WO2005107092A1 - System and method for monitoring cross connections of telecommunication cables - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for determining a current cross connection between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication cables, each pair of cables interconnected by a cross connect cable. The system comprises a plurality of monitoring ports, wherein each of the monitoring ports corresponds to a predetermined one of the cables, a plurality of monitoring cables, each of the monitoring cables interconnected between a different pair of monitoring ports, wherein each one of the monitoring port pair corresponds to one of a pair of interconnected cables and a controller coupled to each of the monitoring ports for periodically transmitting a monitoring signal, wherein when the transmitted signal is received by one the monitoring ports, the controller correlates the signal transmitting port with the signal receiving port. The monitoring ports are mounted in an assembly separate from the telecommunication cables.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CROSS CONNECTIONS OF TELECOMMUNICATION CABLES

[001] The present invention claims the benefit of a commonly assigned United States provisional application entitled "Universal Monitoring Method for Telecommunications Ports" which was filed on April 30, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 60/566,414 and Canadian Patent Application entitled "Universal Monitoring Method for Telecommunications Ports" which was filed on April 30, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2,465,551. The entire contents of the foregoing patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[002] The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring cross connections of telecommunications cables. In particular the present invention relates to a system and method for determining the cross connection pattern of data ports, particularly in patch bays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[003] In many telecommunications systems large numbers of copper or fibre optic cables are used to cross connect devices which are communicating via that systems. Notwithstanding that in many cases selective cross connection between particular devices within the system can be achieved using selective addressing and electronic switching and the like, in many cases it is still desired, for example for reasons of security or performance considerations, it is still desired to provide a direct physical interconnection between one cable and another.

[004] In order to physically interconnect telecommunications cables, and as is well known in the art, patch bays are used wherein a first cable terminated at a first connector socket is interconnected with a second cable terminated by a second connector socket using a patch cable. As is known in the art insertion of the ends of the patch cable in their corresponding sockets serves to interconnect the two cables thereby providing a physical interconnection between the first and second cables.

[005] One drawback with patch bays is that it is difficult to remotely monitor the cross connections provided by the patch cables in order to provide real time feed back as to the cross connections. In order to overcome this drawback, a number of prior art systems have been proposed to monitor the cross connections. For example, one prior art system proposes, with particular regard to the ubiquitous RJ-45 interface and cable consisting of 4 twisted pairs, to dedicate of the one of the conductors to the monitoring system together with an interconnection by a dedicated pin on the RJ-45 interface. One drawback of this prior art system is that one of the conductors is used for monitoring and therefore no longer available for transferring data.

[006] Another prior art system proposes adding an additional monitoring conductor to the patch cable. When the end of the patch cable is inserted into the connector socket, a spring loaded pin in conductive contact with the monitoring conductor is pressed against a conductive pad mounted next to the connector socket. By monitoring the interconnections provided by the monitoring conductor(s) between conductive pads, the interconnections can be sensed. One drawback of these prior art inventions is that they require the addition of a conductive pad proximate to the connector socket which occupies space in the patch bay. Another drawback is that additional space must be available on the patch panel face in order to accommodate the conductive pad. Additionally, a drawback of both the above systems is that they are proprietary in nature and require modifications or additions to the existing interfaces, which means that in many cases a retrofit is required, which is not always possible. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[007] In order to overcome the above and other drawbacks there is provided a system for determining a current cross connection between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication cables, each pair of cables interconnected by a cross connect cable. The system comprises a plurality of monitoring ports, wherein each of the monitoring ports corresponds to a predetermined one of the cables, a plurality of monitoring cables, each of the monitoring cables interconnected between a different pair of monitoring ports, wherein each one of the monitoring port pair corresponds to one of a pair of interconnected cables and a controller coupled to each of the monitoring ports for periodically transmitting a monitoring signal, wherein when the transmitted signal is received by one the monitoring ports, the controller correlates the signal transmitting port with the signal receiving port. The monitoring ports are mounted in an assembly separate from the telecommunication cables.

[008] There is also provided a method for determining a current cross connection between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication cables, each pair of cables interconnected by a cross connect cable. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of monitoring ports mounted in an assembly separate from the telecommunication cables, wherein each of the monitoring ports corresponds to a predetermined one of the cables, interconnecting pairs monitoring ports with a monitoring cable, wherein each one of the interconnected monitoring port pairs corresponds to one of a pair of interconnected cables, periodically transmitting a monitoring signal from each of the monitoring ports and for each transmitted signal received by one the monitoring ports, correlating the monitoring port used to transmit the signal with the monitoring port receiving the signal.

[009] Additionally, there is provided a system for determining a current cross connection between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication cables, each of the telecommunication cables comprised of a plurality of conductors, each of the conductors in conductive contact with one of a plurality of cross connecting IDCs, each of the pairs of cables interconnected by a cross connect comprised of a plurality of insulated conductors adapted for insertion into the cross connecting IDCs. The system comprises a plurality of monitoring ports, wherein each of the monitoring ports corresponds to a predetermined one of the cables, a plurality of monitoring cables, each of said monitoring cables interconnected between a different pair of monitoring ports, wherein each one of said monitoring port pair corresponds to one of a pair of interconnected cables and a controller coupled to each of the monitoring ports for periodically transmitting a monitoring signal, wherein when the transmitted signal is received by one the monitoring ports, the controller correlates the signal transmitting port with the signal receiving port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[010] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a cross connection system and a monitoring system in accordance with a illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[011] Figure 2 discloses a patch cable in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[012] Figure 3 provides a front perspective view of a BIX connector block;

[013] Figures 4A and 4B provide front perspective views of an alternative cross connection system;

[014] Figure 5 provides a right front perspective view of a patch cable in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invention; [015] Figure 6 provides a schematic diagram of a cross connection system and a monitoring system in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[016] Figure 7A is a front plan view of a cross connect interface module in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invnetion; and

[017] Figure 7B is a top plan view of the cross connect interface module of Figure 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[018] Referring now to Figure 1 , a system for monitoring cross connections in a telecommunications network, generally referred to using the reference numeral 8 and in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention will now be described. A cross connect system as in 10 which provides the physical interconnection between large numbers of telecommunications cables as in 12 is typically carried out using patch cables as in 14 which are used to interconnect the data ports, or connector sockets, as in 16 which terminate the individual telecommunications cables 12 (note that telecommunications cable refers to the bundle of one or more conductors or optic fibres necessary to support the transmission of data from one device to another according to a particular standard, notwithstanding that these cables may be in turn bundled together with other telecommunications cables to form a larger cable). Well known in the art are data ports/connector sockets and plugs as in 18 conforming to the RJ-45 standard which, when the plug 18 is inserted in the port 16, interlock thereby providing a sturdy interconnection.

The data ports as in 16 are typically arranged on patch panels 20 mounted on a rack 22 with the telecommunication cables 12 they terminate remaining hidden behind the patch panels 20. As a result, the front faces 24 of the patch t panels 20 remain clear allowing easy access for a technician who can then quickly interconnect pairs of data ports 16 together using a patch cable 14.

[019] Still referring to Figure 1 , often many hundreds of data ports 16 are provided for in a given rack 22 allowing for a large number of cross connections between individual data ports 16 on a given rack 22, Additionally, connections may be between data ports 16 and data ports on different racks. As a result, and given the relative ease with which the patch cables 14 between data ports 16 can be rearranged, the task of monitoring which data ports 16 are cross connected becomes a large, especially if it is wished to carry out this monitoring remotely, which is typically the case with telecommunications networks.

[020] In order to provide remote monitoring of the cross connections between the ends of the telecommunications cables 12 and thus the data ports 16 which terminate these cables, there is provided a secondary monitoring system 10 comprised of a monitoring panel 26 comprised of a number of monitoring ports as in 28, with pairs of monitoring ports 28 being cross connected by monitoring cables as in 30. Each of the monitoring ports 28 corresponds to one of the data ports 16. Each of the monitoring ports 28 is in turn individually coupled to a microprocessor controlled monitoring system 32 via a network 34 or the like.

[021] By interconnecting the monitoring ports 28 with the monitoring cables 30 in the same manner as the data ports 16 are cross connected by the patch cables 14, and then selectively transmitting signals between the monitoring ports 28 via the monitoring cables 30, the monitoring system 32 can remotely determine the cross connections between the monitoring ports 28, and thus the cross connections provided by the patch cables 14 between the data ports 16. A variety of technologies could be used to implement the monitoring ports 28 and monitoring cables 30 including, for example, copper conductors for relaying electrical signals or optical fibres for relaying optical signals. [022] Still referring to Figure 1 , in the case of cross connection systems as in 10 comprised of multiple racks as in 22, where patch cables as in 14' are used to interconnect data ports 16 on one rack as in 22 with those in another rack (not shown), additional monitoring panels as in 26' can be provided for.

[023] One advantage of the above configuration over that of the prior art is that no retrofitting of the patch panels 20 is necessary. Indeed, as the monitoring system 8 is entirely separate from the cross connection system 10, no modifications must be made to the existing cross connection system 10. The monitoring system 8 of the above described illustrative embodiment can be installed without otherwise affecting the cross connection system 10. Additionally, as the monitoring system 8 uses its own monitoring cables 26, none of the conductors of the patch cables 14 must be dedicated for monitoring the cross connection system 10. Similarly, as no modification is made to the cross connection system 10, conventional patch cords can be used without modification. Furthermore, on patch panels 14 where space is at a premium, integration of each of the monitoring ports 26 adjacent to each of the data port as in 16 to which it corresponds may not be possible given space constraints on the patch panel face 24 and as a result the illustrated system provides a solution for monitoring densely populated patch panels.

[024] Referring now to Figure 2, in a particular embodiment, and provided the monitoring ports 26 are located proximate to the data ports 16, the patch cable 14 can be integrated together with the monitoring cable 28 to ensure that a monitoring cable 28 is available for each cross connection provided by a patch cable 14.

[025] Referring now to Figure 3, in an alternative yet in some applications preferred embodiment, instead of the RJ-45 connector sockets as illustratively - provided for in Figure 1 , the telecommunications cables (reference 12 on Figure 1) are terminated by Insulation Displacement Connector (IDC) type connector blocks 36, such as 110, 210, BIX, Krone or the like. As known in the art, such IDC connector blocks 36 comprise a series of staggered IDCs as in 38 equally spaced along the both elongate edges 40, 42 of the connector block 36, wherein each IDC 38 on one edge 40 of the connector block is interconnected with a single IDC 38 arranged opposite on the opposite edge 42 of the connector block 36. Typically, the telecommunications cables as in 12 are terminated along one edge as in 40 of the IDC connector block 36. Additionally, as known in the art, when a small gauge insulated conductor is inserted into an IDC as in 38 (typical using a special tool, not shown), the bifurcated blades of the IDC 38 cut into the insulation surrounding the conductor thereby bringing the conductor and IDC 18 into conductive contact.

[026] Referring now to Figure 4A, the connector blocks as in 36 are mounted on a rack 44 with the edge 40 terminating the telecommunications cables 12 facing inwards and the opposite edge 42 facing outwards. Referring now to Figure 4B, the racks 44 are mounted in frames 46 and a large number of racks supporting many connector blocks 36 are typically found in a given installation. Referring back to Figure 4A, as will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art, individual conductors as in 48 of the telecommunications cables 12 can be interconnected with other individual conductors as in 48 of the telecommunications cables 12 simply by inserting an insulated conductor into the corresponding IDCs exposed along the outside edges 42 of the IDC connector blocks 36.

[027] Referring now to Figure 5, alternatively, IDC type patch cords 50 can be used to provide bundled cross connections. As known in the art, such patch cords 50 are comprised of multiple conductors (not shown) and terminated at each end by a connector 52. Each of the conductors housed within the patch cord 50 is terminated by one of a number of blades as in 54 exposed along a front edge 56 of the connector 52. Referring now to Figure 3 in addition to Figure 5, as the connector 52 is mounted on the connector block (reference 36 in Figure 3) the blades 54 are inserted between the bifurcated blades of the individual IDCs as in 38 thereby establishing contact between the individual conductors and the IDCs 38.

[028] Still referring to Figure 3, as discussed hereinabove, the individual conductors of the telecommunications cables terminated by the IDC connector blocks 36 can be individually cross connected by attaching "cross connect" conductors between predetermined ones of the IDCs as in 38 positioned along the outward edge 42 of the IDC connector blocks 36. Alternatively, blocks of individual conductors of the telecommunications cables can be cross connected using patch cords 50 as described hereinabove. Additionally, the IDC connector blocks 36 can also be used to provide the infrastructure necessary to monitor the cross connections between the conductors of the telecommunications cables terminated by the IDC connector blocks 36 as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

[029] For example, as known in the art interconnections between devices in computer networks are typically provided by four (4) twisted pairs of conductors. Therefore, in order to provide a suitable cross connection using the above described IDC connector blocks 36, eight (8) conductors are necessary to provide the necessary cross connection. This cross connection can either be provided using eight (8) individual conductors each suitably attached at both ends to corresponding IDCs 38 positioned on the outside edge 42 of the connector blocks 36. Alternatively, a patch cord 50 comprised of eight (8) conductors and eight (8) blades exposed along a forward edge 56 could be used as the cross connector.

[030] Referring to Figure 6, in order to provide the requisite monitoring of the cross connections, one or two additional conductors could be used for each cross connection. In this regard, and assuming the use of only a single additional conductor 58, the IDC immediately adjacent the set of eight (8) IDCs 38 terminating the four twisted pairs of conductors as in 60 could be dedicated to terminate the conductors as in 58. Conductors as in 58 would in turn be fed into a cross referencing matrix within the monitoring system (reference 32 on Figure 1). Similarly, a single conductor 62 would be used as the monitoring cable for providing information regarding each cross connection. Again, the single conductor 62 could either be an individual conductor, interconnected immediately before, during or immediately following installation of the eight conductors as in 64 cross connecting the four twisted pairs of conductors as in 60, or could be bundled in with the eight conductors as in 64 to form a patch cable 50.

[031] Referring to Figure 5 in addition to Figure 6, in this regard, provision would preferably be made for a ninth blade as in 54 (ninth blade not shown) in the connector 52. In any case, it will be apparent to a person of skill in the art that the number of blades as in 54 exposed along the front edge 56 of the connector 52 can be adapted to a particular application.

[032] Referring now to Figures 7A and 7B, in an alternative illustrative embodiment the monitoring interconnections could be provided by a monitoring module 66 comprised of a series of monitoring IDC connectors as in 68 arranged along a front face 70 thereof. The modules 66 could be inserted in between the IDC connector blocks 36 with the monitoring IDC connectors as in 68 arranged outward, similar to the IDC connectors 38 arranged along the outward edge 42 of the IDC connector 38. Each monitoring IDC connector 68 of each module 66 would be interconnected with the monitoring system 32 via a network 34 or the like.

[033] Similar to the systems as described above, individual monitoring IDC connectors 68 would be identified with particular groups of IDC connectors as in 38 used to terminate particular telecommunications cables. By interconnecting the monitoring IDC connectors 68 of pairs of groups of IDC connectors 38 used to terminate particular pairs telecommunications cables (which are interconnected using a cross connect cable, not shown) using a monitoring cable 72 and selectively transferring signals via the monitoring IDC connectors 68 and the monitoring cables 72, the monitoring system 32 would be able to determine how the pairs of telecommunications cables are interconnected. Note that, in this regard, the monitoring cable 72 could be provided by an extra conductor (or conductors) bundled in with each cross connect cable.

[034] Alternatively, the monitoring IDC connectors 68 could illustratively be arranged in sub modules 72 and monitoring patch cables used to interconnect sub modules 72. This would allow, for example, the interconnections of banks of telecommunications cables which are interconnected with other banks of telecommunications cables using multiple cross connects to be monitored simply by attaching a monitoring patch cord 74 between sub modules 72.

[035] Referring back to Figure 6, note that the additional conductors as in 58 and 60 could serve not only in support of the cross connection monitoring function but also as a means, for example, to allow for the insertion of electrical power onto the existing infrastructure if so required. Alternatively, additional conductors could also be provided for this purpose.

[036] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of illustrative embodiments thereof, these embodiments can be modified at will without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A system for determining a current cross connection between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication cables, each pair of cables interconnected by a cross connect cable, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring ports, wherein each of said monitoring ports corresponds to a predetermined one of the cables; a plurality of monitoring cables, each of said monitoring cables interconnected between a different pair of monitoring ports, wherein each one of said monitoring port pair corresponds to one of a pair of interconnected cables; and a controller coupled to each of said monitoring ports for periodically transmitting a monitoring signal, wherein when said transmitted signal is received by one said monitoring ports, said controller correlates said signal transmitting port with said signal receiving port; wherein said monitoring ports are mounted in an assembly separate from the telecommunication cables.

2. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter coupling said controller to each of said monitoring ports, wherein said transmitter transmits said monitoring signals under control of said controller.

3. The system of Claim 1 , further comprising a receiver coupling said controller to each of said monitoring ports, wherein said receiver relays any received monitoring signals to said controller.

4. The system of Claim 1 , wherein said signal is coded with an identifier unique to the monitoring port used to transmit said signal.

5. The system of Claim 1 , wherein each of the cables is terminated by a data port and wherein each of the cross connect cables is a patch cable.

6. The system of Claim 5, wherein said data port comprises a connector socket adapted to receive an RJ-45 connector plug and wherein each of said patch cables is an RJ-45 patch cable.

7. The system of Claim 1 , wherein each of the cables is comprised of four twisted pairs of conductors and each of the conductors is terminated by a first series insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) and wherein each IDC of the first series of IDCs is coupled with a corresponding IDC in a second series of IDCs, wherein the second series of IDCs is adapted for receiving the cross connector.

8. The system of Claim 7, further comprising an additional IDC coupled with said controller for each series of IDCs, and wherein said monitoring port is coupled with said additional IDC.

9. The system of Claim 7, wherein the first series of IDCs further comprises an additional IDC coupled with said controller, said monitoring port comprises an IDC coupled with said additional IDC, and wherein the cross connecter further comprises an additional conductor for insertion into said monitoring port IDC.

10. A method for determining a current cross connection between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication cables, each pair of cables interconnected by a cross connect cable, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of monitoring ports mounted in an assembly separate from the telecommunication cables, wherein each of said monitoring ports corresponds to a predetermined one of the cables; interconnecting pairs monitoring ports with a monitoring cable, wherein each one of said interconnected monitoring port pairs corresponds to one of a pair of interconnected cables; and periodically transmitting a monitoring signal from each of said monitoring ports; and for each transmitted signal received by one said monitoring ports, correlating said monitoring port used to transmit said signal with said monitoring port receiving said signal.

11. A system for determining a current cross connection between a plurality of pairs of telecommunication cables, each of the telecommunication cables comprised of a plurality of conductors, each of the conductors in conductive contact with one of a plurality of cross connecting IDCs, each of the pairs of cables interconnected by a cross connect comprised of a plurality of insulated conductors adapted for insertion into the cross connecting IDCs, the system comprising: a plurality of monitoring ports, wherein each of said monitoring ports corresponds to a predetermined one of the cables; a plurality of monitoring cables, each of said monitoring cables interconnected between a different pair of monitoring ports, wherein each one of said monitoring port pair corresponds to one of a pair of interconnected cables; and a controller coupled to each of said monitoring ports for periodically transmitting a monitoring signal, wherein when said transmitted signal is received by one said monitoring ports, said controller correlates said signal transmitting port with said signal receiving port.

12. The system of Claim 11 , wherein each of said monitoring ports comprises at least one IDC coupled to said controller and wherein a first end of each of said monitoring cables is inserted in an IDC of a first of said pair of monitoring ports and a second end is inserted in an IDC of a second of said pair of monitoring ports.

13. The system of Claim 11 , wherein each of the telecommunication cables comprises four twisted pairs of conductors terminated by an IDC interconnected with a predetermined one of the cross connect IDCs.