Switch or router optic replacement device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9703061-B1
Application number	US-201514751034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2015
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

Methods for transferring input/output cables from a switch or router to a replacement switch or router employ a holding fixture for the cables. A holding fixture having a plurality of receptacles is supported such that the plurality of receptacles is disposed adjacent to the switch or router to be replaced. Each of a plurality of cables is decoupled from the switch or router to be replaced. Each of the cables is coupled with the holding fixture such that each of the cables is supported via a respective one of the plurality of receptacles. The switch or router is replaced with the replacement switch or router. Each of the cables is transferred from the respective receptacle of the holding fixture to a respective one of the ports of the replacement switch or router.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of replacing a first optical switch or router with a second optical switch or router, the first optical switch or router having a first plurality of optical ports, the second optical switch or router having a second plurality of optical ports, the method comprising:
supporting the first optical switch or router in a component rack, each of a plurality of optical cables being optically coupled with the first optical switch or router via a respective one of the plurality of optical ports;
coupling a holding fixture to the component rack, the holding fixture having a plurality of receptacles such that the plurality of receptacles are disposed adjacent to the first optical switch or router supported in the component rack;
decoupling each of the optical cables from the first optical switch or router supported in the component rack;
coupling each of the optical cables with the holding fixture such that each of the optical cables is supported via a respective one of the plurality of receptacles;
removing the first optical switch or router from the component rack;
mounting the second optical switch or router in the component rack; and
transferring each of the optical cables from the respective receptacle of the holding fixture to a respective one of the optical ports of the second optical switch or router.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holding fixture has a unique identification number adjacent to each of the plurality of receptacles of the holding fixture, each of the holding fixture identification numbers matching an identification number of a respective one of the optical ports in each of the first optical switch or router and the second optical switch or router.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holding fixture comprises magnets, the magnets being coupled to the component rack.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the holding fixture to the component rack comprises clamping or fastening the holding fixture to the component rack or to one or more components mounted in the component rack.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the optical cables, when coupled with the first optical switch or router, is optically coupled with the respective optical port of the first optical switch or router via a respective optical connector;
each of a plurality of replacement optical connectors is disposed in a respective one of the plurality of receptacles of the holding fixture;
decoupling each of the optical cables from the first optical switch or router supported in the component rack comprises decoupling the optical cable from the respective optical connector used to couple the optical cable with the respective optical port of the first optical switch or router;
coupling each of the optical cables with the holding fixture such that each of the optical cables is supported via a respective one of the plurality of receptacles comprises coupling the optical cable with one of the replacement optical connectors disposed in the respective one of the plurality of receptacles of the holding fixture; and
transferring each of the optical cables from the respective receptacle of the holding fixture to a respective one of the optical ports of the second optical switch or router comprises transferring each of the replacement optical connectors from the respective receptacle into the respective one of the optical ports of the second optical switch or router.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receptacles in the holding fixture includes one or more rows of 24 receptacles in each row.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical cables are sequentially transferred from the first optical switch or router to the holding fixture such that each of the optical cables, when decoupled from the first optical switch or router, is transferred to the holding fixture prior to decoupling of the next in the sequence of the optical cables from the first optical switch or router.

8. A holding fixture for network cables during replacement of a switch or router, the holding fixture comprising:
a cable support member having a plurality of receptacles, each of the plurality of receptacles being configured to hold an end portion of one of a plurality of cables coupled with a first optical switch or router during replacement of the first switch or router with a second switch or router; and
a frame member attached to the cable support member, the frame member being configured to attach to one or more switch or routers or to a component rack in which the one or more switch or routers are mounted, the frame member being configured to support the cable support member to position the receptacles to each hold an end portion of a respective one of the plurality of cables during the replacement of the first switch or router with the second switch or router.

9. The holding fixture of claim 8 , wherein the cable support member has a unique identification reference symbol disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of receptacles.

10. The holding fixture of claim 9 , wherein each of the holding fixture identification numbers matches an identification number of a respective one of the ports in each of the first switch or router and the second switch or router.

11. The holding fixture of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of receptacles in the cable support member includes one or more rows of 24 receptacles in each row.

12. The holding fixture of claim 8 , wherein the frame member includes a protruding flange configured to be inserted between components mounted in the component rack.

13. The holding fixture of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of receptacles in the cable support member is configured to hold a replacement connector.

14. The holding fixture of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of receptacles is configured to hold the replacement connector in a vertical orientation.

15. The holding fixture of claim 8 , further comprising one or more clamp mechanisms coupled with the frame member and operable to clamp the frame member to the component rack or one or more components mounted in the component rack.

16. The holding fixture of claim 15 , wherein:
the frame member includes opposing end flanges spaced apart to be positionable along opposing side surfaces of the component rack; and
the one or more clamp mechanisms is supported by a respective one or more of the opposing end flanges and operable to clamp the component rack between the one or more opposing end flanges to mount the holding fixture to the component rack.

17. A method of replacing a first switch or router with a second switch or router, the first switch or router having a first plurality of ports, the second switch or router having a second plurality of ports, the method comprising:
supporting a holding fixture having a plurality of receptacles such that the plurality of receptacles is disposed adjacent to the first switch or router;
decoupling each of a plurality of cables from the first switch or router;
placing each of the cables into a respective one of the plurality of receptacles;
replacing the first switch or router with a second switch or router; and
transferring each of the cables from the holding fixture to a respective one of the ports of the second switch or router.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein replacing the first switch or router with the second switch or router comprises removing the first switch or router from a component rack and mounting the second switch or router in the component rack.

19. The method of claim 1

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Fernandez David Fernandez
• Ainsworth Tomas Martin

Classifications

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/44526 Primary

  Panels or rackmounts covering a whole width of the frame or rack · CPC title

• F16L3/227

  each pipe being supported by a separate element fastened to the base · CPC title

• H04Q2011/0081

  Fault tolerance; Redundancy; Recovery; Reconfigurability · CPC title

• H04Q11/0066

  Provisions for optical burst or packet networks · CPC title