local area
communications network is provided which deploys power sourcing
equipment and powered devices by the use of active electronic
modules, having an Ethernet controller and Power over Ethernet
forwarding capabilities, as integral, managed components within the
cable plant, to enhance management, documentation, security and
emergency 911 aspects of the network as well as extending the
physical reach of the network.
Inventors: |
Caveney, Jack E.; (Hinsdale,
IL) ; Nordin, Ronald A.; (Naperville, IL) ;
Doorhy, Michael V.; (Mokena, IL) ; Kozicki, Kenneth
C.; (Chicago, IL) ; Conneely, Richard J.;
(LaGrange, IL) ; Bolouri-Saransar, Masud; (Orland
Park, IL) ; Jacks, Steven A.; (Villa Park, IL)
; Tison, Jack D.; (Bourbonnais, IL) ; Leshin,
Brian D.; (Mokena, IL) ; Farrimond, Elizabeth;
(Winnersh, GB) ; Farrimond, Alan; (Winnersh,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANDUIT CORP.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT - TP12
17301 SOUTH RIDGELAND AVENUE
TINLEY PARK
IL
60477
US
|
Family ID: |
34193153 |
Appl. No.: |
10/910899 |
Filed: |
August 3, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60492822 |
Aug 6, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/241 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 41/00 20130101;
H04L 43/0817 20130101; H04L 41/22 20130101; H04L 43/50
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/241 |
International
Class: |
H04L 012/26 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An installation data device for use in installing active jacks
in a communications system comprising: a display for providing
installation instructions; one or more user input controls for
accepting inputs from an installer; a power supply; and a connector
for connection to an active jack; said installation data device
being adapted to accept installation information and to provide
said installation information to an active jack during active jack
installation.
2. The installation data device of claim 1 wherein said
installation instructions comprise a graphical installation
map.
3. The installation data device of claim 1 further comprising a GPS
receiver for providing location information via said display.
4. The installation data device of claim 1 wherein said power
supply and said connector are adapted to provide power to an active
jack according to the IEEE 802.3af standard.
5. The installation data device of claim 1 further comprising a
printer for printing jack labels during jack installation.
6. The installation data device of claim 1 wherein said device is
adapted to execute software facilitating the installation of active
jacks.
7. The installation data device of claim 1 wherein said device is
adapted to execute software facilitating the testing of connections
following the installation of active jacks.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/492,822, filed Aug. 6, 2003 and
entitled "Network Managed Device Installation and Provisioning
Technique."
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/492,822 filed Aug. 6,
2003 and entitled "Network Managed Device Installation and
Provisioning Technique," application Ser. No. 10/353,640, filed
Jan. 29, 2003 and entitled "Systems and Methods for Documenting
Networks With Electronic Modules," U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/352,826, filed Jan. 30, 2002, application Ser. No. 10/366,093,
filed Feb. 13, 2003 and entitled "VOIP Telephone Location System,"
and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/357,017, filed Feb. 14,
2002 are hereby incorporated by reference into the present
application in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention is directed generally to communications
components and more specifically is directed to systems and methods
for managing communications networks using active jacks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The use of a local area network (LAN) to serve a wide range
of communication needs has continued to escalate, with networks
growing larger and denser. Issues with documenting and managing
LANs have likewise increased the need for timely response when
connectivity problems arise. This is even more important with the
advent of voice over internet protocol (VOIP) replacing the
function of the traditional phone network, but now operating over
the same LAN as data services. Local area networks are subsuming
more and more of the responsibility for carrying the total
electronic communication capability of a business or home.
[0005] A system which provides documentation, management and
trouble shooting capabilities should do so while keeping the need
for human involvement at access points or patch panels to a
minimum. Traditionally, telephone networks and data networks have
been maintained as two separate networks with their own wiring
requirements and peculiarities. This has largely been due to the
regulatory requirements on telephone service to supply life line
capability and electrical issues such as a relatively high DC
ring-tone voltage.
[0006] In many respects, LAN wiring schemes have followed telephone
schemes involving wall jack panels leading back to patch panels.
However, the cable types and characteristics have remained
distinct. This is true for large offices, residential and Small
Office-Home Office (SOHO) and Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU)
installations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
system is provided which uses an active electronic jack. According
to some embodiments of the present invention, the active jack can
be located at the wall in an enterprise office, in a patch panel
within the cable distribution plant, in a user device or in two or
more of these areas. According to some embodiments of the
invention, the active jack includes at least two 10/100 Mb/s
Ethernet ports and is a network element (NE) on the local area
network (LAN). One Ethernet port of the active jack is the network
port and connects to the horizontal wiring of the LAN system. At
least one other port is the user port into which Ethernet capable
devices, such as a personal computer (PC) or a Voice over IP (VOIP)
telephone, plugs into in order to gain access to the LAN. The
active jack may act as a two port Ethernet switch routing data
between the two ports.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention,
physical location information (i.e., room, floor, etc.) is
associated with the MAC address of the active jack. Since the
active jack has a MAC address it responds to Address Resolution
Protocol (ARP) requests from the network and transmits ARP messages
when powered up or queried to indicate presence on the network. The
ARP message and the associated physical location information of the
active jack can be used to provide information regarding the
connectivity of the structured cable system, i.e., the LAN cable
plant.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
active jack is an electronic element that requires a source of DC
power which can be obtained from Power Supplying Equipment (PSE)
such as an IEEE 802.3AF compliant source. Such sources are deployed
in networks as the source of DC power for an attached powered
device (PD) such as a VOIP telephone that receives power according
to a power-over-network scheme. According to some embodiments of
the present invention, the power consumption of the active jack is
minimal, with the remaining power forwarded to a powered device
(PD) if one is connected.
[0010] There are several methods of supplying the active jacks with
DC power. According to one embodiment of the present invention, PSE
equipment such as an Ethernet switch or IP router is used.
According to another embodiment a patch panel or mid-span patch
panel can be used. When a patch panel is equipped with active
jacks, a managed structure cable PSE system is obtained. The scope
of management that a patch panel has can be enhanced if an active
jack is used between the patch panel and the end device.
[0011] Current methods of cable plant management and security rely
on having the state of the horizontal cable system and/or patch
panels remain fairly constant. Further, if changes occur it is
required that they are well documented and manually entered in the
security/management system database. According to one embodiment of
the present invention, use of active jacks facilitates monitoring
the state of the patch cords and the horizontal cable system to
provide a managed, structured cable system. If there is a removal
or movement of a particular cable, the active jacks connected by
the cable will lose upstream network connection. An active jack in
a patch panel can detect the change periodically, for example, via
once-per-second "heart beat" IP transmissions to the upstream
switch. Because the PSE and PD communicate, the PSE can
instantaneously report opens in the patch cord. Optionally, an
active jack can send a message to a neighboring active jack to
report communication problems. When the connection is re-attached,
the active jack may send out an ARP message to indicate that it is
back on line with any other devices connected to it. As the
connection is re-established the switch port to the patch panel
port is thus identified, an important aspect to managing the patch
cord connectivity. Since the physical location information can be
associated with active jacks, even momentary changes to the cable
plant may be recognized and logged.
[0012] Since the active wall jack is a managed network element,
remote visibility is gained by the management and operations
components of a communications network. The active jack provides
for remote monitoring, obviating or reducing the need to send out a
technician to determine the state of the equipment. Service, can be
remotely suspended or re-instated. Furthermore, end point devices
which connect to a network using active jacks can be inventoried
and controlled as well.
[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention,
these management and security aspects are utilized when customers
use Soft IP phones or VOIP external hardware phones. The active
wall jacks can offer power over Ethernet (to power the phone)
and/or provide a physical location address to support E911
service.
[0014] To support lifeline VOIP, PSE switches may be used to ensure
that all the enterprise switches have enough DC power to survive an
AC outage. The internal switches will continue to direct and manage
VOIP calls to the outside world but deny other IP data
transactions. According to one embodiment of the present invention,
an advantage of the power patch panel with the active jack is that
it can allow the upstream switches to power down during an AC power
outage. The traffic can then be directed to a "lifeline" VOIP
gateway from the patch panel, with the lifeline VOIP gateway
supporting voice traffic and/or a reduced volume of data
traffic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1a is an isometric view of an active wall jack;
[0017] FIG. 1b is a side view of an active wall jack;
[0018] FIG. 2a is a schematic diagram of an active wall jack;
[0019] FIG. 2b is a schematic block diagram of an alternative
embodiment of an active wall jack;
[0020] FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c illustrate different configurations of
active and standard wall jacks in outlet panels;
[0021] FIG. 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are side views of alternative
embodiments of active wall jacks according to the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 5a is a block diagram illustrating the entry of
location data into an active wall jack;
[0023] FIG. 5b is a block diagram showing the use of an
installation data device for the installation and recording of data
related to installation of an active jack;
[0024] FIG. 5c is a side view of an installation data device
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 5d is a side view of an installation data device
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 5e is a side view of an installation data device
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5f is a top view of an installation data device showing
the installation of an active jack;
[0028] FIG. 5g is a flowchart showing the steps for installing an
active jack using an installation data device;
[0029] FIG. 5h is a schematic diagram showing the use of an
installation data device;
[0030] FIG. 5i is a top view of an installation device showing
connectivity testing;
[0031] FIG. 5j is a flowchart showing the steps for testing
connectivity using an installation data device;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating power distribution
and cable management schemes using for active wall jacks;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a communications
network using active jacks according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0034] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an emergency powering
system incorporating patch panels with active jacks;
[0035] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a patch panel with active
jacks and shared circuitry;
[0036] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an active jack according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a patch panel implementation
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a patch panel implementation
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a patch panel implementation
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a patch panel implementation
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a multiple-dwelling unit
network according to one embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0042] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a network according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
[0043] Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1a, an
isometric construction view of an active jack 10 is shown. The
active jack 10 comprises two housings 12a and 12b which can form
plug receiving openings 14 as shown in the drawing for the housing
12b. According to an alternative embodiment of the present
invention, one connector of the active jack 10 is a pug and the
other connector is an insulation displacement connector (IDC). The
housings 12a and 12b may be of a type used for communication
connectors as described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,793, "Low
Crosstalk Modular Communication Connector," by Doorhy et al.,
issued Apr. 16, 2002 which is incorporated herein in its entirety
by reference. Mounted within the plug receiving opening are a
plurality of conductors 16 which form a resilient contact with a
communications plug when the plug is connected to the active jack
10. The conductors 16 are led through the housing of the active
jack 10 to make contact with the printed circuit board (PCB) 18.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the PCB 18 has an x
dimension of approximately {fraction (5/8)} inches and a y
dimension of approximately 2 inches and is of a multi-layer
construction with a maximum copper area fill for heat dissipation,
and is capable of supporting electronic components 20. The housing
is shown in an exploded view away from the circuit board 18 to
expose thermal contacts 22 which in one embodiment aid in
conducting heat from the circuit board 18 and components 20 to the
housing components such as component 12b. The active jack 10 is
shown in FIG. 1b in relation to a mountable faceplate 24 of the
type typically used as communication ports in wall locations.
[0044] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
thermal design of the active jack 10 supports the environment
within the enclosure of a data outlet. Since according to some
embodiments there is virtually no airflow in this enclosure, heat
dissipation is not effective. The active jack design may
incorporate a low thermal resistance contact to the outside of the
enclosure through the connector housing 12b, as shown in FIG. 1b.
In another embodiment of the current invention the housing is
constructed of a high thermal conductivity material, such as
metal-impregnated material, to aid in the dissipation of generated
heat. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
electronic components 20 on the printed circuit board 18 are
provided within one or both of the housings 12a and 12b of the
active jack 10.
[0045] Turning now to FIG. 2a, a schematic drawing of an active
wall jack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention
is shown. The components of the active jack unit 10 according to
one embodiment of the present invention are mounted on the PCB 18.
The components shown in FIG. 2a are shown as functional units which
may be realized in various forms of integration. The components
include an at least dual port Ethernet physical device (PHY) 26
comprising receivers 28a and b and transmitters 30a and 30b. While
a dual port Ethernet device is shown in FIG. 2, it is to be
understood that the principles of the present invention can be
applied to active jacks having more than two ports, as further
discussed below.
[0046] The receivers 28 and transmitters 30 are electrically
connected to respective receive transformers 32a and b and transmit
transformers 34a and b. The receive transformers 32a and b and the
transmit transformers 34a and b are further electrically connected
to a plurality of conductors (ref 16 in FIG. 1) of the respective
housings 12a and b. The conductors may take the form of a
network-side connection 37 and a user-side connection 39. The PHY
26 is connected to an Ethernet Media Access Controller (MAC)
processor 36 which functionally forms a two-port Ethernet
switch.
[0047] According to some embodiments of the present invention,
power for the circuit of the active jack 10 is obtained from an
IEEE 802.3AF compliant PSE source which according to one embodiment
supplies negative common-mode voltage which is extracted from the
center tap of the receive transformer 32a to a negative rail 38 and
a positive common-mode voltage which is extracted from the transmit
transformer 34a to a positive rail 40. The IEEE 802.3AF standard
also allows for the negative and positive lines to be switched. A
DC-to-DC converter 42 is connected to the negative rail 38 and
positive rail 40 and supplies the circuitry of the active jack 10
with power. A resistor 44 is placed across the voltage rails 38 and
40 with sufficient resistance to signal to the PSE the presence of
a Power Requiring Device (PD). According to one embodiment of the
present invention, the resistor 44 has a resistance of 26 k.OMEGA.,
though greater or lesser resistances may be used in particular
embodiments of the invention. In a power supplying throughput mode,
the voltage rails 38 and 40 are electrically connected through an
optional switch 46 to the center taps of the transmit transformer
34b and receive transformer 32b to allow other PDs downstream to
obtain power from the PSE. The IEEE 802.3AF draft standard does not
cover multiple PDs on a given circuit so the power requirements of
intermediate PDs such as the active jack 10 must be very small,
typically less than a watt. The optional switch 46 may be
controlled by the local MAC processor to provide power control over
downstream PDs for management and/or security purposes and is
discussed further below.
[0048] Also shown in FIG. 2a is the MAC processor 36 which controls
a light emitting diode (LED) 48. According to one embodiment of the
present invention, the MAC processor 36 serves as a network port
identification component, storing and providing identification
information when requested. There may be two or more such LEDs 48
controlled by the MAC processor 36 in communication links: at least
one indicates link status, and at least one other indicates
transmit/receive activity. According to one embodiment the LED(s)
48 are mounted on the PC board 18 and light is conducted by a light
pipe 50 to the exterior jack housing 12b. In alternative
embodiments the LEDs may be mounted on the housing 12 and
electrically connected to the PCB 18. According to alternative
embodiments, one or more LEDs may be associated with each active
jack 10 and with each jack housing 12. According to some
embodiments of the present invention, additional LED ports, or
different colors of LED light, can be made available to support
control or monitoring of endpoint devices. For example, different
colored lights or additional lights may be employed to indicate
that an installation is or is not complete and to aid in the
monitoring and maintenance of cable connections. Such embodiments
may provide installation or maintenance personnel with information
needed to locate a break in cable connectivity and thereby pinpoint
the connection that requires attention.
[0049] Turning now to FIG. 2b, an alternative active jack according
to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the
embodiment of FIG. 2b, a logic chip 51 carries out the functions of
the active jack, including such functions as the forwarding of
communications through the active jack, regeneration of signals by
the active jack, monitoring and reporting of data throughput,
memory storage for installation instructions and user instructions,
logical identification of the active jack, and switching of the
active jack to enable or disable communications through the active
jack. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
logic chip 51 includes a memory component for storing a template of
instructions for an installer to follow and/or one or more data
fields for an installer to fill during installation of the active
jack. The logic chip 51 is connected to a network-side connection
53 and a user-side connection 55.
[0050] Active jacks according to some embodiments of the present
invention may be deployed in power-over-Ethernet environments. In
these environments, the active jacks may consume the power needed
for their operation while falling below the level of power
consumption that would identify the active jacks as powered devices
in the power-over-Ethernet environment. Active jacks in such an
environment forward power for provisioning to powered devices.
[0051] Referring now to FIG. 3a, a face plate 24a according to one
embodiment of the invention is shown with one active jack 10.
Another embodiment is face plate 24b, shown in FIG. 3b, with two
active jacks 10a-b. Another embodiment is face plate 24c, shown in
FIG. 3c, with two active jacks 10a-b and a passive jack 52. It is
to be understood that several alternative embodiments employing
multiple active and passive jacks may be implemented in specific
installations. Also shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c are LED
indicators 49 for facilitating installation and maintenance of
active jacks.
[0052] Referring now to FIG. 4a, according to one embodiment of the
present invention the active jack unit 10 is incorporated into a
wall panel mounted in a wall 54 behind a face plate 24 so that the
user-side jack housing 12b is accessible within the user area 56 as
shown. The active jack unit 10 is connected to a horizontal cable
58 by means of a terminating plug 60, which facilitates testing and
repair of either the active jack unit 10 or the horizontal cable
58. Alternatively, the active jack unit 10 can be connected to a
horizontal cable via an insulation displacement connector.
[0053] Active jacks according to the present invention also support
the use of multiple user-side connections and/or multiple
network-side connections within one active jack unit. Such
embodiments may be useful in implementations in which one user
device is connected to more than one network on the network side.
Further, more than one user device, or user devices belonging to
more than one account owner on a network, may be connected to a
single active-jack and access one or multiple networks on the
network side of the active jack. Constructions of active jacks
having multiple network-side connections also support dual-homing
operation for active jacks. In this operation, an active jack can
monitor more than one network-side connection for operability. If a
primary network connection becomes inoperable or suffers other
communications problems, active jacks according to the present
invention may automatically switch to a secondary network
connection. This provision for redundancy of network connections
can significantly enhance the reliability of network access at an
active jack employing such a dual-homing system.
[0054] Embodiments of active jacks according to the present
invention using multiple user-side and/or network-side connections
are shown in FIGS. 4b, 4c, and 4d. The active jacks of FIGS. 4b,
4c, and 4d are incorporated into wall panels, but it is to be
understood that they could alternatively be incorporated into other
network components as desired. FIG. 4b shows an active jack having
two network-side connector housings 12a and 12c for connection to
two network-side terminating plugs 60a and 60b which in turn are
connected to one or more networks via two horizontal cables 58a and
58b. The active jack of FIG. 4b allows for one connection in a user
area 56 to have access to more than one network connection. While
two network connections have been shown, it is to be understood
that more than two network connections may be employed on the
network side in this and other embodiments.
[0055] Turning now to FIG. 4c, an active jack having two user-side
connector housings 12b and 12d for connection to two user devices.
One network-side connector housing 12a is shown for connection to a
network-side terminating plug 60, which in turn is connected to a
network via a horizontal cable 58. This embodiment allows two user
devices to be connected to the active jack assembly. Further,
because each of the user-side connector housings 12b and 12d can
support the functionality of a separate active jack, the embodiment
of FIG. 4c enables all active jack functions to be equally applied
to more than one user-side device via a direct wall connection.
While two user-side connections have been shown, it is to be
understood that more than two user-side connections may be employed
in this and other embodiments.
[0056] FIG. 4d shows an active jack embodiment in which two
network-side connector housings 12a and 12c and two user-side
connector housings 12b and 12d are employed. In this embodiment,
more than one user device, such as a VOIP phone or other user
device, may be connected to more than one network-side connection.
The embodiment of FIG. 4d allows for a dual-homing application for
an active jack wall assembly having multiple user-side active
jacks. Thus, multiple users or multiple user devices on the user
side 56 of the jack may be provided with network redundancy in the
event of failure of a primary network or other communications
problems.
[0057] In a communication network it is desirable to be able to
identify the physical location of each user. This is especially
important in supporting an electronic emergency 911 database for
VOIP, in which the location information can greatly facilitate the
ability of personnel to respond to an emergency. Location
information can also support a managed, structured cable plant.
Referring now to FIG. 5a, an active jack 10 mounted in the wall 54
of an area 62 connected via a horizontal cable 58 to a patch panel
64 and through a patch cord 66 to an IP router 68 is shown.
According to one embodiment of the present invention a specific
active jack 10 is associated with its physical location information
in a database. To associate the active jack 10 with its physical
location, the physical location of the area 62 may be associated
with information regarding the active jack--e.g., its MAC
address--in a database 70, which according to some embodiments is
an E911 database or a database recognized by an E911 program.
[0058] Further, devices within the area 62 and connected to the
active jack 10 may be identified according to item type or item
model, thereby enabling an inventory of items connected to active
jacks 10 and the real-time monitoring of equipment connected to
networks via active jacks 10. For example, in a school network
active jacks distributed in classrooms allow for centralized
monitoring of equipment connected to the school network via active
jacks. Thus, if a particular computer or optical projector were
needed, the physical location of that computer or optical
projector--in addition to the logical location of the device in the
computer network--can easily be determined as long as the equipment
is connected to the network. According to one embodiment of the
present invention, inventory information corresponding to the
physical location of devices connected to the network may be
associated with a graphical map of a network's physical locations
to provide a real-time depiction of device locations within a
network.
[0059] According to one embodiment of the present invention,
personnel engaged in the installation of an active jack may
associate the active jack and the active jack's physical location
by entering the location information using an application running
on a PC 72 which communicates with the connected local active jack
10 which in turn, as stated above, has its own MAC address. The
association of the MAC address of the local active jack 10 with the
location data can be recorded on the PC 72 and later transferred to
a management database 70 after a work period of active jack
installations. In an alternative embodiment, the associated
information is input directly into the database 70 over the
connected network. In another method, personnel use a test
instrument 74, which provides a simpler interface to achieve the
same results. The test instrument 74 can also perform a variety of
network tests to ensure proper network installation and
connectivity. In yet another embodiment a networked computer 76 is
used to update the location database based on work order entry
information. The database 70 as depicted in FIG. 5a may reside as
part of a network manager system, as part of the IP router 68 or as
part of a voice gateway for VOIP systems.
[0060] For the proper operation of some systems, such as E911
service in a VOIP system, physical location information (e.g.,
building one, floor #12, room #32, jack outlet #3) for an active
jack must be associated with other identification information of
the active jack, such as the active jack's MAC address. It is
preferred to associate physical location information with
identification information at the installation of the active jack.
In an E911 implementation, physical location may be passed on to
emergency responding personnel who need the information to quickly
respond to an emergency. Location information for an active jack
may be stored in an E911 application database, in a
network-accessible database, or within an active jack. According to
some embodiments, it is preferred to store the physical location
data into the jack at the time of installation to avoid any
possible errors in the association between a MAC address or other
identifying information and the jack's physical location. Physical
location data and other data regarding the active jack installation
may be manually recorded and entered into a management system
following installation of several active jacks. A PC 72, a test
instrument 74, or another networked computer 76 may be used to
record and enter physical location data and identification data,
such as a MAC address.
[0061] FIG. 5b shows an installation of an active jack 10
facilitated by an installation data device 75 design to facilitate
installation of active jacks 10 and further designed to enable easy
recording and entry of physical location information and other
identification information regarding active jacks 10. While the
discussion of identification information for active jacks 10
focuses on MAC addresses as the key identification data, it is to
be understood that other identification numbers, such as customized
identification numbers for use within a specific network, may be
utilized instead of or in addition to MAC addresses when recording
and monitoring active jack installations.
[0062] The installation data device 75 may be a dedicated
installation device customized to facilitate and record data
related to the installation of communication components. The
installation data device 75 may take the form of a modified
personal digital assistant (PDA) with a graphical user interface
(GUI) designed to aid in the installation of active jacks 10. For
the installation of active jacks 10 in a power-over-Ethernet
environment--for example, using the IEEE 802.3af standard--the
installation data device 75 may include battery-powered power
supply equipment (PSE) and jack connectivity cords. In FIG. 5b, the
installation data device 75 is shown attached to a cradle 77, which
may be used for connection of the installation data device 75 to a
network or computer for downloading of data from the installation
data device 75 or uploading data to the installation data device
75.
[0063] As described in further detail below, an installation data
device 75 may be provided with a facility map showing installation
points of active jacks 10, including office location numbers and
jack location within specific rooms. The physical location data can
be uploaded into an active jack 10 at the time of installation by
the installation data device. It is preferable to provide an
installation data device 75 with PDA-style software to enable a
user-friendly interface for linking office map information with
proper user information entry fields. Further, Global Positioning
Satellite (GPS) functionality may be provided within an
installation data device 75 to provide location information to an
installer. Map information may be provided in a variety of formats,
such as the AutoCAD format for use with AutoCAD.TM. software by
Autodesk, Inc. Once a number of jacks are installed, data from the
installation data device 75 may be uploaded to an Element Manager
System (EMS) or Network Manager System (NMS) database. In addition,
installation data devices 75 may be used to test installations or
detect problems by enabling and performing connection tests. For
such testing, an installation data device 75 may be connected to a
patch panel to send messages to active jacks 10. Information on the
lengths of connections may be obtained by using the time delay of
ping messages or by time domain reflectometer (TDR) techniques.
[0064] Turning now to FIG. 5c, an installation data device 75 is
shown with a main device module 202 connected to a battery and
interface pack 204. The battery and interface pack 204 includes a
battery to allow the installation data device 75 to serve as power
supplying equipment in a power-over-Ethernet environment for the
installation of active jacks. The battery and interface pack 205 is
connected via a connection cable 205 to a wire cap 206. The wire
cap 206 enables connection of the installation data device 75 to
the network side of an active jack via an active jack's insulation
displacement connection (IDC). Such a connection enables the supply
of power to an active jack from the network side of the active jack
and further enables the uploading of physical location data to the
active jack--or "commissioning" of the active jack--during
installation.
[0065] Turning now to FIG. 5d, an installation data device 75 is
shown with a main device module 202 again connected to a battery
and interface pack 204, with the battery and interface pack 204
connected via a connection cable 205 to a connector plug 207 such
as an RJ45 plug. Such a connection allows the testing of an active
jack from the user side of the active jack toward the network side
of the active jack. This configuration can also be used to
commission or test active jack installation from a patch panel, as
discussed in greater detail below.
[0066] FIG. 5e shows an installation data device 75 having a main
device module 202 connected to a battery and interface pack 204,
which is in turn connected to a printer device 208. The printer
device 208 may be used to print labels 210 to be affixed to active
jacks during the installation procedure. The installation data
device 75 of FIG. 5e is shown with a connection cable 205 attached
to a wire cap 206 for connection to the network side of an active
jack.
[0067] Installation data devices according to the present invention
are preferably provided with a graphical user interface to
facilitate the installation of communications jacks. Turning now to
FIG. 5f, an installation data device 75 is shown with a display 212
having a building map display to enable informed and orderly
installation of active jacks. The building map display includes a
display of a number of rooms 214, showing room orientation, room
number, and the locations 216 at which active jacks are to be
installed within a room. Installation locations 216 may be marked
with solid locators to show completed installations and open
locators to show installations yet to be completed. An
installation-in-progress indicator 218 may be used to show an
installer which jack is currently being installed or which jack is
to be installed next.
[0068] A data display and entry field 220 allows for the display of
information regarding an active jack being installed as well as the
input of information into the installation data device 75 by an
installer or other user. Information may be input using input
controls 222 or via a touch- or write-screen. Fields of information
shown within the data display and entry field include: the MAC ID
number of the active jack being installed; the company whose
building is being provided with active jacks; a building
identifier; jack physical location information including floor,
aisle, room number, and jack number; names of users expected to use
the active jack; the authorization level of users of the active
jack; and miscellaneous and optional fields as may be useful for
identification and tracking of active jack installation.
[0069] Installation steps for installing an active jack using an
installation data device 75 are shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5g.
The flowchart of FIG. 5g refers to an installation in which the
installation data device 75 is a modified PDA. The installation
data device 75 executes application code designed to facilitate
jack installation and downloads maps of the enterprise into which
active jacks are to be installed, such as maps in the AutoCAD.TM.
format, as shown at block 226. A GPS system may optionally be used
to determine the correct starting point for installation as well as
the correct orientation, as shown at block 228. The installer is
shown which room a jack is to be installed in by highlighting on a
display, as described at block 230. The exact location within the
room for the jack to be installed may also be provided, as
described at block 234. Next, the installer plugs the jack into a
wire cap connector provided on the installation data device, as
shown at block 234, and records any additional office data
regarding the installation into the installation data device as
shown at block 236. Office data is recorded into jack memory as
shown at block 238, and the jack is disconnected from the
installation data device as described at block 240. Next, the jack
is physically installed into the designated outlet and into the
structured cable. If an additional jack is to be installed, another
room is highlighted as shown at block 230, with blocks 230 through
242 being repeated for each jack to be installed. Following
installation of all active jacks, data from the installation data
device may be uploaded to an Element Manager System (EMS) or
Network Manager System (NMS) as shown at block 244. After
completion of installation, the installation process is ended as
shown at stop block 246.
[0070] Installation data devices 75 may also be used for testing of
installations and testing of network connections following
installation. This testing may be accomplished by connection of an
installation data device 75 to a patch panel, as shown in FIGS.
5h-5j. FIG. 5h shows an installation data device 75, again in the
form of a modified PDA, via a connection cable 75 to a patch panel
248. The patch panel is connected via horizontal cabling 250 to an
active jack 10 provided in a wall 54. FIG. 5i shows an installation
data device 75 whose display 212 is displaying information on a
connection test being performed from a patch panel. A patch panel
display 252 shows the patch panel and may show an installer or
tester which connection on a patch panel is to be tested. A patch
panel data testing display 254 shows information related to the
test, such as the frame, panel, and jack being tested, whether the
connection passes or fails a connectivity test, and the cable
length of the tested connection. Optional information such as the
switch number, port number, or name of the connection being tested
may also be provided. The data display and entry field 220 shows
additional information on the connection being tested, including
information on the jack being tested. The data display and entry
field may allow for entry of additional information on the test by
the tester or installer, via input controls 222.
[0071] A process for testing a connection using an installation
data device is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5j. Again, the
process is outlined using a modified PDA as an installation data
device. Application code for jack testing is executed at the
installation data device and additional information such as maps,
spreadsheets, or databases of the enterprise at issue, along with
information on connectivity equipment, is uploaded to the
installation data device as shown at block 256. Next, as shown at
block 258, GPS information may optionally be used to determine the
starting point of the testing and the orientation of the tester.
The panel and jack to be tested are next highlighted on the display
of the installation data device, as shown at block 260. Next, as
shown at block 262, the installation data device is plugged into a
patch panel and additional patch panel data is recorded into the
installation data device as shown at block 264. Information on the
patch panel to which a jack is connected may next be recorded into
the jack, as shown at block 266. Next, the installation data device
is disconnected from the panel under test as shown at block 268,
and if additional panels and/or jacks are to be tested, the panel
and jack to be tested are highlighted as shown at block 260. Blocks
260 through 268 are repeated until all required testing is
complete. Finally, after completion of panel tests, testing data is
uploaded from the installation data device to an Enterprise Manager
System or Network Manager system, as shown at block 270. Following
entry of data, the process is stopped as shown at stop block
272.
[0072] Turning now to FIG. 6 three connection paths are shown to
illustrate methods of managing a structured interconnection cable
network 78 using active jacks 10. The structured network used for
this example is a PSE IP switch/router 80 connected by patch cords
82 to a first patch panel 84 having passive jacks as ports and by a
patch cord 86 to a second patch panel 88 which has active jacks 10c
as ports. In the first connection path 90 of FIG. 6, a user device
92a, such as a VOIP phone, is connected via a passive jack 52 to
the network 78. User devices for use with this and other
embodiments of the present invention may be phones such as VOIP
phones, computers, and the like and may be powered devices that
draw power from network connections. In the first connection path
90 if there is an open connection anywhere in the cable system or
if the device 92a is a powered device and is disconnected from the
wall jack 52, the device 92a will power down. This can be detected
by the PSE IP switch/router 80 but the reason--e.g., cable plant
issue, an office connection or device powering down--cannot be
determined. If a patch cord 82 or the connecting horizontal cable
94a were moved the movement would only be detected as the powering
down of the device 92a. A patch panel containing active jacks as
ports may be considered a managed interconnect patch panel because
it enables the monitoring and control of connections similarly to a
cross-connect patch panel system while requiring only one patch
panel.
[0073] In a second connection path 96 of FIG. 6, a user device 92b
is connected to the network 78 by means of an active wall jack 10a.
In this scenario a cable movement or an open circuit in either the
patch cord 82 or the horizontal cable 94b causes the user device
92b (if the user device is a powered device) and the active jack
10a to power down. At this time the PSE IP switch/router 80 may
note in a database that the user device 92b and the active jack 10a
are no longer present, i.e., drawing power. When the power is
restored (via a cable change or repair in the case of an open
circuit) the PSE IP switch/router 80 notes that a powered device is
connected due to the sensing of a power request at the PSE IP
switch/router 80. Furthermore, the active jack 10a and the device
92b send Ethernet ARP messages on powerup indicating presence on
the network. If only the device 92b is disconnected then its loss
will be detected by the PSE IP switch/router 80 and the active jack
10a can still be reached and queried by management software.
Further, when only the user device 92b is disconnected and later
reconnected, on power restoration only the re-powered device 92b
will respond with the Ethernet ARP message. The active jack 10a and
thereby the user device 92b can be associated with a given physical
location, assisting management with notification of disrupted
service.
[0074] When active jacks are deployed in a patch panel 88, as shown
in a third connection path 98, the active jacks in the wall
facilitate the maintenance of a structured and managed cable plant.
However, there is some additional functionality that can be derived
by having active jack technology at the patch panel and the client
destination point. In the third connection path 98, a user device
92c is connected to the network 78 by means of an active wall jack
10b and a horizontal cable 94c to a patch panel 88 which contains
active jacks 10c. The patch panel 88 is, in turn, connected via
patch cords 86 to the PSE IP switch/router 80. In this scenario
open circuit breaks, cable movements, and/or movement of the user
device 92c can be isolated and separately identified as the
connecting network is segmented by active devices 92c, 10b and 10c.
Each of the active devices mentioned respond to Ethernet ARP
requests and produce Ethernet ARP messages on power up situations.
For example, if there is a movement of the patch cord 86, the user
device 92c, the active jack 10b and the patch panel jack 10c will
all power down. At this point the PSE notes that the user device
changed state in the amount of power requested and can thus
distinguish between only a user device 92c removal and horizontal
or patch cord open circuits and/or movements. When power is
restored all previously powered down devices send Ethernet ARP
requests on the network indicating presence. Furthermore, if the
interconnection between a port of the PSE device 80 and an active
port on the patch panel 88 or between the patch panel 88 and the
active jack 10b has been changed then the location of the change
can be determined and managed.
[0075] Referring now to FIG. 7, the use of the active jack 10 to
control network access to a LAN 100 is illustrated. In this
embodiment, user devices 102a-n, such as VOIP phones, are attached
to the network through respective active jacks 10a-n in respective
locations 104a-n. While only four user devices are shown in four
locations, it is to be understood that systems and methods
according to the presentation may be used with a number of devices
in a number of locations. The active jacks 10a-n are connected to a
patch panel 106 by a horizontal cable plant 108. The patch panel
106 is connected to a PSE IP router device 110 which is connected
to an uninterrupted power source (UPS) 112 and supplies power via
the IEEE 802.3AF draft standard to downstream power requiring
devices, e.g. 102a-n and 10a-n. The PSE device 110 is connected to
an IP router 114 which also serves as a VOIP gateway and is
connected to or contains a database 116. A network manager 118 is
also connected to the LAN 100 and in one embodiment of the present
invention is capable of monitoring and controlling the various
network elements such as the routers 110 and 114 and the active
jacks 10a-n via Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) messages.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, network
managers execute network management programs for implementing
network management tasks.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 2, the active jack 10 has a DC power switch
46 which is controlled by the local processor 36. The active jack
10 contains the switch 46 and thus both the data connectivity and
the power to any downstream device can be controlled, for example
by the local processor 36, enabling enhanced security features such
as endpoint isolation, device inventory, and authorization. The
network manager 118 can control the network elements to disable
network access to any endpoint either at periodic intervals or in
response to an external stimulus such as an unauthorized request
for service. This may be accomplished by the network manager 118
sending signals to processors 36 located at active jacks 10 to open
the switches 46 at specific locations, thereby preventing data flow
at those locations. There are applications whereby during certain
times of the day, access to a managed network can be restricted.
Use of the active jack 10 in networks also permits usage
monitoring. For example, it may be useful to restrict access from
some office to sensitive or restricted internet or intranet sites
or locations. If an unauthorized access is initiated, then the
network manager 118, aware of the intrusion, can have the option of
shutting the active jack 10 off as well as logging the location of
the active jack that the requesting device is using.
[0077] Referring now to FIG. 8, a system according to one
embodiment of the present invention of providing emergency power
via a patch panel as well as managing the structured cable system
using active jacks at the patch panel is illustrated. User VOIP
phones 120a-n in user areas 121a-n are connected through active
wall jacks 10a-n via a horizontal cable plant 108 to a powered
patch panel 122. The powered patch panel 122 is connected to an
upstream IP switch 124, which during normal operation is the
routing device for the VOIP phones 120a-n. The powered patch panel
122 is also connected to a local emergency power supply 126, such
as an emergency battery, and an emergency voice gateway 128, which
is also connected to the local emergency power supply 126. In an
electrical outage, the upstream switch 124 may power down and the
power patch panel 122 may divert voice traffic to the local gateway
128. According to some embodiments, data services may be curtailed
in a power outage but voice services are maintained for emergency
situations.
[0078] According to one embodiment of the present invention active
jacks are provided within the patch panel 122 as three-ported
devices. In this embodiment, one port is used for the user
connectivity, one port for network connectivity and the third port
for connectivity to the emergency voice gateway 128. According to
another embodiment of the present invention the connectivity to the
emergency gateway 128 from the patch panel 122 is via a shared
Ethernet connection. According to yet another embodiment of the
present invention, the patch panel uses a network-side switching
element to connect the network ports of the patch panel active
jacks to a shared Ethernet bus 130.
[0079] Referring now to FIG. 9 a block diagram of one embodiment of
a powered patch panel 122 is illustrated. In this embodiment active
jack units 10a-x of a 24-port patch panel 122 are mounted on a
common printed circuit board 132. A processor 134 is electrically
connected to and controls the activity of the active jacks 10a-x
via a bus 136. A DC-to-DC power converter 138 converts an incoming
power supply to a power supply as required by local circuitry. For
example, the power converter 138 may convert an incoming 48 volt
power supply to 3.3 volts required by the local circuitry. The
power for the local circuitry is distributed along a power
connection 140 to the active jacks 10a-x in order to forward the
power to downstream powered devices. According to one embodiment,
the active jack 10x is assigned to extract 48 volts from an
upstream PSE and distribute the 48 volts via an incoming power
connection 142 to the DC-to-DC converter 138. Optionally,
alternative active jacks such as the active jack 10w may also be
used for power extraction, as for example when drawing power from a
redundant upstream PSE. The DC-to-DC power converter 138 may
determine from which source (e.g., 10w or 10x) power will be used.
In an alternative embodiment an additional jack or jacks may be
employed for the sole purpose of power extraction.
[0080] Turning now to FIG. 10, an alternative construction for an
active jack 144 according to one embodiment of the present
invention is shown. The active jack 144 may, for example, be used
in the embodiment of FIG. 9, in which a common processor 134 and a
common DC-to-DC power converter 138 is used and the individual
jacks need not extract power from an upstream PSE. The active jack
144 of FIG. 10 comprises upstream transformers 146 and 148
connected to upstream drivers 150 and 152 respectively, and
downstream transformers 154 and 156 connected to downstream drivers
158 and 160, respectively. A switch 162 is operatively connected to
the power connection 140 and under processor control via the bus
136 can control the power distributed via downstream power
connectors 164 and 166 to the downstream transformers 154 and 156
in order to forward power to downstream powered devices. Thus, only
the downstream transformers 154 and 156 need to be center-tapped
for the purpose of forwarding power. According to yet another
embodiment of the present invention, the switch 162 may also be
operatively connected to the receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) signals
for the purpose of interrupting the data connection.
[0081] According to one embodiment of a patch panel 122 of FIG. 9,
the active jacks 10 have integrated LEDs that aid the installer in
either cross-connect or interconnect systems. FIG. 11 illustrates
an interconnect system in which LEDs 168 associated with active
jacks 10 on a patch panel 122 can be illuminated or flash patterns
to aid the installer. For example, LEDs may indicate where patch
cords 86 or horizontal cables 108 are to be connected to the patch
panel 122. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the patch panel 122 is
disposed along a communication pathway between a PSE IP
switch/router 170 and horizontal cables 108. According to one
embodiment, illumination of the active jack LEDs is achieved
through SNMP messages from a management entity. In addition to the
facilitation of installation provided by LED functionality, LEDs
also allow for improved cable management following installation by
providing maintenance personnel with visual indications of where
inoperable cables are located as well as by providing visible
instructions for reorganizing cables in a communications network.
While only one LED has been shown associated with each of the
active jacks 144, it is to be understood that multiple LEDs may be
associated with each active jack in some embodiments of the current
invention.
[0082] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
12, in which patch panels 122a and 122b are deployed in a cascaded
master-slave configuration. Patch panels deployed in the cascaded
manner shown in FIG. 12 enable cross-connect systems with LEDs 168
on each panel indicating to an installer where patch cords are to
be removed or installed.
[0083] According to one embodiment of the powered patch panel 122
shown in FIG. 13 an electrical supply, such as a 48 volt DC
electrical supply, can be obtained from a local power source 172
which may be an AC line PSE or an emergency DC battery pack making
the powered patch panel 122 a PSE device. According to another
embodiment, a power supply, such as a 48 volt DC electrical supply,
can be obtained by means of one of the local jacks 10x, as shown in
FIG. 9, from an upstream PSE.
[0084] In yet another embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, a power supply,
such as a 48 volt DC electrical supply to the patch panel 122, can
be obtained from two independent sources, PSEs 174a and 174b, by
means of patch cords 176a and 176b using active jacks, such as
jacks 10k and 10l, within the patch panel 122, thus providing
redundant DC power sources.
[0085] Referring now to FIG. 15, a multiple-dwelling unit (MDU)
according to one embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated. Using active jacks allows service activation at
individual dwelling units. In addition, security and management of
communications for residential and small office/home office (SOHO)
applications can be facilitated. A broadband router 178 is
connected to a wide area network 180 for external connectivity and
to a distribution system within the MDU via patch cords 86 to a
patch panel 182, which may be a powered patch panel with powered
active jacks. The patch panel 182 may optionally include one or
more active jacks 10 for management purposes. From the patch panel
182 a horizontal cable plant connects individual locations 184a-n,
which may be individual dwellings. Each location 184a-n includes a
wall mounted active jack 10a-n and a user device 186a-n. Each
active jack 10a-n has a MAC address and physical location
information associated with the active jack. Power for the active
jacks 10 and the user devices 186a-n may be obtained from a UPS
source connected to the broadband router 178 or the patch panel
182. Integrating active jacks into user areas and/or into the
broadband router 178 allows for remote management and diagnosis of
cabling infrastructure issues, increased security of the cabling
infrastructure, service activation (i.e., turning service on and
off) and monitoring, power over Ethernet applications, and
indication of devices' physical locations. Performance monitoring
is also enhanced because the exact physical and logical network
location of a problem connection can be identified centrally by a
service provider, without the need for more extensive investigation
of basic location issues.
[0086] Multiple dwelling unit applications of the present
invention, including the benefits of embodiments of active jacks as
described herein, may be extended to residential, office, and hotel
networks. The distribution of active jacks throughout these
networks enables a variety of useful features. One use for active
jacks 10a-n distributed throughout a network is the implementation
of toll-for-service systems. Such a system may be implemented, for
example, in a hotel in which each of the locations 184a-n is a
hotel room or a conference room. The active jacks 10a-n enable the
monitoring of data throughput and the reporting of data throughput
to a network manager. Thus, the network manager may charge a set
fee for the amount of data requested or sent by the devices 186a-n.
Further, because each of the active jacks 10a-n may be switched on
or off by a network manager, the ability to use the active jacks
10a-n in the locations 184a-n may be centrally controlled to allow
use of individual active jacks only for those who have paid for use
of the active jacks, including the ability to halt data flow
through the active jacks 10a-n once a paid-for time period has
expired. Payment schemes of payment per data packet or other data
unit and time-based payment may be implemented, allowing for the
efficient allocation of network bandwidth to those who pay for it.
Active jacks may be distributed in a network tree architecture,
such that network access by several users of separate active jacks,
for example within a conference room, may be easily managed by a
network manager without the need to address each active jack within
an access-enabled area. Active jacks according to the present
invention may be connected to other active jacks provided within a
network, and active jacks provided within walls may be connected to
other active jacks provided in walls or to active jacks provided in
patch panels. Further, in some network architectures according to
the present invention, active jacks provided within patch panels
may be connected to other network jacks provided in patch
panels.
[0087] The use of active jacks in a multiple-dwelling unit as shown
in FIG. 15 also enhances cable management for a service provider by
allowing the identification of communication problems at individual
spans of cable. Centralized control and monitoring of active jacks
also allows a network manager to determine if unauthorized network
access--or network "pirating"--is attempted and further provides
the network manager with information necessary to determine the
physical location of attempted unauthorized access.
[0088] Because active jacks integrated into patch panels or wall
jacks can send connection information upstream to a remote network
management system, the need to send technicians to remote sites to
determine equipment conditions or to service equipment can be
reduced or, in many cases, eliminated. As with other multiple-user
embodiments described herein, only a few users have been shown, but
it is to be understood that the present invention may be used to
facilitate implementations with many more users.
[0089] Active jacks according to the present invention can be used
to extend the physical range of Ethernet systems. By regenerating
signals received, active jacks positioned along a communication
pathway serve to increase the effective range of signals, resulting
in a sturdier communication pathway. Also, since each active jack
in some embodiments of the invention regenerates an Ethernet signal
it is not necessary to co-locate IP switches and routers with a
patch panel. Further, because active jacks can be disposed within
patch panels or at wall jacks, communications pathways can be
designed to take the greatest advantage of active jack placement
while keeping costs low. Active jacks may also be used in
combination with wireless network elements, such as wireless access
points ("WAPs") to provide the features of active jacks in wireless
networks.
[0090] FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of a communications network
employing active jacks to extend the network range. In the network
of FIG. 16, a network element 188, such as a switch, has a first
radius "R1" within which the network element may conduct network
signals via wired connections. Thus, the network element 188 has an
operable area 190 denoted by a first dotted circle "C1." Providing
a wired connection 192 to an active jack 10 positioned near the
perimeter of the operable area 190 of the network element 188 will
increase the effective area of the system because the active jack
10 can regenerate communication signals. A second circle "C2"
having a second radius "R2" shows the extended effective area 194
achieved when the active jack 10 is employed. Further extension can
be achieved by employing multiple active jacks 10 or by providing
an additional wired connection 196 from the active jack 10 to a
wireless access point 198. It is to be understood that active jacks
used for the extension of range as shown in FIG. 16 may be provided
as wall jacks or as active jacks within patch panels. Further, it
is to be understood that wireless access points 198 and active
jacks 10 may be deployed in a variety of configurations as desired
in particular networking applications, and that active jacks may be
provided within areas served by wireless access points to
regenerate signals from the wireless access point along an
additional cabled line. Additionally, while R1 and R2 have been
shown approximately equivalent to each other in FIG. 16, it is to
be appreciated some embodiments of the present invention may employ
two different radii. Wireless access points and dual-homing active
jacks (described above with reference to FIG. 4b) may be employed
to switch device access from a primary wireless access point to a
secondary wireless access point when networking problems develop
with the primary wireless access point.
[0091] While particular embodiments and applications of the present
invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to the precise
construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various
modifications, changes, and variations may be apparent from the
foregoing descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *