Rack controller with native support for intelligent patching equipment installed in multiple racks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11567891-B2
Application number	US-201816619076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2018
Priority date	Jun 5, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

One embodiment is directed to a multi-rack rack controller for an automated infrastructure management (AIM) system comprising a plurality of independent patching equipment bus interfaces. Another embodiment is directed to a rack controller comprising at least one rack controller interface configured to connect the rack controller to another rack controller. Each rack controller interface comprises a respective termination circuit. The rack controller is configured to determine whether each rack controller interface is connected to another rack controller as a function of a respective sense signal developed by the termination circuit associated with said rack controller interface. Another embodiment is directed to a rack controller comprising a base unit having a locate button disposed on the front of the base unit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rack controller for use in an automated infrastructure management (AIM) system, the rack controller comprising:
a processor configured to execute software;
a plurality of independent patching equipment bus interfaces, each bus interface configured to passively couple the processor to a respective patching equipment bus assembly installed in a respective one of multiple racks in which intelligent patching equipment having AIM functionality is installed for communicating with and providing power to the intelligent patching equipment, where the processor is configured to determine, for a given item of intelligent patching equipment that the rack controller is communicating with, which rack that given item is installed in based on which of the plurality of patching equipment bus interfaces is being used to communicate with that given item; and
a base unit that comprises the processor and the plurality of independent patching equipment bus interfaces, wherein the base unit comprises a locate button disposed on the front of the base unit, the locate button coupled to the processor, wherein the locate button can be actuated in order to provide a user input to the processor and to cause the rack controller to send a message operable to cause an app executing on a portable device to show information associated with at least one of the rack controller, one or more of the racks, or the patching equipment installed in the one or more racks,
wherein the rack controller is located in a rack in the multiple racks and functions as a controller for the multiple racks.

2. The rack controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of patching equipment bus interfaces is arranged to support a predetermined scheme specifying which of the plurality of patching equipment bus interfaces should be used to couple the intelligent patching equipment installed in each of the racks to the rack controller.

3. The rack controller of claim 1 , further comprising: an external network interface configured to couple the processor to an external network.

4. The rack controller of claim 3 , wherein the external network interface comprises an ETHERNET interface configured to couple the processor to an ETHERNET local area network (LAN).

5. The rack controller of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one rack controller interface, each rack controller interface configured to connect the rack controller to another rack controller.

6. The rack controller of claim 5 , wherein each rack controller interface comprises a respective termination circuit configured to:
develop a respective first predetermined level for a respective sense signal of said rack controller interface when said rack controller interface is connected to another rack controller; and
develop a respective second predetermined level for the respective sense signal of said rack controller interface when said rack controller interface is not connected to another rack controller;
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether each rack controller interface is connected to another rack controller as a function of the respective sense signal.

7. The rack controller of claim 6 , wherein the at least one rack controller interface comprises first and second rack controller interfaces for establishing a network of rack controllers in a daisy chain topology.

8. The rack controller of claim 7 , wherein the respective first predetermined level of the first rack controller interface is not the same as the respective first predetermined level of the second rack controller interface.

9. The rack controller of claim 6 , wherein each rack controller comprises a respective RJ-45 jack configured to be connected to a RJ-45 plug attached to an ETHERNET cable.

10. The rack controller of claim 1 , further comprising a display unit configured to be connected to the base unit via a cable.

11. A rack controller comprising:
a processor configured to execute software;
a plurality of patching equipment bus interfaces, each patching equipment bus interface configured to couple the processor to a respective patching equipment bus assembly installed in a respective rack in which intelligent patching equipment having automated infrastructure management (AIM) functionality is installed for communicating with and providing power to the intelligent patching equipment, wherein the rack controller is located in a rack in multiple racks and functions as a controller for the multiple racks, where the processor is configured to determine, for a given item of intelligent patching equipment that the rack controller is communicating with, which rack that given item is installed in based on which of the plurality of patching equipment bus interfaces is being used to communicate with that given item;
a base unit that comprise the processor and the patching equipment bus interface, wherein the base unit comprises a locate button disposed on the front of the base unit, the locate button coupled to the processor, wherein the locate button can be actuated in order to provide a user input to the processor and to cause the rack controller to send a message operable to cause an app executing on a portable device to show information associated with at least one of the rack controller, the respective rack, or the patching equipment installed in the rack, and at least two rack controller interfaces, each rack controller interface configured to connect the rack controller to another rack controller;
wherein each rack controller interface comprises a respective termination circuit configured to:
develop a respective first predetermined level for a respective sense signal of said rack controller interface when said rack controller interface is connected to another rack controller; and
develop a respective second predetermined level for the respective sense signal of said rack controller interface when said rack controller interface is not connected to another rack controller;

wherein the processor is configured to determine whether each rack controller interface is connected to another rack controller as a function of the respective sense signal.

12. The rack controller of claim 11 , wherein the at least two rack controller interfaces comprises first and second rack controller interfaces for establishing a network of rack controllers in a daisy chain topology.

13. The rack controller of claim 12 , wherein the respective first predetermined level of the first rack controller interface is not the same as the respective first predetermined level of the second rack controller interface.

14. The rack controller of claim 11 , wherein each rack controller comprises a respective RJ- 45 jack configured to be connected to a RJ- 45 plug attached to an ETHERNET cable.

15. The rack controller of claim 11 , further comprising: an external network interface configured to couple the processor to an external network.

16. The rack controller of claim 15 , wherein the external network interface comprises an ETHERNET interface configured to couple the processor to an ETHERNET local area network (LAN).

17. The rack controller of claim 6 , further comprising a display unit configured to be connected to the base unit via a cable.

18. A rack controller comprising:
a base unit comprising:
a processor configured to execute software;
a plurality of patching equipment bus interfaces, each patching equipment bus interface configured to couple the processor to a respective patching equipment bus assembly installed in a respective rack in which intelligent patching equipment having a

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Kiener Matthew R
• Enge Ryan E
• Fariello Patrick
• Bartlett Dallas
• Eastham Thomas
• Scoy Lary Blake Van
• Smith Philip

Classifications

• G06F13/4027 Primary

  using bus bridges (G06F13/4022 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• H04Q1/09 Primary

  Frames or mounting racks not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H04Q1/13

  Patch panels for monitoring, interconnecting or testing circuits, e.g. patch bay, patch field or jack field; Patching modules · CPC title

• G06K17/0029

  the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers · CPC title