U.S. patent application number 15/351044 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-02 for event-monitoring in a system for automatically obtaining and managing physical layer information using a reliable packet-based communication protocol.
The applicant listed for this patent is CommScope Technologies LLC. Invention is credited to Jeffrey J. Miller, Eric W. Sybesma.
Application Number | 20170063664 15/351044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46877322 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170063664 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sybesma; Eric W. ; et
al. |
March 2, 2017 |
EVENT-MONITORING IN A SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OBTAINING AND
MANAGING PHYSICAL LAYER INFORMATION USING A RELIABLE PACKET-BASED
COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL
Abstract
A method of reporting information about events occurring at a
device. A connection between a first entity and a second entity
associated with the device is established using a reliable
packet-based communication protocol. If an event associated with
the device that is unrelated to the connection occurs, event
information is reliably sent from the second entity to the first
entity using the reliable packet-based communication protocol. If a
predetermined amount of time elapses since establishing the
connection without an event associated with the device that is
unrelated to the connection occurring, a first message is reliably
sent from the second entity to the first entity using the reliable
packet-based communication protocol, the first message indicating
that no event associated with the device that is unrelated to the
connection has occurred during the predetermined amount of time.
The connection is closed after the first message has been sent.
Inventors: |
Sybesma; Eric W.; (Edina,
MN) ; Miller; Jeffrey J.; (Shakopee, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CommScope Technologies LLC |
Hickory |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
46877322 |
Appl. No.: |
15/351044 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13426764 |
Mar 22, 2012 |
9497098 |
|
|
15351044 |
|
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61467743 |
Mar 25, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 41/06 20130101;
H04L 43/062 20130101; H04L 43/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/26 20060101
H04L012/26; H04L 12/24 20060101 H04L012/24 |
Claims
1. A method of reporting information about events occurring at a
device having at least port at which at least one cable can be
attached to the device, wherein the device is configured to read
information stored on or in the cable that is attached to the
device, the method comprising: establishing a connection between a
first entity and a second entity associated with the device,
wherein the connection is established using a reliable packet-based
communication protocol; if an event associated with the device that
is unrelated to the connection occurs, reliably sending event
information from the second entity to the first entity on the
connection using the reliable packet-based communication protocol;
and if a predetermined amount of time elapses since establishing
the connection without an event associated with the device that is
unrelated to the connection occurring, reliably sending a first
message from the second entity to the first entity on the
connection using the reliable packet-based communication protocol,
the first message indicating that no event associated with the
device that is unrelated to the connection has occurred during the
predetermined amount of time, and closing the connection after the
first message has been sent on the connection.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the event
associated with the device that is unrelated to the connection
occurs and the event information was not successfully sent from the
second entity to the first entity on the connection using the
reliable packet-based communication protocol, buffering the event
information.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the connection is
successfully established, receiving a request for information
related to any events associated with the device sent from the
second entity.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is repeatedly
performed for successive connections, where each connection is
closed after event information or a no event message has been
received on the respective connection.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first entity comprises
software executing on an aggregation point, wherein the aggregation
point is communicatively coupled to the device.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the device comprises at least one
of patching equipment and an end-user device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a connector
configured to attach to the port of the device, the connector
having an associated stored device in which the information is
stored, wherein the device is configured to read the information
stored in the storage device.
8. A device comprising: a programmable processor configured to
execute software; an interface to communicatively couple the device
to an aggregation point; and at least one port at which at least
one cable can be attached to the device, wherein the device is
configured to read information stored on or in the cable that is
attached to the device; wherein the software is configured to cause
the programmable processor to: establish a connection between an
aggregation point and the device, wherein the connection is
established using a reliable packet-based communication protocol;
if an event associated with the device that is unrelated to the
connection occurs, reliably send event information from the device
to the aggregation point on the connection using the reliable
packet-based communication protocol; and if a predetermined amount
of time elapses since establishing the connection without an event
associated with the device that is unrelated to the connection
occurring, reliably send a first message from the device to the
aggregation point on the connection using the reliable packet-based
communication protocol, the first message indicating that no event
associated with the device that is unrelated to the connection has
occurred during the predetermined amount of time, and close the
connection after sending the first message on the connection.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device comprises at least one
of patching equipment and an end-user device.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a connector
configured to attach to the port of the device, the connector
having an associated stored device in which the information is
stored, wherein the device is configured to read the information
stored in the storage device.
11. A system comprising: a plurality of items of patching
equipment, each of the items of patching equipment comprising a
plurality of ports, wherein each of the items of patching equipment
is configured to read information stored in storage devices
associated with connectors attached to cables that are connected to
the ports of the respective item of patching equipment; and an
aggregation point communicatively coupled to the items of patching
equipment, wherein the aggregation point is configured to
automatically discover the items of patching equipment and cause
each of the items of patching equipment to send to the aggregation
point at least some of the information read from the storage
devices associated with the connectors attached to the cables that
are connected to the ports of the respective items of patching
equipment; wherein the aggregation point is configured to store at
least some of the information sent by the items of patching
equipment to the aggregation point; and wherein a reliable
packet-based communication protocol is used by the aggregation
point to monitor events occurring at at least one item of patching
equipment.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the reliable packet-based
communication protocol comprises a connection-oriented
protocol.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the reliable network protocol
comprises at least one of: the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP),
the Reliable User Data Protocol (RUDP), and a reliable protocol
built on ETHERNET.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the aggregation point is
configured to repeatedly establish successive connections with an
entity associated with the at least one item of patching equipment,
wherein the aggregation point and the at least one item of patching
equipment are configured to use the reliable packet-based
communication protocol to close each connection after a
predetermined amount time.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the entity is configured, for
each connection, to send, using that connection, information about
any new events.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the items of patching equipment
comprise at least one of: rack-mounted patching equipment,
wall-mounted patching equipment, a fiber distribution hub (FDH), a
fiber splice panel, a fiber termination point, a patch panel, a
distribution unit, a media converter, a wall-mounted connector box,
wall-mounted jack, wall-mounted outlet, and a wall-mounted media
converter.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the events occurring at the
least one item of patching equipment comprises connecting a cable
to the item of patching equipment and disconnecting the cable from
the item of patching equipment.
18. An aggregation point comprising: a programmable processor
configured to execute software; and an interface to communicatively
couple the aggregation point to a plurality of items of patching
equipment, each of the items of patching equipment comprising a
plurality of ports, wherein each of the items of patching equipment
is configured to read information stored in storage devices
associated with connectors attached to cables that are connected to
the ports of the respective item of patching equipment; and wherein
the software is configured to cause the programmable processor to:
automatically discover the items of patching equipment and cause
each of the items of patching equipment to send to the aggregation
point at least some of the information read from the storage
devices associated with the connectors attached to the cables that
are connected to the ports of the respective items of patching
equipment; for each item of patching equipment: establish a
respective connection between the aggregation point and a
respective entity associated with the respective item of patching
equipment, wherein the connection is established using a reliable
packet-based communication protocol; when information related to an
event associated with the respective item of patching equipment is
received from the respective connection, update event information
maintained by the aggregation point with the information received
from the respective connection; and when a first predetermined
amount time elapses since establishing the respective connection
without data being received at the aggregation point from the
respective connection, update a status associated with the
respective item of patching equipment to indicate that the
respective item of patching equipment is not reachable.
19. The aggregation point of claim 18, wherein the software
comprises aggregation software, a database manager, and software
that implements the reliable packet-based communication
protocol.
20. The aggregation point of claim 18, wherein each respective
entity comprises software executing on an associated item of
patching equipment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/426,764, filed on Mar. 22, 2012,
which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 61/467,743, filed on Mar. 25, 2011, all of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application is related to the following:
[0003] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/467,715,
filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "DOUBLE-BUFFER INSERTION COUNT
STORED IN A DEVICE ATTACHED TO A PHYSICAL LAYER MEDIUM", which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference;
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/426,821, Attorney Docket
No. 100.1176US01, filed on even date herewith, titled
"DOUBLE-BUFFER INSERTION COUNT STORED IN A DEVICE ATTACHED TO A
PHYSICAL LAYER MEDIUM", which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference;
[0005] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/467,725,
filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "DYNAMICALLY DETECTING A DEFECTIVE
CONNECTOR AT A PORT", which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference;
[0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/426,805, Attorney Docket
No. 100.1177US01, filed on even date herewith, titled "DYNAMICALLY
DETECTING A DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AT A PORT", which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference;
[0007] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/467,729,
filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "IDENTIFIER ENCODING SCHEME FOR USE
WITH MULTI-PATH CONNECTORS", which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference;
[0008] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/426,794, Attorney Docket
No. 100.1178US01, filed on even date herewith, titled "IDENTIFIER
ENCODING SCHEME FOR USE WITH MULTI-PATH CONNECTORS", which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference;
[0009] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/467,736,
filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UTILIZING
VARIABLE LENGTH DATA FIELD STORAGE SCHEMES ON PHYSICAL
COMMUNICATION MEDIA SEGMENTS", which is hereby incorporated herein
by reference; and
[0010] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/426,777, Attorney Docket
No. 100.1179US01, filed on even date herewith, titled "SYSTEMS AND
METHODS FOR UTILIZING VARIABLE LENGTH DATA FIELD STORAGE SCHEMES ON
PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION MEDIA SEGMENTS", which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0011] Communication networks typically include numerous logical
communication links between various items of equipment. Often a
single logical communication link is implemented using several
pieces of physical communication media. For example, a logical
communication link between a computer and an inter-networking
device such as a hub or router can be implemented as follows. A
first cable connects the computer to a jack mounted in a wall. A
second cable connects the wall-mounted jack to a port of a patch
panel, and a third cable connects the inter-networking device to
another port of a patch panel. A "patch cord" cross connects the
two together. In other words, a single logical communication link
is often implemented using several segments of physical
communication media.
[0012] A network or enterprise management system (generally
referred to here as a "network management system" or "NMS") is
typically aware of the logical communication links that exist in a
network but typically does not have information about the specific
physical layer media that are used to implement the logical
communication links. Indeed, NMS systems typically do not have the
ability to display or otherwise provide information about how
logical communication links are implemented at the physical layer
level.
[0013] Physical layer management (PLM) systems do exist. However,
existing PLM systems are typically designed to facilitate the
adding, changing, and removing of cross connections at a particular
patch panel or a set of patch panels at a given location.
Generally, such PLM systems include functionality to track what is
connected to each port of a patch panel, trace connections that are
made using a patch panel, and provide visual indications to a user
at a patch panel. However, such PLM systems are typically
"patch-panel" centric in that they are focused on helping a
technician correctly add, change, or remove cross connections at a
patch panel. Any "intelligence" included in or coupled to the patch
panel is typically only designed to facilitate making accurate
cross connections at the patch panel and troubleshooting related
problems (for example, by detecting whether a patch cord is
inserted into a given port and/or by determining which ports are
coupled to one another using a patch cord).
[0014] Moreover, any information that such PLM systems collect is
typically only used within the PLM systems. In other words, the
collections of information that such PLM systems maintain are
logical "islands" that are not used at the application-layer level
by other systems. Though such PLM systems are sometimes connected
to other networks (for example, connected to local area networks or
the Internet), such network connections are typically only used to
enable a user to remotely access the PLM systems. That is, a user
remotely accesses the PLM-related application-layer functionality
that resides in the PLM system itself using the external network
connection but external systems or networks typically do not
themselves include any application-layer functionality that makes
use of any of the physical-layer-related information that resides
in the PLM system.
SUMMARY
[0015] One exemplary embodiment is directed to a system comprising
a plurality of connector assemblies. Each of the connector
assemblies is configured to read information stored on or in
physical communication media that is connected to the ports of the
respective connector assembly. The system further comprises an
aggregation point communicatively coupled to the plurality of
connector assemblies. The aggregation point is configured to
automatically discover the connector assemblies and cause each of
the connector assemblies to send to the aggregation point at least
some of the information read from the physical communication media
that is connected to the ports of the respective connector
assemblies. The aggregation point is configured to store at least
some of the information sent by the connector assemblies to the
aggregation point. A reliable packet-based communication protocol
is used by the aggregation point to monitor events occurring at at
least one connector assembly.
DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a
system that includes physical layer information (PLI) functionality
as well as physical layer management (PLM) functionality.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one high-level embodiment of a
port and media reading interface that are suitable for use in the
system of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIGS. 3A-3B are diagrams illustrating exemplary embodiments
of patch cords.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a
system in which a reliable packet-based communication protocol is
used by an aggregation point to monitor events occurring at a
device.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a
method of aggregating information received from one or more
connector assemblies.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a
method of reporting event information to an aggregation point.
[0022] Like reference numbers in the various figures indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system 100
that includes physical layer information (PLI) functionality as
well as physical layer management (PLM) functionality. The system
100 comprises a plurality of connector assemblies 102, where each
connector assembly 102 comprises one or more ports 104. In general,
the connector assemblies 102 are used to attach segments of
physical communication media to one another.
[0024] Each segment of physical communication media is attached to
a respective port 104. Each port 104 is used to connect two or more
segments of physical communication media to one another (for
example, to implement a portion of a logical communication link).
Examples of connector assemblies 102 include, for example,
rack-mounted connector assemblies (such as patch panels,
distribution units, and media converters for fiber and copper
physical communication media), wall-mounted connector assemblies
(such as boxes, jacks, outlets, and media converters for fiber and
copper physical communication media), and inter-networking devices
(such as switches, routers, hubs, repeaters, gateways, and access
points).
[0025] At least some of the connector assemblies 102 are designed
for use with segments of physical communication media that have
identifier and attribute information stored in or on them. The
identifier and attribute information is stored in or on the segment
of physical communication media in a manner that enables the stored
information, when the segment is attached to a port 104, to be read
by a programmable processor 106 associated with the connector
assembly 102. Examples of information that can be stored in or on a
segment of physical communication media include, without
limitation, an identifier that uniquely identifies that particular
segment of physical communication media (similar to an ETHERNET
Media Access Control (MAC) address but associated with the physical
communication media and/or connector attached to the physical
communication media), a part number, a plug or other connector
type, a cable or fiber type and length, a serial number, a cable
polarity, a date of manufacture, a manufacturing lot number,
information about one or more visual attributes of physical
communication media or a connector attached to the physical
communication media (such as information about the color or shape
of the physical communication media or connector or an image of the
physical communication media or connector), and other information
used by an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system or inventory
control system. In other embodiments, alternate or additional data
is stored in or on the media segments. For example, testing, media
quality, or performance information can be stored in or on the
segment of physical communication media. The testing, media
quality, or performance information, for example, can be the
results of testing that is performed when a particular segment of
media is manufactured.
[0026] Also, as noted below, in some embodiments, the information
stored in or on the segment of physical communication media can be
updated. For example, the information stored in or on the segment
of physical communication media can be updated to include the
results of testing that is performed when a segment of physical
media is installed or otherwise checked. In another example, such
testing information is supplied to an aggregation point 120 and
stored in a data store maintained by the aggregation point 120
(both of which are described below). In another example, the
information stored in or on the segment of physical communication
media includes a count of the number of times that a connector (not
shown) attached to a segment of physical communication media has
been inserted into port 104. In such an example, the count stored
in or on the segment of physical communication media is updated
each time the connector is inserted into port 104. This insertion
count value can be used, for example, for warranty purposes (for
example, to determine if the connector has been inserted more than
the number of times specified in the warranty) or for security
purposes (for example, to detect unauthorized insertions of the
physical communication media).
[0027] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each of the
ports 104 of the connector assemblies 102 comprises a respective
media interface 108 via which the respective programmable processor
106 is able to determine if a physical communication media segment
is attached to that port 104 and, if one is, to read the identifier
and attribute information stored in or on the attached segment (if
such information is stored therein or thereon). The programmable
processor 106 associated with each connector assembly 102 is
communicatively coupled to each of the media interfaces 108 using a
suitable bus or other interconnect (not shown).
[0028] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1, four exemplary
types of connector assembly configurations are shown. In the first
connector assembly configuration 110 shown in FIG. 1, each
connector assembly 102 includes its own respective programmable
processor 106 and its own respective network interface 116 that is
used to communicatively couple that connector assembly 102 to an
Internet Protocol (IP) network 118.
[0029] In the second type of connector assembly configuration 112,
a group of connector assemblies 102 are physically located near
each other (for example, in a bay or equipment closet). Each of the
connector assemblies 102 in the group includes its own respective
programmable processor 106. However, in the second connector
assembly configuration 112, some of the connector assemblies 102
(referred to here as "interfaced connector assemblies") include
their own respective network interfaces 116 while some of the
connector assemblies 102 (referred to here as "non-interfaced
connector assemblies") do not. The non-interfaced connector
assemblies 102 are communicatively coupled to one or more of the
interfaced connector assemblies 102 in the group via local
connections. In this way, the non-interfaced connector assemblies
102 are communicatively coupled to the IP network 118 via the
network interface 116 included in one or more of the interfaced
connector assemblies 102 in the group. In the second type of
connector assembly configuration 112, the total number of network
interfaces 116 used to couple the connector assemblies 102 to the
IP network 118 can be reduced. Moreover, in the particular
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the non-interfaced connector assemblies
102 are connected to the interfaced connector assembly 102 using a
daisy chain topology (though other topologies can be used in other
implementations and embodiments).
[0030] In the third type of connector assembly configuration 114, a
group of connector assemblies 102 are physically located near each
other (for example, within a bay or equipment closet). Some of the
connector assemblies 102 in the group (also referred to here as
"master" connector assemblies 102) include both their own
programmable processors 106 and network interfaces 116, while some
of the connector assemblies 102 (also referred to here as "slave"
connector assemblies 102) do not include their own programmable
processors 106 or network interfaces 116. Each of the slave
connector assemblies 102 is communicatively coupled to one or more
of the master connector assemblies 102 in the group via one or more
local connections. The programmable processor 106 in each of the
master connector assemblies 102 is able to carry out the processing
described below for both the master connector assembly 102 of which
it is a part and any slave connector assemblies 102 to which the
master connector assembly 102 is connected via the local
connections. As a result, the cost associated with the slave
connector assemblies 102 can be reduced. In the particular
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the slave connector assemblies 102 are
connected to a master connector assembly 102 in a star topology
(though other topologies can be used in other implementations and
embodiments).
[0031] Each programmable processor 106 is configured to execute
software or firmware 190 (shown in FIG. 2) that causes the
programmable processor 106 to carry out various functions described
below. The software 190 comprises program instructions that are
stored (or otherwise embodied) on an appropriate non-transitory
storage medium or media 192 (such as flash or other non-volatile
memory, magnetic disc drives, and/or optical disc drives). At least
a portion of the program instructions are read from the storage
medium 192 by the programmable processor 106 for execution thereby.
The storage medium 192 on or in which the program instructions are
embodied is also referred to here as a "program product". Although
the storage medium 192 is shown in FIG. 2 as being included in, and
local to, the connector assembly 102, it is to be understood that
remote storage media (for example, storage media that is accessible
over a network or communication link) and/or removable media can
also be used. Each connector assembly 102 also includes suitable
memory (not shown) that is coupled to the programmable processor
106 for storing program instructions and data. In general, the
programmable processor 106 (and the software 190 executing thereon)
determines if a physical communication media segment is attached to
a port 104 with which that processor 106 is associated and, if one
is, to read the identifier and attribute information stored in or
on the attached physical communication media segment (if the
segment includes such information stored therein or thereon) using
the associated media interface 108.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, in the first, second, and third
configurations 110, 112, and 114, each programmable processor 106
is also configured to communicate physical layer information to
devices that are coupled to the IP network 118. The physical layer
information (PLI) includes information about the connector
assemblies 102 associated with that programmable processor 106
(also referred to here as "device information") as well as
information about any segments of physical media attached to the
ports 104 of those connector assemblies 102 (also referred to here
as "media information"). The device information includes, for
example, an identifier for each connector assembly, a type
identifier that identifies the connector assembly's type, and port
priority information that associates a priority level with each
port. The media information includes identity and attribute
information that the programmable processor 106 has read from
attached physical media segments that have identifier and attribute
information stored in or on it. The media information may also
include information about physical communication media that does
not have identifier or attribute information stored in or on it.
This latter type of media information can be manually input at the
time the associated physical media segments are attached to the
connector assembly 102 (for example, using a management application
executing on the programmable processor 106 that enables a user to
configure and monitor the connector assembly 102).
[0033] In the fourth type of connector assembly configuration 115,
a group of connector assemblies 102 are housed within a common
chassis or other enclosure. Each of the connector assemblies 102 in
the configuration 115 includes their own programmable processors
106. In the context of this configuration 115, the programmable
processors 106 in each of the connector assemblies are "slave"
processors 106. Each of the slave programmable processor 106 is
also communicatively coupled to a common "master" programmable
processor 117 (for example, over a backplane included in the
chassis or enclosure). The master programmable processor 117 is
coupled to a network interface 116 that is used to communicatively
couple the master programmable processor 117 to the IP network 118.
In this configuration 115, each slave programmable processor 106 is
configured to determine if physical communication media segments
are attached to its port 104 and to read the identifier and
attribute information stored in or on the attached physical
communication media segments (if the attached segments have such
information stored therein or thereon) using the associated media
interfaces 108. This information is communicated from the slave
programmable processor 106 in each of the connector assemblies 102
in the chassis to the master processor 117. The master processor
117 is configured to handle the processing associated with
communicating the physical layer information read from by the slave
processors 106 to devices that are coupled to the IP network
118.
[0034] The system 100 includes functionality that enables the
physical layer information that the connector assemblies 102
capture to be used by application-layer functionality outside of
the traditional physical-layer management application domain. That
is, the physical layer information is not retained in a PLM
"island" used only for PLM purposes but is instead made available
to other applications. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG.
1, the system 100 includes an aggregation point 120 that is
communicatively coupled to the connector assemblies 102 via the IP
network 118.
[0035] The aggregation point 120 includes functionality that
obtains physical layer information from the connector assemblies
102 (and other devices) and stores the physical layer information
in a data store.
[0036] The aggregation point 120 can be used to receive physical
layer information from various types of connector assemblies 106
that have functionality for automatically reading information
stored in or on the segment of physical communication media.
Examples of such connector assemblies 106 are noted above. Also,
the aggregation point 120 and aggregation functionality 124 can
also be used to receive physical layer information from other types
of devices that have functionality for automatically reading
information stored in or on the segment of physical communication
media. Examples of such devices include end-user devices--such as
computers, peripherals (such as printers, copiers, storage devices,
and scanners), and IP telephones--that include functionality for
automatically reading information stored in or on the segment of
physical communication media.
[0037] The aggregation point 120 can also be used to obtain other
types of physical layer information. For example, in this
embodiment, the aggregation point 120 also obtains information
about physical communication media segments that is not otherwise
automatically communicated to an aggregation point 120. One example
of such information is information about non-connectorized physical
communication media segments that do not otherwise have information
stored in or on them that are attached to a connector assembly
(including, for example, information indicating which ports of the
devices are connected to which ports of other devices in the
network as well as media information about the segment). Another
example of such information is information about physical
communication media segments that are connected to devices that are
not able to read media information that is stored in or on the
media segments that are attached to their ports and/or that are not
able to communicate such information to the aggregation point 120
(for example, because such devices do not include such
functionality, because such devices are used with media segments
that do not have media information stored in or on them, and/or
because bandwidth is not available for communicating such
information to the aggregation point 120). In this example, the
information can include, for example, information about the devices
themselves (such as the devices' MAC addresses and IP addresses if
assigned to such devices), information indicating which ports of
the devices are connected to which ports of other devices in the
network (for example, other connector assemblies), and information
about the physical media attached to the ports of the devices. This
information can be provided to the aggregation point 120, for
example, by manually entering such information into a file (such as
a spreadsheet) and then uploading the file to the aggregation point
120 (for example, using a web browser) in connection with the
initial installation of each of the various items. Such information
can also, for example, be directly entered using a user interface
provided by the aggregation point 120 (for example, using a web
browser).
[0038] The aggregation point 120 can also obtain information about
the layout of the building or buildings in which the network is
deployed, as well as information indicating where each connector
assembly 102, physical media segment, and inter-networking device
is located within the building. This information can be, for
example, manually entered and verified (for example, using a web
browser) in connection with the initial installation of each of the
various items. In one implementation, such location information
includes an X, Y, and Z location for each port or other termination
point for each physical communication media segment (for example,
X, Y, and Z location information of the type specified in the
ANSI/TIA/EIA 606-A Standard (Administration Standard For The
Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure)).
[0039] The aggregation point 120 can obtain and maintain testing,
media quality, or performance information relating to the various
segments of physical communication media that exist in the network.
The testing, media quality, or performance information, for
example, can be results of testing that is performed when a
particular segment of media is manufactured and/or when testing is
performed when a particular segment of media is installed or
otherwise checked.
[0040] The aggregation point 120 also includes functionality that
provides an interface for external devices or entities to access
the physical layer information maintained by the aggregation point
120. This access can include retrieving information from the
aggregation point 120 as well as supplying information to the
aggregation point 120. In this embodiment, the aggregation point
120 is implemented as "middleware" that is able to provide such
external devices and entities with transparent and convenient
access to the PLI maintained by the access point 120. Because the
aggregation point 120 aggregates PLI from the relevant devices on
the IP network 118 and provides external devices and entities with
access to such PLI, the external devices and entities do not need
to individually interact with all of the devices in the IP network
118 that provide PLI, nor do such devices need to have the capacity
to respond to requests from such external devices and entities.
[0041] The aggregation point 120, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
1, implements an application programming interface (API) by which
application-layer functionality can gain access to the physical
layer information maintained by the aggregation point 120 using a
software development kit (SDK) that describes and documents the
API. Also, in those embodiments where the connector assemblies 102
include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) (for example,
where each port 104 has an associated LED), the API and aggregation
point 120 can include functionality that enables application-layer
functionality to change the state of such LEDs using the API.
[0042] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a network management system
(NMS) 130 includes physical layer information (PLI) functionality
132 that is configured to retrieve physical layer information from
the aggregation point 120 and provide it to the other parts of the
NMS 130 for use thereby. The NMS 130 uses the retrieved physical
layer information to perform one or more network management
functions (for example, as described below). In one implementation
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the PLI functionality 132 of the
NMS 130 retrieves physical layer information from the aggregation
point 120 using the API implemented by the aggregation point 120.
The NMS 130 communicates with the aggregation point 120 over the IP
network 118.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, an application 134 executing on a
computer 136 can also use the API implemented by the aggregation
point 120 to access the PLI information maintained by the
aggregation point 120 (for example, to retrieve such information
from the aggregation point 120 and/or to supply such information to
the aggregation point 120). The computer 136 is coupled to the IP
network 118 and accesses the aggregation point 120 over the IP
network 118.
[0044] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one or more
inter-networking devices 138 used to implement the IP network 118
include physical layer information (PLI) functionality 140. The PLI
functionality 140 of the inter-networking device 138 is configured
to retrieve physical layer information from the aggregation point
120 and use the retrieved physical layer information to perform one
or more inter-networking functions. Examples of inter-networking
functions include Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 3 (of the OSI model)
inter-networking functions such as the routing, switching,
repeating, bridging, and grooming of communication traffic that is
received at the inter-networking device. In one implementation of
such an embodiment, the PLI functionality 140 uses the API
implemented by the aggregation point 120 to communicate with the
aggregation point 120.
[0045] The PLI functionality 140 included in the inter-networking
device 138 can also be used to capture physical layer information
associated with the inter-network device 138 and the physical
communication media attached to it and communicate the captured
physical layer information to the aggregation point 120. Such
information can be provided to the aggregation point 120 using the
API or by using the protocols that are used to communicate with the
connector assemblies 102.
[0046] The aggregation point 120 can be implemented on a standalone
network node (for example, a standalone computer running
appropriate software) or can be integrated along with other network
functionality (for example, integrated with an element management
system or network management system or other network server or
network element). Moreover, the functionality of the aggregation
point 120 can be distributed across many nodes and devices in the
network and/or implemented, for example, in a hierarchical manner
(for example, with many levels of aggregation points).
[0047] Moreover, the aggregation point 120 and the connector
assemblies 102 are configured so that the aggregation point 120 can
automatically discover and connect with devices that provide PLI to
an aggregation point 120 (such as the connector assemblies 102 and
inter-network device 138) that are on the network 118. In this way,
when devices that are able to provide PLI to an aggregation point
120 (such as a connector assembly 102 or an inter-networking device
138) are coupled to the IP network 118, an aggregation point 120 is
able to automatically discover the connector assembly 102 and start
aggregating physical layer information for that connector assembly
102 without requiring the person installing the connector assembly
102 to have knowledge of the aggregation points 120 that are on the
IP network 118. Similarly, when an aggregation point 120 is coupled
to the IP network 118, the aggregation point 120 is able to
automatically discover and interact with devices that are capable
of providing PLI to an aggregation point without requiring the
person installing the aggregation point 120 to have knowledge of
the devices that are on the IP network 118. Thus, the
physical-layer information resources described here can be easily
integrated into the IP network 118.
[0048] The IP network 118 can include one or more local area
networks and/or wide area networks (including for example the
Internet). As a result, the aggregation point 120, NMS 130, and
computer 136 need not be located at the same site as each other or
at the same site as the connector assemblies 102 or the
inter-networking devices 138.
[0049] Various conventional IP networking techniques can be used in
deploying the system 100 of FIG. 1. For example, conventional
security protocols can be used to secure communications if they are
communicated over a public or otherwise unsecure communication
channel (such as the Internet or over a wireless communication
link).
[0050] In one implementation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,
each connector assembly 102, each port 104 of each connector
assembly 102, and each media segment is individually addressable.
Where IP addresses are used to individually address each connector
assembly 102, a virtual private network (VPN) dedicated for use
with the various connector assemblies 102 can be used to segregate
the IP addresses used for the connector assemblies 102 from the
main IP address space that is used in the IP network 118.
[0051] Also, power can be supplied to the connector assemblies 102
using conventional "Power over Ethernet" techniques specified in
the IEEE802.3af standard, which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference. In such an implementation, a power hub 142 or other
power supplying device (located near or incorporated into an
inter-networking device that is coupled to each connector assembly
102) injects DC power onto one or more of the wires (also referred
to here as the "power wires") included in the copper twisted-pair
cable used to connect each connector assembly 102 to the associated
inter-networking device. The interface 116 in the connector
assembly 102 picks the injected DC power off of the power wires and
uses the picked-off power to power the active components of that
connector assembly 102. In the second and third connector assembly
configurations 112 and 114, some of the connector assemblies 102
are not directly connected to the IP network 118 and, therefore,
are unable to receive power directly from the power wires. These
connector assemblies 102 receive power from the connector
assemblies 102 that are directly connected to the IP network 118
via the local connections that communicatively couple such
connector assemblies 102 to one another. In the fourth
configuration 115, the interface 116 picks the injected DC power
off of the power wires and supplies power to the master processor
117 and each of the slave processors 106 over the backplane.
[0052] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the system 100
also supports conventional physical layer management (PLM)
operations such as the tracking of moves, adds, and changes of the
segments of physical media that are attached to the ports 104 of
the connector assemblies 102 and providing assistance with carrying
out moves, adds, and changes (also referred to here as a "MAC" or
"move-add-change"). PLI provided by the aggregation point 120 can
be used to improve upon conventional "guided MAC" processes. For
example, information about the location of the port 104 and the
visual appearance (for example, the color or shape) of the relevant
physical media segment (or connector attached thereto) can be
communicated to a technician to assist the technician in carrying
out a move, add, or change. This information can be communicated to
a computer or smartphone used by the technician. Moreover, the PLI
functionality that resides in the system 100 can also be used to
verify that a particular MAC was properly carried out by checking
that the expected physical media segment is located in the expected
port 104. If that is not the case, an alert can be sent to the
technician so that the technician can correct the issue.
[0053] The PLM functionality included in the system 100 can also
support conventional techniques for guiding the technician in
carrying out a move-add-change (for example, by illuminating one or
more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to direct a technician to a
particular connector assembly 102 and/or to a particular port 104
or by displaying messages on a liquid crystal display (LCD)
included on or near the connector assemblies 102).
[0054] Other PLM functions include keeping historical logs about
the media connected to the connector assembly. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1, the aggregation point 120 includes PLM
functionality 144 that implements such PLM functions. The PLM
functionality 144 does this using the physical layer information
that is maintained at the aggregation point 120.
[0055] The IP network 118 is typically implemented using one or
more inter-networking devices. As noted above, an inter-networking
device is a type of connector assembly (and a particular
implementation of an inter-networking device 138 is referenced
separately in FIG.1 for ease of explanation only). Generally, an
inter-networking device can be configured to read media information
that is stored in or on the segments of physical media that are
attached to its ports and to communicate the media information it
reads from the attached segments of media (as well as information
about the inter-networking device itself) to an aggregation point
120 like any other connector assembly described here.
[0056] In addition to connector assemblies 102, the techniques
described here for reading media information stored in or on a
segment of physical communication media can be used in one or more
end nodes of the IP network 118. For example, computers (such as,
laptops, servers, desktop computers, or special-purpose computing
devices such as IP telephones, IP multi-media appliances, and
storage devices) can be configured to read media information that
is stored in or on the segments of physical communication media
that are attached to their ports and to communicate the media
information they read from the attached segments of media (as well
as information about the devices themselves) to an aggregation
point 120 as described here.
[0057] In one implementation of the system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the
ports 104 of each connector assembly 102 are used to implement the
IP network 118 over which each connector assembly 102 communicates
physical layer information associated with that connector assembly
102. In such an implementation, such physical layer information is
communicated over the IP network 118 just like any other data that
is communicated over the IP network 118. As noted below, the media
interface 108 determines if a physical communication media segment
is attached to the corresponding port 104 and, if one is, reads the
identifier and attribute information stored in or on the attached
segment (if such information is stored therein or thereon) without
affecting the normal data signals that pass through that port 104.
Indeed, such physical layer information may actually pass through
one or more of the ports 104 of connector assemblies 102 in the
course of being communicated to and/or from a connector assembly
102, aggregation point 150, network management system 130, and/or
computer 136. By using the IP network 118 to communicate physical
layer information pertaining to it, a separate network need not be
provided and maintained in order to communicate such physical-layer
information. However, in other implementations and embodiments, the
physical layer information described above is communicated using a
network that is separate from the network to which such physical
layer information pertains.
[0058] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one high-level embodiment of a
port 104 and media interface 108 that are suitable for use in the
system 100 of FIG. 1.
[0059] Each port 104 comprises a first attachment point 206 and a
second attachment point 208. The first attachment point 206 is used
to attach a first segment of physical communication media 210 to
the port 104, and the second attachment point 208 is used to attach
a second segment of physical communication media 212 to the port
104.
[0060] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first
attachment point 206 is located near the rear of the connector
assembly. As a consequence, the first attachment point 206 and the
first segment of physical media 210 attached thereto are also
referred to here as the "rear attachment point" 206 and the "rear
media segment" 210, respectively. Also, in this embodiment, the
rear attachment point 206 is configured to attach the rear media
segment 210 to the port 104 in a semi-permanent manner. As used
herein, a semi-permanent attachment is one that is designed to be
changed relatively infrequently, if ever. This is also referred to
sometimes as a "one-time" connection. Examples of suitable rear
connectors 206 include punch-down blocks (in the case of copper
physical media) and fiber adapters, fiber splice points, and fiber
termination points (in the case of optical physical media).
[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the second attachment
point 208 is located near the front of the connector assembly 102.
As a consequence, the second attachment point 208 and the second
segment of physical media 212 are also referred to here as the
"front attachment point" 208 and the "front media segment" 212,
respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the front
attachment point 208 for each port 104 is designed for use with
"connectorized" front media segments 212 that have identifier and
attribute information stored in or on them. As used herein, a
"connectorized" media segment is a segment of physical
communication media that includes a connector 214 at at least one
end of the segment. The front attachment point 208 is implemented
using a suitable connector or adapter that mates with the
corresponding connector 214 on the end of the front media segment
212. The connector 214 is used to facilitate the easy and repeated
attachment and unattachment of the front media segment 212 to the
port 104. Examples of connectorized media segments include CAT-5,
6, and 7 twisted-pair cables having modular connectors or plugs
attached to both ends (in which case, the front connectors are
implemented using compatible modular jacks) or optical cables
having SC, LC, FC, LX.5, MTP, or MPO connectors (in which case, the
front connectors are implemented using compatible SC, LC, FC, LX.5,
MTP, or MPO connectors or adapters). The techniques described here
can be used with other types of connectors including, for example,
BNC connectors, F connectors, DSX jacks and plugs, bantam jacks and
plugs, and MPO and MTP multi-fiber connectors and adapters.
[0062] Each port 104 communicatively couples the respective rear
attachment point 206 to the respective front attachment point 208.
As a result, a rear media segment 210 attached to the respective
rear attachment point 206 is communicatively coupled to any front
media segment 212 attached to the respective front attachment point
208. In one implementation, each port 104 is designed for use with
a rear media segment 210 and a front media segment 212 that
comprise the same type of physical communication media, in which
case each port 104 communicatively couples any rear media segment
210 attached to the respective rear attachment point 206 to any
front media segment 212 attached to the respective front attachment
point 208 at the physical layer level without any media conversion.
In other implementations, each port 104 communicatively couples any
rear media segment 210 attached to the respective rear attachment
point 206 to any front media segment 212 attached to the respective
front attachment point 208 in other ways (for example, using a
media converter if the rear media segment 210 and the front media
segment 212 comprise different types of physical communication
media).
[0063] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the port 104 is
configured for use with front media segments 212 that include a
storage device 216 in which the media information for that media
segment 212 is stored. The storage device 216 includes a storage
device interface 218 that, when the corresponding connector 214 is
inserted into (or otherwise attached to) a front attachment point
208 of the port 104, communicatively couples the storage device 216
to a corresponding media interface 108 so that the associated
programmable processor 106 can read the information stored in the
storage device 216. In one implementation of the embodiment shown
in FIG. 2, each connector 214 itself houses the storage device 216.
In another implementation of such an embodiment, the storage device
216 is housed within a housing that is separate from the connector
214. In such an implementation, the housing is configured so that
it can be snapped onto the media segment 212 or the connector 214,
with the storage device interface 218 positioned relative to the
connector 214 so that the storage device interface 218 will
properly mate with the media interface 108 when the connector 214
is inserted into (or otherwise attached to) the front attachment
point 208. Although in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2
only the front media segments 212 include storage devices 216, it
is to be understood that in other embodiments connector assemblies
and/or other devices are configured to read storage devices that
are attached to (or otherwise included with) rear media segments
210 and/or any "auxiliary" media segments (for example, media
segments coupled to the network interface 116).
[0064] In some implementations, at least some of the information
stored in the storage device 216 can be updated in the field (for
example, by having an associated programmable processor 106 cause
additional information to be written to the storage device 216 or
changing or deleting information that was previously stored in the
storage device 216). For example, in some implementations, some of
the information stored in the storage device 216 cannot be changed
in the field (for example, identifier information or manufacturing
information) while some of the other information stored in the
storage device 216 can be changed in the field (for example,
testing, media quality, or performance information). In other
implementations, none of the information stored in the storage
device 216 can be updated in the field.
[0065] Also, the storage device 216 may also include a processor or
micro-controller, in addition to storage for the media information.
In which case, the micro-controller included in the storage device
216 can be used to execute software or firmware that, for example,
controls one or more LEDs attached to the storage device 216. In
another example, the micro-controller executes software or firmware
that performs an integrity test on the front media segment 212 (for
example, by performing a capacitance or impedance test on the
sheathing or insulator that surrounds the front physical
communication media segment 212 (which may include a metallic foil
or metallic filler for such purposes)). In the event that a problem
with the integrity of the front media segment 212 is detected, the
micro-controller can communicate that fact to the programmable
processor 106 associated with the port 104 using the storage device
interface 218. The micro-controller can also be used for other
functions.
[0066] The port 104, connector 214, storage device 216, and media
interface 108 are configured so that the information stored in the
storage device 216 can be read without affecting the communication
signals that pass through the media segments 210 and 212.
[0067] Further details regarding system 100 and the port 104 can be
found in the following United States Patent Applications, all of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/152,624, filed on Feb. 13, 2009,
titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS AND METHODS" (also referred to
here as the "'624 Application"); U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/705,497, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled "AGGREGATION OF PHYSICAL
LAYER INFORMATION RELATED TO A NETWORK" (is also referred to here
as the '497 Application); U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/705,501, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled "INTER-NETWORKING
DEVICES FOR USE WITH PHYSICAL LAYER INFORMATION" (also referred to
here as the '501 Application); U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/705,506, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled "NETWORK MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH PHYSICAL LAYER INFORMATION" (also referred to
here as the '506 Application); U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/705,514, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY
DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS" (also referred to here as the '514
Application); U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/252,395, filed on Oct. 16, 2009, titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF" (also referred to here as
the "'395 Application"); U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/253,208, filed on Oct. 20, 2009, titled "ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR
MANAGED CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS" (also referred to here as the "'208
Application"); U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/252,964, filed on Oct. 19, 2009, titled "ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR
MANAGED CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS" (also referred to here as the "'964
Application"); U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/252,386, filed on Oct. 16, 2009, titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY IN
FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF" (also referred to here as
the "'386 Application"); U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/303,961, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled "FIBER PLUGS AND
ADAPTERS FOR MANAGED CONNECTIVITY" (the "'961 Application"); and
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/303,948, filed on
Feb. 12, 2010, titled "BLADED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM" (the "'948
Application").
[0068] FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating one exemplary embodiment
of a front media segment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the
front media segment comprises a "patch cord" 312 that is used to
selectively cross-connect two ports of the same or different patch
panels. The patch cord 312 shown in FIG. 3A is suitable for use
with an implementation of a patch panel where the front connectors
of the ports are implemented using modular RJ-45 jacks. The patch
cord 312 shown in FIG. 3A comprises a copper unshielded
twisted-pair (UTP) cable 386. The UTP cable 386 includes eight
conductors arranged in four conductor pairs. The patch cord 312
also comprises two RJ-45 plugs 314, one at each end of the cable
386 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3A). The RJ-45 plugs 314
are designed to be inserted into the RJ-45 modular jacks used as
the front connectors. Each RJ-45 plug 314 comprises a contact
portion 388 in which eight, generally parallel electrical contacts
390 are positioned. Each of the eight electrical contacts 390 are
electrically connected to one of the eight conductors in the UTP
cable 386.
[0069] Each plug 314 also comprises (or is attached to) a storage
device 392 (for example, an Electrically Erasable Programmable
Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) or other non-volatile memory device). The
media information described above for the patch cord 312 is stored
in the storage device 392. The storage device 392 includes
sufficient storage capacity to store such information. Each storage
device 392 also includes a storage device interface 394 that, when
the corresponding plug 314 is inserted into a front connector of a
port 304, communicatively couples the storage device 392 to the
corresponding media reading interface so that the programmable
processor 320 in the corresponding patch panel 302 can read the
information stored in the storage device 392.
[0070] Examples of such a patch cord 312 and plug 314 are described
in the '395 Application, the '208 Application, and the '964
Application.
[0071] FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another exemplary
embodiment of a patch cord 312'. The patch cord 312' shown in FIG.
3B is suitable for use with a fiber patch panel where the front
connectors of the ports are implemented using fiber LC adapters or
connectors. The patch cord 312' shown in FIG. 3B comprises an
optical cable 386'. The optical cable 386' includes an optical
fiber enclosed within a suitable sheathing. The patch cord 312'
also comprises two LC connectors 314', one at each of the cable
386'. Each LC connector 314' is designed to be inserted into an LC
adapter used as the front connector of a port of a fiber patch
panel. Each LC connector 314' comprises an end portion 388' at
which an optical connection with the optical fiber in the cable
386' can be established when the LC connector 314' is inserted in
an LC adapter of a port.
[0072] Each LC connector 314' also comprises (or is attached to) a
storage device 392' (for example, an Electrically Erasable
Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) or other non-volatile memory
device). The media information described above for the patch cord
312 is stored in the storage device 392'. The storage device 392'
includes sufficient storage capacity to store such information.
Each storage device 392' also includes a storage device interface
394' that, when the corresponding LC connector 314' is inserted
into a front connector of a port, communicatively couples the
storage device 392' to the corresponding media reading interface so
that the programmable processor in the corresponding fiber patch
panel can read the information stored in the storage device
392'.
[0073] In some implementations of the patch cords 312 and 312', the
storage devices 392 and 392' are implemented using a surface-mount
EEPROM or other non-volatile memory device. In such
implementations, the storage device interfaces and media reading
interfaces each comprise four leads--a power lead, a ground lead, a
data lead, and an extra lead that is reserved for future use. In
one such implementation, an EEPROM that supports a serial protocol
is used, where the serial protocol is used for communicating over
the signal data lead. The four leads of the storage device
interfaces come into electrical contact with four corresponding
leads of the media reading interface when the corresponding plug or
connector is inserted in the corresponding front connector of a
port 304. Each storage device interface and media reading interface
are arranged and configured so that they do not interfere with data
communicated over the patch cord. In other embodiments, other types
of interfaces are used. For example, in one such alternative
embodiment, a two-line interface is used with a simple charge pump.
In other embodiments, additional lines are provided (for example,
for potential future applications).
[0074] Examples of such fiber patch cords 312' and connectors 314'
are described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/252,386, filed on Oct. 16, 2009, titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY IN
FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREOF" (also referred to here as
the "'386 Application"), U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/303,961, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled "FIBER PLUGS AND
ADAPTERS FOR MANAGED CONNECTIVITY" (the "'961 Application"), and
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/303,948, filed on
Feb. 12, 2010, titled "BLADED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM" (the "'948
Application"). The '386 Application, the '961 Application, and the
'948 Application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0075] In some implementations of the patch cords 312 and 312',
each plug 314 or connector 314' itself houses the respective
storage device and storage device interface. In implementations,
each storage device and corresponding storage device interface are
housed within a housing that is separate from the corresponding
plug or connector. In such implementations, the housing is
configured so that it can be snapped onto (or otherwise attached
to) the cable or the plug or connector, with the storage device
interface positioned relative to the plug or connector so that the
storage device interface will properly mate with the relevant media
reading interface when the plug or connector is inserted into the
front connector of the corresponding port.
[0076] Moreover, functionality described here as being implemented
in software executing on a programmable processor can be
implemented in other ways. For example, such functionality can be
implemented in hardware using discrete hardware,
application-specific integrated circuits (ASICS)), programmable
devices (such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or complex
programmable logic devices (CPLDs)), and/or combinations of one or
more of the foregoing, and/or combinations of one or more of the
foregoing along with software executing on one or more programmable
processors. For example, the detection of the insertion of a
connector 214 into a port 104 of a connector assembly 102 and/or
the reading of information from any storage device 216 attached to
the connector 214 can be implemented in hardware (for example,
using one or more programmable devices and/or an ASIC) in addition
to or instead of being implemented as software.
[0077] As noted above, the aggregation point 120 is configured to
automatically discover and connect to devices (such as connector
assemblies 102) that are able to provide PLI and other information
to the aggregation point 120. In some embodiments of system 100,
the aggregation point 120 is configured to monitor events occurring
at each of the connector assemblies 102. For example, where the
connector assemblies 102 comprise patch panels, the aggregation
point 120 can be configured to monitor events associated with a
patch cord being inserted into or removed from a port 104 of that
patch panel.
[0078] Some event monitoring schemes use the Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP). In some SNMP-based event monitoring
schemes, an SNMP client is configured to send SNMP traps to a SNMP
management station to notify the management station of the
occurrence of events associated with that SNMP agent. However,
since SNMP is based on the User Data Protocol (UDP), which is a
connection-less and unreliable protocol, SNMP traps may arrive out
of order, appear duplicated, or go missing without the management
station or SNMP agent noticing.
[0079] Also, in some usage scenarios for embodiments of system 100,
a user (such as a technician) who is causing events to occur at a
particular connector assembly 102 (for example, by inserting or
removing a patch cord into or from a port of a patch panel) will
use a laptop, handheld computer, smartphone, or other device to
establish a connection with an aggregation point 120 and display on
that device information about the current state of that particular
connector assembly 102. For example, a graphical representation of
the patch panel, and the status of the ports thereof, can be
displayed on the user's device with a visual indication of whether
or not a patch cord is inserted into each port of the patch panel.
When the user inserts a patch cord into a previously open port of
the patch panel or removes a patch cord from a previously occupied
port of the patch panel, it is desirable that the graphical
representation of the patch-panel be updated sufficiently fast so
that the user is unable to perceive any latency between inserting
or removing the patch cord and the graphical representation of the
patch-panel being updated to reflect that event. This typically
requires the update to take no more than 250 milliseconds.
[0080] FIG. 4 is directed to one exemplary embodiment of a system
100 in which a reliable packet-based communication protocol is used
by the aggregation point 120 to monitor events occurring at at
least one connector assembly 102. In the exemplary embodiment shown
in FIG. 4, the reliable packet-based communication protocol that is
used is the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), defined at least
in part by various Request For Comment (RFC) documents currently
maintained by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), including
but not limited to RFC 793 and the updates, extensions, and errata
thereto. TCP is routable across subnets and is typically included
in implementations of the widely available TCP/IP protocol stack.
However, it is to be understood that other reliable packet-based
communication protocols (such as Reliable UDP (RUDP), defined at
least in part in RFCs 908 and 1151, and reliable protocols built
directly on top of the ETHERNET protocol, defined at least in part
in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
802.3 family of standards) can be used in other embodiments.
[0081] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the aggregation
point 120 is described here as being implemented for use in the
system 100 of FIG. 1, though other embodiments can be implemented
in other ways. The aggregation point 120 is typically implemented
as software 400 that executes on a workstation or other computer
402. The workstation 402 comprises at least one programmable
processor 404 on which the software 400 executes. The software 400
comprises program instructions that are stored (or otherwise
embodied) on an appropriate non-transitory storage medium or media
403 from which at least a portion of the program instructions can
be read by the programmable processor 404 for execution thereby.
The storage medium 403 on or in which the program instructions are
embodied is also referred to here as a "program product". Although
the storage medium 403 is shown in FIG. 4 as being included in, and
local to, the workstation 402, it is to be understood that remote
storage media (for example, storage media that is accessible over a
network or communication link) and/or removable media can also be
used. The workstation 402 also comprises memory 406 for storing the
program instructions and any related data during execution of the
software 400.
[0082] The workstation 402 on which the aggregation point software
400 executes also includes one or more interfaces 408 that
communicatively couple the aggregation point 120 to devices or
entities with which it communicates. More specifically, the one or
more interfaces 408 communicatively couple the aggregation point
120 to these devices or entities over the IP network 118. In one
implementation of such an embodiment, at least one of the
interfaces 408 comprises an ETHERNET network interface for coupling
the aggregation point 120 to the one or more IP networks 118 (which
are implemented, at least in part, using ETHERNET local area
networks).
[0083] The aggregation point software 400 comprises aggregation
software 410 that enables the aggregation point 120 to
automatically discover and communicate with devices (for example,
connector assemblies 102 such as patch panels) that are able
provide PLI and other information to the aggregation point 120. The
aggregation point 120 and the aggregation software 410 can be used
to receive physical layer information from various types of
connector assemblies that have functionality for automatically
reading information stored in or on a segment of physical
communication media. Examples of such devices are noted above and
include, for example, patch panels and inter-networking devices.
Also, the aggregation point 120 and aggregation software 410 can
also be used to receive physical layer information from other types
of devices that have functionality for automatically reading
information stored in or on the segment of physical communication
media. Examples of such devices include end-user devices--such as
computers, peripherals (for example, printers, copiers, storage
devices, and scanners), and IP telephones--that include
functionality for automatically reading information stored in or on
the segment of physical communication media.
[0084] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the aggregation
software 410 is configured to use one or more discovery protocols
to discover devices that are able to provide PLI information to the
aggregation point 120 (assuming those devices also support those
discovery protocols). Likewise, when the aggregation point 120 is
connected to the IP network 118, the PLI aggregation software 410
uses the discovery protocols to broadcast an informational message
to all the nodes on the IP network 118. In this way, when devices
that are able to provide PLI to the aggregation point 120 are
coupled to the IP network 118, the aggregation points 120 is able
to automatically discover the device and start aggregating physical
layer information for that device without requiring a technician
installing the device to know about the aggregation points that are
on the network 118. Similarly, when the aggregation point 120 is
coupled to the network 118, the aggregation point 120 is able to
automatically discover and interact with devices that are capable
of providing PLI to the aggregation point 120 without requiring the
technician installing the aggregation point 120 to know about such
devices that are on the network 118. Thus, the physical-layer
information resources described here can be easily integrated into
the network 118. Additional details regarding the discovery
protocol are provided in the '497 Application.
[0085] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the aggregation
software 410 is also configured to obtain physical layer
information from the devices (for example, devices such as patch
panels) it has discovered using the discovery protocol. A database
manager (DBM) 412 is used to store the information that the
aggregation software 410 obtains in a database 411. In the
exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the database 411 is shown as
being stored on the same storage medium 403 as the software 400,
though it is to be understood that this need not be the case.
Moreover, though the database 411 is shown in FIG. 4 as being
stored on a storage medium 403 that is included in, and local to,
the workstation 402, it is to be understood that remote storage
media (for example, storage media that is accessible over a network
or communication link) and/or removable media can also be used.
[0086] In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the
aggregation software 410 uses one or more appropriate protocols to
communicate physical layer information to and from such devices.
The devices that the aggregation point 120 receives information
from also implement at least some of the protocols implemented by
the aggregation point 120 to organize, track, store, and
communicate physical layer information. Additional details
regarding this are provided in the '497 Application.
[0087] The aggregation point 120 and aggregation software 410 can
also be used to obtain other types of physical layer information.
For example, in this embodiment, the aggregation software 410 also
obtains information about physical communication media segments
that is not otherwise automatically communicated to an aggregation
point 120. One example of such information is information about
non-connectorized cables that do not otherwise have information
stored in or on them that are attached to a patch panel or other
connector assembly 102 (including, for example, information
indicating which ports of the patch panel are connected to which
ports of other devices in the network 118 by a particular patch
cord as well as media information about the patch cord).
[0088] Another example of such information is information about
patch cords (or other physical-layer communication media) that are
connected to devices that are not able to read media information
that is stored in or on the patch cords that are attached to their
ports and/or that are not able to communicate such information to
the aggregation point 120 (for example, because such devices do not
include such functionality, because such devices are used with
patch cords that do not have media information stored in or on
them, and/or because bandwidth is not available for communicating
such information to the aggregation point 120). In this example,
this information can include, for example, information about the
devices themselves (such as the devices' MAC addresses and IP
addresses if assigned to such devices), information indicating
which ports of the devices are connected to which ports of other
devices in the network, and information about the physical media
attached to the ports of the devices. This information can be
provided to the aggregation point 120, for example, by manually
entering such information into a file (such as a spreadsheet) and
then uploading the file to the aggregation point 120 in connection
with the initial installation of each of the various devices. Such
information can also, for example, be directly entered using a user
interface provided by the aggregation point 120 (for example, using
a web browser). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the aggregation
point software 410 includes a web server 414 to facilitate the
upload of files and/or the direct entry of such manually entered
information.
[0089] The aggregation software 410 can also obtain information
about the layout of the building or buildings in which the network
118 is deployed, as well as information indicating where each patch
panel or other connector assembly 102, patch cord (or other item of
physical communication media), and inter-networking device is
located within the building as well as testing, media quality, or
performance information relating to the various items of physical
communication media that exist in the network.
[0090] The aggregation software 410 is also configured to provide
an interface for external devices or entities to access the
physical layer information maintained by the aggregation point 120.
This access can include retrieving information from the aggregation
point 120 as well as supplying information to the aggregation point
120. In this embodiment, the aggregation point 120 is implemented
as "middleware" that is able to provide such external devices and
entities with transparent and convenient access to the PLI
maintained by the access point 120. Because the aggregation point
120 aggregates PLI from the relevant devices on the IP network 118
and provides external devices and entities with access to such PLI,
the external devices and entities do not need to individually
interact with all of the devices in the IP network 118 that provide
PLI, nor do such devices need to have the capacity to respond to
requests from such external devices and entities.
[0091] The aggregation software 410, in the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4, implements an application programming interface (API) by
which application-layer functionality in such other devices can
gain access to the physical layer information maintained by the
aggregation point 120 using a software development kit (SDK) that
describes and documents the API. In one implementation of such an
embodiment, the aggregation software 410 is configured to use the
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) protocol for communications
between the aggregation point 120 and such external devices or
entities. In other implementations, other protocols can be used
(for example, the SNMP protocols).
[0092] For example, an application 134 (shown in FIG. 1) executing
on a computer 136 can use the API provided by the aggregation point
120 to access the PLI information maintained by the aggregation
point 120 (for example, to retrieve such information from the
aggregation point 120 and/or to supply information to the
aggregation point 120). The computer 136 is coupled to the network
118 and accesses the aggregation point 120 over the network 118. As
noted above, one example of such an application 134 is configured
to display for a user a graphical representation of a particular
patch panel or other connector assembly 102 and the status of the
ports 104 thereof, with a visual indication of whether or not a
patch cord (or other item of physical communication media) is
inserted into each port 104 of the patch panel.
[0093] In the particular exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the
aggregation software 410 is also configured to monitor events
occurring at each of the connector assemblies 102 for which that
aggregation point 120 aggregates information. The software 400 that
is used to implement the aggregation point 120 includes TCP
software 416 (for example, provided as a part of a TCP/IP protocol
stack included with the operating system executed by the
workstation 402). The TCP software 416 is also referred to here as
the "aggregation-point TCP software 416". As described in more
detail below, the aggregation software 410 uses the TCP protocol
(and the TCP software 416) to monitor events occurring at the
connector assemblies 102 for which that aggregation point 120
aggregates information.
[0094] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, each
programmable processor 106 or 117 associated with each of the
connector assemblies 102 runs software 418 that interacts with the
aggregation point 120. The software 418 comprises program
instructions that are stored (or otherwise embodied) on an
appropriate non-transitory storage medium or media 422 from which
at least a portion of the program instructions can be read by the
programmable processor 106 or 117 for execution thereby. The
storage medium 422 on or in which the program instructions are
embodied is also referred to here as a "program product". Although
the storage medium 422 is shown in FIG. 4 as being included in, and
local to, the connector assembly 102, it is to be understood that
remote storage media (for example, storage media that is accessible
over a network or communication link) and/or removable media can
also be used.
[0095] The software 418 is also referred to here as
"connector-assembly software 418". The connector-assembly software
418 includes TCP software 420 (also referred to here as the
"connector-assembly TCP software 420") that implements the TCP
protocol in order to communicate with the aggregation-point TCP
software 416. As described in more detail below, the
connector-assembly software 418 uses the connector-assembly TCP
software 420 to notify the aggregation point 120 (more
specifically, the aggregation software 410) of any events that
occur at any associated connector assembly 102. For example, in
master-slave connector assembly configurations (such as
configurations 114 and 115 shown in FIG. 1), the programmable
processor 106 in the master connector assembly 102 (in the case of
configuration 114) and the master programmable processor 117 (in
the case of configuration 115) executes the connector-assembly
software 418 for all of the connector assemblies 102 that are
included in that configuration 115. In connector assembly
configurations where each connector assembly 102 includes a "peer"
programmable processor 106 that communicates with the aggregation
point 120 (such as configurations 110 and 112 shown in FIG. 1),
each programmable processor 106 in each of the connector assemblies
102 executes the connector-assembly software 418.
[0096] One example of how event-monitoring can be performed using a
reliable packet-based communication protocol is shown in FIGS. 5
and 6. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a
method 500 of aggregating information received from one or more
connector assemblies 102. In this example, the processing of method
500 is described here as being performed by a particular entity in
the system 100 (that is, the software 400 executing on the
aggregation point 120), though it is to be understood that other
embodiments can be implemented in other ways. FIG. 6 is a flow
diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a method 600 of reporting
event information to an aggregation point 120. In this example, the
processing of method 600 is described here as being performed by a
second entity in the system 100 (that is, an instance of the
connector-assembly software 418), though it is to be understood
that other embodiments can be implemented in other ways.
[0097] In the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the reliable
packet-based communication protocol that is used is TCP. However,
it is to be understood that other reliable packet-based
communication protocols (such as RUDP and reliable protocols built
directly on top of the ETHERNET protocol) can be used in other
embodiments. Also, this example is described here as being
implemented in the embodiment of system 100 described here in
connection with FIGS. 1, 2, 3A-3B, and 4 (though other embodiments
can be implemented in other ways).
[0098] For ease of explanation, the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6
is described here with respect to a single instance of the
connector-assembly software 418 executing on a programmable
processor 106 or 117. As noted above, each such instance of the
connector-assembly software 418 is associated with one or more
connector assemblies 102. However, it is to be understood that the
processing described below in connection with FIG. 5 is typically
implemented for each instance of the connector-assembly software
418 that the aggregation point 120 aggregates information for.
Also, the processing described below in connection with FIG. 6 is
implemented by each instance of the connector-assembly software
418.
[0099] In the exemplary embodiment shown FIG. 5, the aggregation
software 410 is configured to use the aggregation-point TCP
software 416 to repeatedly initiate the establishment of a TCP
connection with the connector-assembly software 418 (block 502).
TCP is used to establish the connection and, as a result,
reliability features of TCP are used in connection with
establishing the connection (for example, the use of
acknowledgements). As a part of the TCP processing performed by the
aggregation-point TCP software 416 in attempting to establish a TCP
connection, the aggregation-point TCP software 416 determines if
each TCP connection was successfully established (block 504). For
example, if a particular TCP connection is not established within a
predetermined timeout period (also referred to as the "connection
timeout period"), the aggregation-point TCP software 416 considers
the attempted establishment of that TCP connection to have failed.
A failure to successfully establish a TCP connection with the
connector-assembly software 418 indicates that the
connector-assembly software 418 and the associated one or more
connector assemblies 102 are not reachable at that time. If an
attempt to successfully establish a TCP connection with the
connector-assembly software 418 fails, the aggregation software 410
is configured to update the status of all the connector assemblies
102 associated with that instance of the connector-assembly
software 418 to an "unreachable" status (block 506). The
aggregation software 410 can also be configured to raise an alarm
and/or take some action to confirm whether that instance of the
connector-assembly software 418 is unreachable.
[0100] The aggregation-point TCP software 416 is configured to keep
each TCP connection open for a first predetermined amount of time
(also referred to here as the "connection period"). TCP includes
various features for keeping a connection alive or open for a
predetermined period of time (for example, sending of, and checking
for, keepalive messages and/or using of various timers).
[0101] Also, as described below in connection with FIG. 6, the
connector-assembly software 418 is configured, for each connection
that is established, to send a "no event" message to the
aggregation point 120 using that TCP connection if a second
predetermined amount of time (also referred to here as the
"monitoring period") elapses without the connector-assembly
software 418 having sent any event information to the aggregation
point 120 using that TCP connection. The connection period is equal
to the monitoring period plus a third predetermined amount time
that is at least equal to the expected amount of time for the no
event message to be reliably sent to the aggregation point 120 on
the TCP connection. In one exemplary implementation of such an
embodiment, a connection period of 40 seconds and a monitoring
period 30 seconds are used. Other connection periods and/or
monitoring periods can also be used.
[0102] In the particular exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and
6, the aggregation software 410 and the connector-assembly software
418 are both configured to note when each respective TCP connection
has been "established" per the TCP protocol and start a timer (or
similar timing mechanism) to determine when the connection period
and the monitoring period, respectively, have elapsed for that TCP
connection.
[0103] Once a TCP connection is established, the aggregation
software 410 sends a request to the connector-assembly software 418
for information about the next event (block 508). In the exemplary
embodiment described here in connection with FIG. 5, each instance
of the connector-assembly software 418 consecutively numbers the
events that occur at an associated connector assembly 102. The
event information provided to the aggregation software 410 includes
the event number of the event to which the event information
relates. In this embodiment, the request that the aggregation
software 410 sends to the connector-assembly software 418 specifies
an event number. The event number specified in the request is one
more than event number of the last event the aggregation software
410 has received event information for. That is, the "next" event
is the event that has an event number that follows the event number
of the last event the aggregation software 410 has received event
information for.
[0104] This request (and the subsequent response) can be
implemented using various high-layer protocols, examples of which
include, without limitation, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), the Hypertext Transfer
Protocol (HTTP), the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), the
Representational State Transfer (REST) protocol, and the Simple
Object Access Protocol (SOAP). The request is sent over the
currently established TCP connection.
[0105] Generally, when the connector-assembly software 418
determines that an event has occurred at an associated connector
assembly 102, the connector-assembly software 418 obtains
information about that event (including PLI), buffers the event
information, and, when requested to do so by the aggregation
software 410, sends information about the event to the aggregation
software 410 over a TCP connection. Also, as described below in
connection with FIG. 6, if the current monitoring period elapses
without the requested next event having occurred at an associated
connector assembly 102, the connector-assembly software 418 sends a
"no event" message to the aggregation software 410 using the
established TCP connection. In either case, when data is received
on the TCP connection from the connector-assembly software 418
(block 510), the aggregation software 410 reads the data from the
TCP connection (block 512).
[0106] If the data read from the TCP connection is information
about the requested next event (block 514), the aggregation
software 410 uses the database manager 412 to update the database
411 with the event information received from the connector-assembly
software 418 (block 516). Then, the aggregation software 410 uses
the TCP protocol to reliably close the current TCP connection
(block 518). As a part of the TCP protocol, each of the entities
communicating over a TCP connection must independently send to the
other entity a TCP CLOSE message, the receipt of which is
acknowledged per the TCP protocol. A failure to successfully close
a TCP connection that was established with the connector-assembly
software 418 (checked in block 520) indicates to the aggregation
software 410 that the connector-assembly software 418 is not
reachable at that time and the aggregation software 410 is
configured to update the status of all the connector assemblies 102
associated with the connector-assembly software 418 to an
unreachable status (block 506). The aggregation software 410 can
also be configured to raise an alarm and/or take some action to
confirm whether that instance of the connector-assembly software
418 is unreachable.
[0107] If, however, the data read from the TCP connection is not
event information for the requested next event and is instead a "no
event" message (checked in block 514), the aggregation software 410
uses the TCP protocol to reliably close the current TCP connection
as described above in connection with blocks 518-520.
[0108] After the current connection period elapses without the
aggregation software 410 having received any data from the
connector-assembly software 418 on the current TCP connection
(checked in block 522), the aggregation software 410 considers the
connector-assembly software 418 and the associated connector
assemblies 102 to be unreachable at that time and the aggregation
software 410 updates the status of all the connector assemblies 102
associated with the connector-assembly software 418 to an
unreachable status (block 506). The aggregation software 410 can
also be configured to raise an alarm and/or take some action to
confirm whether that instance of the connector-assembly software
418 is unreachable. In this way, the worst-case time for the
aggregation software 410 to learn that a particular instance of the
connector-assembly software 418 is unreachable is bounded by the
connection period.
[0109] In some implementations of such an exemplary embodiment, the
event information requests sent by the aggregation software 410 are
made asynchronously. That is, in such implementations, the
particular thread that makes a request does not block while waiting
for a response to the request from the connector-assembly software
418. Various techniques can be used to implement such an
asynchronous approach including, but not limited to, using
asynchronous request functionality included in TCP functionality
otherwise provided in a standard application framework on which or
with which the aggregation software 410 is implemented and/or
implemented at the application layer as a part of the
aggregation-point software 410 itself In some other implementations
of such an exemplary embodiment, the event information requests
sent by the aggregation software 410 are made synchronously. That
is, in such implementations, the particular thread that makes a
request blocks while waiting for a response to the request from the
connector-assembly software 418. In some of those implementations
using synchronous requests, the aggregation software 410 is
implemented as a multi-threaded application in which a separate
thread is used for each instance of the connector-assembly software
418 the aggregation software 410 communicates with.
[0110] As noted above, one example of the processing performed by
the connector-assembly software 418 is shown in FIG. 6.
[0111] In response to the aggregation software 410 initiating the
establishment of a TCP connection (described above in connection
with block 502 of FIG. 5), the connector-assembly TCP software 420
accepts the TCP connection with the aggregation software 410 (more
specifically, with the aggregation-point TCP software 416) (block
602). If the TCP connection establishment process is successful, a
TCP connection will exist between the aggregation-point TCP
software 416 and the connector-assembly TCP software 420.
[0112] In the particular exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the
connector-assembly software 418 is configured to note when each
respective TCP connection has been established per the TCP protocol
and start a timer (or similar timing mechanism) to determine when
the respective monitoring period has elapsed for that TCP
connection.
[0113] If the TCP connection is successfully established (block
604), the connector-assembly software 418 then waits for an event
information request from the aggregation software 410 (block 606).
As noted above, the event information request includes an event
number for a "next" event that the aggregation software 410 wishes
to receive information about.
[0114] The connector-assembly software 418 continually checks for
the occurrence of new events at any associated connector assembly
102. When the connector-assembly software 418 determines that an
event has occurred at an associated connector assembly 102, the
connector-assembly software 418 obtains information (including PLI)
about that event and buffers the event information.
[0115] After an event information request is received and while the
TCP connection is established, if the connector-assembly software
418 determines that the next event specified in the request has
occurred at an associated connector assembly 102 (block 608), the
connector-assembly software 418 uses the connector-assembly TCP
software 420 to reliably send information (including PLI) about
that event to the aggregation software 410 over the TCP connection
that is currently established (block 610). The reliability features
included in the TCP protocol (for example, the sequence numbering
and acknowledgment schemes) are used to help ensure that such event
information is received at the aggregation point 120 in the proper
order and without duplicates (and to automatically detect and
respond to any cases where such event information sent from the
connector-assembly software 418 is not received by the aggregation
software 410). This event information is sent from the
connector-assembly software 418 as a response to the request for
event information sent from the aggregation point software 410 (as
described above in connection with block 508) and is implemented
using the same high-layer protocol that was used to send the
corresponding request.
[0116] After the event information is sent to the aggregation
software 410 using the current TCP connection, the
connector-assembly software 418 closes the current TCP connection
(block 612). As noted above, as a part of the TCP protocol, each of
the entities communicating over a TCP connection must independently
send to the other entity a TCP CLOSE message, the receipt of which
is acknowledged per the TCP protocol.
[0117] Also, as noted above, the connector-assembly software 418
buffers the event information it captures. So, in the event that
the event information sent from the connector-assembly software 418
is not successfully received at the aggregation software 410, the
aggregation software 410 can re-request information for that event
and the connector-assembly software 418 can re-send the event
information for that event when a new TCP connection is established
between the connector-assembly software 418 and the aggregation
software 410.
[0118] If the current monitoring period elapses without the next
event specified in the request having occurred at an associated
connector assembly 102 (block 614), the connector-assembly software
418 uses the connector-assembly TCP software 420 to reliably send a
"no event" message to the aggregation software 410 over the current
TCP connection (block 616). Then, the connector-assembly software
418 closes the current TCP connection as described above in
connection block 612.
[0119] Although FIG. 6 was described in connection with a connector
assembly 102, it is to be understood that the processing associated
with FIG. 6 can be implemented by other types of devices that
communicate information (including PLI) to an aggregation point
120. Examples of such other devices include, without limitation,
end-user devices--such as computers, peripherals (for example,
printers, copiers, storage devices, and scanners), and IP
telephones--that include functionality for automatically reading
information stored in or on the segment of physical communication
media.
[0120] Further details, embodiments, and implementations can be
found in the following U.S. Patent Applications, all of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/252,964, filed on Oct. 19, 2009, titled
"ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR MANAGED CONNECTIVITY", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3045USP1; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/253,208, filed on Oct. 20, 2009, titled "ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR
MANAGED CONNECTIVITY", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3045USP2; U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/907,724, filed on Oct. 19, 2010,
titled "MANAGED ELECTRICAL CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket
No. 02316.3045USU1; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/303,948, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled "PANEL INCLUDING BLADE
FEATURE FOR MANAGED CONNECTIVITY", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3069USP1; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/413,844, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, titled "COMMUNICATIONS BLADED
PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USP2; U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/439,693, filed on Feb.
4, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney
Docket No. 02316.3069USP3; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/025,730, filed on Feb. 2, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS BLADED
PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USU1; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/025,737, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, titled
"COMMUNICATIONS BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3069USU2; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/025,743, filed
on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USU3; U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/025,750, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS
BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USU4; U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/303,961; filed on Feb.
12, 2010, titled "Fiber Plug And Adapter For Managed Connectivity",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3071USP1; U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/413,828, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, titled
"Fiber Plugs And Adapters For Managed Connectivity", Attorney
Docket No. 02316.3071USP2; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/437,504, filed on Jan. 28, 2011, titled "Fiber Plugs And
Adapters For Managed Connectivity", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3071USP3 ; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/025,784, filed
on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "Managed Fiber Connectivity Systems",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3071USU1; U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/025,788, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "Managed Fiber
Connectivity Systems", Attorney Docket No 02316.3071USU2; U.S.
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[0121] A number of embodiments of the invention defined by the
following claims have been described. Nevertheless, it will be
understood that various modifications to the described embodiments
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
claimed invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the
scope of the following claims.
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