Cable management system and method

Abstract

The cable management system includes a plurality of cables, each having an associated unique identifier, including first and second barcodes each including the unique identifier, the first barcode located proximate a first end of the cable and the second barcode located proximate a second end of the cable. The system also includes a barcode scanner for scanning the barcodes of the cables, the barcode scanner including a clip for receiving one of the cables. The system also includes a mobile computing device having a user interface including a processor, a data storage medium, a communications unit, and a display. The mobile computing device is configured to receive location information of a first end of a first cable via the user interface, receive the first barcode of the first cable from the barcode scanner, and store and display the location information of the first end in association with the unique identifier of the first cable included in the first barcode.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 986,890, filed March 9, 2020, and also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 056,092, filed July 24, 2020, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

[0002] The following relates to devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for managing cables in a telecommunications or data center. [Background technology]

[0003] Data centers and telecommunications rooms communicate large amounts of data using cables. Some data centers can have hundreds of thousands of cables. Therefore, cable management is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. There are two well-known approaches in widespread use today:

[0004] The first known approach is to manually trace each cable and document the physical location of each cable end (i.e., cable end #1 is at port 3 on patch panel "A," cable end #2 is at port 5 on patch panel "B"). This approach is time-consuming and relies on static documentation that can quickly become outdated without regular updates and care. If you use Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) or other cable management software, you must manually enter cable location information.

[0005] A second known approach is to use no documentation, meaning the cabling infrastructure is not documented and instead cables are traced "as needed". Quite often this tracing is performed after an outage has occurred, which can result in extended downtime and loss of revenue.

[0006] Neither of these approaches is optimal, as the first takes time and the second can result in long recovery times in the event of a failure. In that respect, a data center outage can cause a company to lose valuable resources and lead to high repair costs. Solutions that reduce the time it takes to trace cables save costs and resources during installation and maintenance, and reduce the mean time to repair (MTTR) during system outages. Anything that helps reduce downtime during outages can result in significant savings.

[0007] Therefore, a need exists for cable management devices, systems, methods, and application programs designed to more efficiently track cables, quickly audit existing installations, and dynamically upload data to cable management systems. Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to one non-limiting exemplary embodiment described herein, a cable management system is provided. The system includes a plurality of cables, each of the plurality of cables having an associated unique identifier, each of the plurality of cables including a first barcode and a second barcode, the first barcode including the unique identifier and positioned proximate a first end of the cable, and the second barcode including the unique identifier and positioned proximate a second end of the cable. The system further includes a barcode scanner configured to scan the barcodes of the plurality of cables, the barcode scanner including a clip configured to receive one of the plurality of cables. The system further includes a mobile computing device including a user interface including a processor, a data storage medium, a communication unit, and a display, the mobile computing device configured to receive first end location information for a first of the plurality of cables via the user interface, receive the first barcode of the first of the plurality of cables from the barcode scanner, and store and display the first end location information in association with the unique identifier of the first of the plurality of cables included in the first barcode.

[0009] According to another non-limiting exemplary embodiment described herein, there is provided a method for managing a plurality of cables, each of the plurality of cables having an associated unique identifier, each of the plurality of cables including a first barcode and a second barcode, the first barcode including the unique identifier and positioned proximate a first end of the cable, and the second barcode including the unique identifier and positioned proximate a second end of the cable. The method includes identifying location information for a first end of a first of the plurality of cables, scanning the first barcode of the first of the plurality of cables with a barcode scanner including a clip configured to receive the first of the plurality of cables, and storing the first end location information associated with the unique identifier of the first of the plurality of cables included in the first barcode on a data storage medium.

[0010] According to another non-limiting exemplary embodiment described herein, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for managing a plurality of cables, each of the plurality of cables having an associated unique identifier, each of the plurality of cables including a first barcode and a second barcode, the first barcode including the unique identifier and positioned proximate a first end of the cable, and the second barcode including the unique identifier and positioned proximate a second end of the cable. Execution of the instructions causes a processor to receive location information of a first end of a first of the plurality of cables, receive the first barcode of the first of the plurality of cables from a barcode scanner, and store in the data storage medium the first end location information associated with the unique identifier of the first of the plurality of cables included in the first barcode.

[0011] Detailed descriptions of these and other non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the cable management system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are provided below along with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates multiple network cables connected between two patch panels, according to a non-limiting example embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 illustrates a cable having a unique identifier at each end thereof, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 illustrates a patch cable having a unique machine-readable identifier proximate the end of the cable, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a cable management system according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5A]1 illustrates a perspective view of a scanner clip for use with a barcode scanner to scan a unique identifier on a cable, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] 5B illustrates a perspective view of the scanner clip shown in FIG. 5A attached to a barcode scanner for scanning a unique identifier on a cable according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions to implement a cable management tool, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for entering a "scan" mode, according to a non-limiting example embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for receiving and / or inputting network device information in a "scan" mode, according to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for receiving and / or inputting port information in a "scan" mode, according to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for generating and displaying an output of matching unique identifier tags and corresponding physical ports in a "scan" mode, according to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11]1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for entering a “scan and verify” mode, according to a non-limiting example embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for receiving and / or inputting panel name and port number information for the next port to scan in “scan and verify” mode, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for generating and displaying output results of "pass" and "fail" status of a cable in a "scan and verify" mode, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] 1 illustrates a mobile computing device that may include a display, a data storage medium, and a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions for entering a "search" mode, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] 1 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating the processes of "scan" and "scan and verify" modes implemented using a cable management tool, according to a non-limiting example embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] 10 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a process implemented using a cable management tool for a "search" mode, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] 1 illustrates a structured cabling system installed in an environment in which a cable management tool is implemented, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 18] 1 illustrates a cable having unique identifiers pre-printed at predetermined intervals on the outer layer of the cable, according to one non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 19] 19 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary installation process performed by a cable management tool using the cable shown in FIG. 18. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In this disclosure, detailed, non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and may take various alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art.

[0014] A more detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments of cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media will be presented with reference to the figures. For ease of description and to promote understanding, like reference numerals are used herein to refer to like components and features throughout the figures.

[0015] As discussed above, there exists a need for cable management devices, systems, methods, and application programs designed to save time tracing cables and create a way to quickly audit existing installations and dynamically upload data into a cable management system.

[0016] The present disclosure provides cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media that address and / or fulfill such needs and solve the problems associated with the aforementioned known cable management approaches. The cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media of the present disclosure provide and / or utilize unique cable identifiers, combined with intelligence, that allow for patch field cable documentation without the hassle of manually tracing cables and documenting their locations. When a patch field is scanned, the cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media of the present disclosure can then use the stored information to verify or locate existing connections.

[0017] The disclosed cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media for identifying and documenting connections between patch panel ports include, are provided with, and / or utilize one or more patch panels or equipment with multiple network ports for connecting cables. The disclosed cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media may further include, be provided with, and / or utilize various features described herein.

[0018] The cable management devices, systems, methods, and media may include one or more cables 10 connected between patch panels 14, 16, as seen in Figure 1. While this disclosure describes cables 10 connected between patch panels 14, 16 according to exemplary embodiments, the cable management solutions described herein may be implemented such that cables 10 are connected between other network devices, such as servers, switches, routers, or other network devices in which cables are installed.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates multiple network cables 10 connected between a first patch panel A 14 and a second patch panel B 16 in accordance with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. One or more of the cables 10 have attached labels 12, which include unique identifiers 13 (i.e., they may be collectively referred to as "unique ID cables"). A unique ID cable may include a network patch cable 10 that includes a unique identifier 13 attached, affixed, or located at or near each end of the cable 10. According to some embodiments, the unique identifier 13 is positioned a predetermined distance from the end of the cable 10, such as within 3 inches of one or both ends of the cable 10, or within a range of 0.25 to 6 inches from one or both ends of the cable 10. According to some embodiments, the unique identifier 13 is positioned to provide a predetermined distance (e.g., 2 inches with a 0.5 inch tolerance) between the end of the cable plug boot and the edge of the label 12. According to some embodiments, the unique identifier 13 is placed at a predetermined location (e.g., a distance from the end of the cable 10, such as between 0.25 and 6 inches from one or both ends of the cable 10) based on the type of cable 10 being used (e.g., CAT6, shielded, breakout, fiber, etc.).

[0020] According to the illustrated embodiment of Figure 2, the unique identifier 13 is printed on a label 12 and affixed to the cable 10, however, the unique identifier 13 is printed in the form of a barcode. However, according to other embodiments, the unique identifier 13 may be printed or etched directly onto the cable 10. Additionally, the unique identifier 13 may take other forms of machine-readable code, such as a QR code, an alphanumeric passcode, or other passively detectable form. The unique identifier 13 represents an identification code associated with the cable 10 and allows the cable 10 to be associated with additional information, such as installation location, manufacturing data, and / or cable attribute data.

[0021] 2 illustrates a cable 10 with a label 12 having a unique identifier 13 at each end thereof, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In a system of multiple cables 10, each unique identifier 13 is generated to identify each unique cable 10 and / or the location where each end of the cable 10 is installed. Thus, according to some embodiments, the unique identifiers 13 located at each end of the unique cables 10 are slightly different to identify at which end of the cable 10 the unique identifier 13 is located. For example, a barcode located at the first end A may correspond to a first identification code, and a barcode located at the second end B may correspond to a second identification code, with the first and second identification codes generally comprising the same identification code (e.g., 10000090A and 10000090B) except for a slight difference to identify their respective placement at the first end A or the second end B. 3 illustrates a patch cable 10 having a machine-readable unique identifier 13 proximate the end of the cable 10 in accordance with a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, the unique identifier 13 is located at a predetermined location on the cable 10 (e.g., a predetermined distance from a plug 17 that terminates at the end of the cable 10 shown in FIG. 3).

[0022] 4 is a simplified block diagram of a cable management system 200 according to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As seen therein, system 200 comprises a mobile computing device 20, such as a tablet, smartphone, laptop, or other mobile computing device. Mobile computing device 20 may include a display 24, a data storage medium or memory 26, and a processor 28 configured to execute a cable management program or software according to the present disclosure (this application program may be referred to as a "cable management tool").

[0023] System 200 may further include a barcode scanner 30, such as a general-purpose scanning device that can be used to scan a unique identifier 13 (e.g., a barcode identifier) ​​attached to cable 10 and communicate the information in the barcode to mobile computing device 20. Such communication may be achieved via a wired or wireless connection 32 between barcode scanner 30 and mobile computing device 20. According to other embodiments, barcode scanner 30 may be a standalone device or may be replaced by a different detection device (e.g., a digital video camera, a digital image camera, an RFID reader, etc.) integrated into mobile computing device 20 that is capable of reading unique identifier 13.

[0024] The system 200 may further include a scanner clip 34 attached, affixed, or otherwise installed to the barcode scanner 30. Alternatively, the scanner clip 34 may be an integral part of or integrated with the barcode scanner 30. The scanner clip 34 includes a viewing window 36 formed therein to allow a user operating the barcode scanner 30 to view the unique identifier 13 of the cable 10 held by the scanner clip 34. The viewing window 36 may be a cutout portion or may be made from a sheet of non-opaque material. According to some embodiments, the viewing window 36 may not be included. The scanner clip 34 includes a hook portion 38 configured to receive and / or grip and separate individual cables 10 having identifiers 13 to be scanned, as described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B .

[0025] 5A and 5B are perspective views of a scanner clip 34 for use with a barcode scanner 30, where the scanner clip 34 is configured to hold the cable 10 while the barcode scanner 30 scans the unique identifier 13, in accordance with a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5A, the scanner clip 34 includes a mounting feature 37 configured to attach, affix, or mount the scanner clip 34 to the barcode scanner 30.

[0026] FIG. 5B illustrates a scanner clip 34 attached, affixed, or mounted to the scanning end of a barcode scanner 30. As can be seen therein, the hook portion 38 of the scanner clip 34 is configured to receive / grasp and separate an individual cable 10 and present the unique identifier 13 in the field of view of a scan input window at the scanning end of the barcode scanner 30. The display window 36 of the scanner clip 34 allows a user holding the barcode scanner 30 to view the unique identifier 13 through the display window 36 when the cable 10 is held by the hook portion 38. Thus, the scanner clip 34 allows an individual cable 10 to be quickly and easily separated from other adjacent cables so that its unique identifier 13 can be successfully and accurately scanned for input into a cable management tool. In this manner, the scanner clip 34 helps to increase the efficiency of the scanning process for identifying and associating multiple cables attached to panels 14, 16 and port numbers by reducing the time required to perform the process in a patch panel system, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] Referring again to FIG. 4 , the cable 10 can be any type, including, but not limited to, copper Ethernet cable, fiber optic cable, high-density fiber cable, or breakout cable. The cable 10 can include a label 12 near each end thereof that includes a unique identifier 13, which can take the form of a printed label attached or affixed to the cable 10 proximate each end. The unique identifier 13 in the illustrated embodiment is a barcode, which can be used to retrieve an identification code used to locate each cable 10, the cable's destination / destination installation location, and / or cable manufacturing data, such as, but not limited to, cable manufacturing information (e.g., cable length, part number, cable type), quality control data, country of origin, manufacturing date, material lot number, cable category, plenum or LSZH material identification, test result data such as insertion loss, crosstalk, DC resistance, or other known information about the cable (collectively referred to hereinafter as cable information). The unique identifier 13 is created to uniquely correspond to each associated cable 10 included in the system. To enable the lookup function, the identification code and corresponding cable information obtained from scanning the unique identifier 13 may be stored as part of a lookup table or database that is part of the cable management tool described herein. In the case of breakout cables, the cable ID may include a decimal format (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc.) to accommodate for a single breakout cable that includes multiple individual cables that fan out from forming a main breakout cable.

[0028] It should be noted that the mobile computing device 20, the barcode scanner 30, and / or any other computing unit, module, controller, system, subsystem, mechanism, device, component, etc. described herein may include suitable circuitry, such as one or more appropriately programmed processors (e.g., one or more microprocessors, including a central processing unit (CPU)) and associated memory or data storage media, which may include stored operating system software and / or application software executable by the processor(s) to control its operation and to perform particular algorithms represented by the various functions and / or operations described herein, including interacting and / or communicating and / or cooperating with each other. One or more such processors or several such processors and / or circuitry and / or hardware may be distributed among several separate units, modules, controllers, systems, subsystems, mechanisms, devices, components, etc.

[0029] The cable management tool may be an app installed on the mobile computing device 20 for use in performing the cable management methods of the present disclosure, and may be embodied at least in part as machine (e.g., computer) executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The cable management tool may further include software, hardware, middleware, application programming interfaces, circuitry, and / or other components for implementing the functionality described herein associated with the cable management tool.

[0030] The cable management tool may be configured to be executed by the processor 28 of the mobile computing device 20 to manage and locate multiple cables 10 found attached to patch panels 14, 16 installed in a network rack (see, for example, FIG. 1 ). The cable management tool is configured to receive unique identifier 13 information from a barcode scanner 30 and identify an identification code represented by the barcode. The cable management tool is then configured to search a database or table for cable information associated with the identification code. For example, the cable management tool may communicate with an off-site server via an application programming interface (API) to access a database or table stored on the server. The cable information stored in the database or table may be downloaded to the mobile computing device 20 using the cable management tool and further printed on labels. Communication with the server may be performed via either a wired or wireless connection 32 provided by the mobile computing device 20.

[0031] The cable management tool can operate within the cable management system 200 in one of three modes: 1) scan mode, 2) scan and verify mode, or 3) search mode. The cable management tool can also be configured to generate a report detailing the location of cables. Such a report can be exported or uploaded to a data storage medium, such as cloud storage, which can constitute a database, sent to another user at a remote location, and / or stored in memory storage included with the mobile computing device 20. According to some embodiments, the report can be in flat file format.

[0032] 6 shows an example diagram of a mobile computing device 20 executing a cable management tool and displaying a cable management tool graphical user interface (GUI) on display 24. As described, mobile computing device 20 includes hardware, software, and / or circuitry for executing the cable management tool. In particular, machine-readable instructions configuring the cable management tool are stored in memory 26, and processor 28 reads and executes these machine-readable instructions to perform the cable management tool in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0033] As previously mentioned, the cable management system 200 includes a barcode scanner 30 that may be connected to a mobile computing device 20 configured to operate the cable management tool via Bluetooth, Universal Serial Bus (USB), or any other type of wired or wireless connection 32. Again, the cable management system 200 further includes a barcode scanner clip 34 that is used to separate an individual cable 10 from multiple surrounding cables in order to scan the unique identifier 13 from the cable 10.

[0034] As previously mentioned, the cable management tool may operate in or according to various modes. Such modes may include a "Scan" mode, a "Scan and Verify" mode, and a "Locate" mode to manage cables as a front-end panel solution where cables are installed between network devices. Various non-limiting steps, functions, functionality, operations, mechanisms, and / or processes of such modes are described below. In that regard, it should be noted that such steps, functions, functionality, operations, mechanisms, and / or processes may be performed at different times, in an order other than that described, and / or one or more may be omitted. The "Scan" mode, the "Scan and Verify" mode, and the "Locate" mode may each comprise one or more of the following steps 1-6:

[0035] Step 1: Start with an existing patch field incorporating a unique ID cable as described herein. The existing patch field may include one or more patch panels 14, 16 (see FIG. 1) containing multiple ports. The patch field utilizes a unique ID patch cable 10 to connect two ports of the patch field.

[0036] Step 2: Execute the cable management tool on the mobile computing device 20. Once again, Figure 6 illustrates the mobile computing device 20 displaying a GUI on the display 24 of the mobile computing device 20 based on execution of the machine-readable instructions of the cable management tool, in accordance with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Step 3: Change, enter, and / or set software mode to "Scan" mode. In that regard, Figure 7 illustrates a mobile computing device 20 executing machine-readable instructions for executing "Scan" mode 40 and displaying a GUI for "Scan" mode 40 on display 24, in accordance with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Step 4: Enter the name of the patch panel being scanned in the "Panel Name" field. Figure 8 illustrates a mobile computing device 20 executing machine-readable instructions for executing the "Scan" mode 40 to enable entry of patch panel name information into a "Panel Name" information entry field 42 included in the GUI of the "Scan" mode 40 displayed on the display 24, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. A user can enter the patch panel name information into the "Panel Name" information entry field 42 using an input device (e.g., a touchscreen keyboard, a mechanical keyboard, voice input, etc.).

[0039] Step 5: Enter a port number in the "Scan Port" field. In that regard, Figure 9 illustrates a mobile computing device that executes machine-readable instructions for executing a "Scan" mode 40, according to one non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, to enable port number information to be entered into a "Scan Port" information entry field 44 included in a GUI of the "Scan" mode 40 displayed on the display 24. A user can enter the port number information into the "Scan Port" information entry field 44 using an input device (e.g., a touchscreen keyboard, a mechanical keyboard, voice input, etc.).

[0040] Step 6: Scan the unique identifier 13 of the cable 10 associated with the entered patch panel and port. After scanning the unique identifier 13 with the barcode scanner 30, the port number in the "Scan Port" information input field 44 (see, for example, FIG. 9) automatically increments by one, allowing data entry for the next port. If the incremented port number displayed in the "Scan Port" information input field 44 is incorrect, the user can manually enter the next patch panel name and / or modify the next port number for which to scan information; this process continues until all cables 10 connected to the ports have been scanned.

[0041] Step 7: While the user is scanning the unique identifier 13 of the cable 10, the cable management tool stores the information obtained from scanning the unique identifier 13 in a database along with the corresponding panel and port number (i.e., location information). The cable management tool can now accurately identify matching unique identifiers and associate them with the associated cables and their physical patch panel and port locations. The cable management tool can also display these matches as connections on the display 24 of the mobile computing device 20.

[0042] In that regard, Figure 10 illustrates the display 24 of the mobile computing device 20 displaying an output GUI that matches unique identifier tags with their corresponding physical port information 1001a, 1001b in "Scan" mode 40, in accordance with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. These results may be exported 48 and / or transmitted as desired to a remote user, a data storage medium such as cloud storage (which may include a database), an Excel spreadsheet, or a comma-separated value file for import into other management systems, etc.

[0043] For example, data can be exported via a comma-separated text file (.csv file extension). Each file represents a telecom room or data center. The location field can be manually entered into the cable management tool, and the ID field is the value of a scanned unique identifier 13. As seen in FIG. 10, the output fields can be near-end port location (NE port) 1010, near-end ID number (NEID) 1020, far-end port location (FE port) 1030, and far-end ID number (FEID) 1040. An example output of such fields in comma-separated .csv file format for the data shown in FIG. 10 can appear as follows: SwtchA-01,10000090,Panel-28,10000090 SwtchA-02,10000059,Panel-27,10000059 SwtchA-03,10000001,Panel-26,10000001 SwtchA-04,10000012,Panel-25,10000012

[0044] The "Scan and Verify" mode 50 may further include one or more steps 8-10, as described below with reference to Figures 11-13. Again, it should be noted that such steps, features, functionality, operations, mechanisms, and / or processes may be performed at different times, in orders other than those described, and / or one or more may be omitted.

[0045] Step 8: Select "Scan and Verify" mode 50. In that regard, FIG. 11 illustrates a mobile computing device 20 executing machine-readable instructions for entering "Scan and Verify" mode 50, according to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 11, a GUI corresponding to "Scan and Verify" mode 50 is displayed on the display 24 of the mobile computing device 20. "Scan and Verify" mode 50 verifies whether the cable 10 has moved since the last scan using previously saved results from operating "Scan" mode 40 (see, e.g., FIGS. 7-10). If saved results do not exist, steps 1-6 described above are performed. Additionally or alternatively, according to some embodiments, the saved results used for verification may be downloaded as a set of results for a given installation location so that they can be compared to the current scan operation.

[0046] Step 9: Enter the panel name and port number of the location of the current patch panel port to be verified. Figure 12 illustrates a mobile computing device 20 executing machine-readable instructions for executing a "Scan and Verify" mode 50 according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure to enable entry of patch panel name information into a "Panel Name" information entry field 52 included in the GUI of the "Scan and Verify" mode 50 displayed on the display 24. Figure 12 also illustrates a mobile computing device 20 executing machine-readable instructions for executing a "Scan and Verify" mode 50 according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure to enable entry of scan port name information into a "Scan Port" information entry field 54 included in the GUI of the "Scan and Verify" mode 50 displayed on the display 24. A user can use an input device (e.g., a touchscreen keyboard, a mechanical keyboard, voice input, etc.) to enter patch panel name information into the "Panel Name" information entry field 52 and scan port name information into the "Scan Port" information entry field 54.

[0047] Step 10: Scan the cable 10's unique identifier 13 at the selected port. The cable management tool identifies the current cable 10 based on the scanned unique identifier 13 and retrieves the corresponding installation location information from a stored database tracking that panel and / or retrieves the port's installation location information from the last time it was scanned (or based on previously downloaded installation location data). A PASS / FAIL grade comparison is then performed, with a grade based on whether the input location comparison from step 9 matches (PASS) or does not match (FAIL) the previously installed location information retrieved in step 10, and a corresponding notification may be output on the display 24. In that regard, FIG. 13 illustrates a mobile computing device 20, according to one non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, displaying PASS / FAIL status information 55 results based on the comparison in "Scan and Verify" mode 50 (which may take the form of color-coded information, such as green for pass and red for fail, or other visual indicators, such as flags or other symbols to identify fail or pass status). A status of "Pass" is reported if the entered current location information matches the stored expected location information for the cable identified from the stored database based on the scanned unique identifier 13. A status of "Fail" is reported if the current location does not match the stored database record for that cable's identification code obtained from scanning the unique identifier 13. A Fail status also reports the last recorded cable identification code 56 at that location (cable identification code 10000007 Expected Near End ID (ExpNEID)) as the expected identifier value.

[0048] "Search" mode 60 may further include steps 11-13, as described below with reference to Figure 14. Again, it should be noted that such steps, features, functionality, operations, mechanisms, and / or processes may be performed at different times, in orders other than those described, and / or one or more may be omitted.

[0049] Step 11: Select "Search" mode 60. In that regard, FIG. 14 illustrates a mobile computing device 20 executing machine-readable instructions for entering "Search" mode 60, in accordance with a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 illustrates a GUI that is displayed on the display 24 of the mobile computing device 20 in accordance with "Search" mode 60. "Search" mode 60 is useful when one end of a cable 10 has been identified and the user wishes to search for the other end of the same cable 10. In "Search" mode 60, there is an initial known cable 10 that the user is attempting to match, and there is a target cable 10 that may be the other end of the initial known cable 10.

[0050] Step 12: Scan the unique identifier 13 at a first end (i.e., a first location) of the cable 10. Once the unique identifier 13 at the first end is scanned, a cable identification code corresponding to this scanned unique identifier 13 is obtained, since this first cable identification code represents the cable end being located. Then, all subsequent cable identification codes obtained from subsequent scans of the unique identifier 13 in step 13 while in "search" mode are compared with this first cable identification code, and a PASS status is given if the subsequently obtained cable identification code matches the first cable identification code, and a FAIL status is given if the subsequently scanned unique identifier 13 does not match the first unique identifier 13.

[0051] Step 13: Scan a subsequent unique identifier 13 at a second end (i.e., second location) of the cable 10 to obtain a cable identification code for the unknown cable end at the second location. In this "Search" mode, each cable identification code obtained by scanning a subsequent unique identifier 13 at the second location is compared to the first cable identification code, and a status of PASS is given when a subsequently obtained cable identification code matches the first cable identification code, and a status of FAIL is given when a subsequently obtained cable identification code does not match the first cable identification code. The status may be reported to the user via a display to the "Search" mode GUI displayed on display 24.

[0052] As mentioned above, in each of the "Scan" mode 40, "Scan and Verify" mode 50, and "Search" mode 60, the cable management tool may also be configured to generate a report detailing the cable installation locations. These results may also be saved, exported, and / or transmitted, as desired, to a remote user or remote location, such as to a data storage medium such as cloud storage (which may include a database), an Excel spreadsheet, or a comma-separated value file for import into other management systems. The GUI shown in FIG. 14 includes save button 61 and export button 62 for performing these respective functions. The cable management tool may also be configured to provide the user with the option to save and proceed or save and exit after each scan and / or each time new data is entered into the lookup table that stores cable information.

[0053] 15 is a logic flow diagram 1500 illustrating the process performed by a cable management tool for the "Scan" mode 40 and the "Scan and Verify" mode 50 described herein, in accordance with a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the cable management tool can begin execution (72) based on two scenarios: a new installation environment (74) where a unique ID cable has not yet been fully installed; or a previously installed environment (76) where a unique ID cable has already been partially or fully installed. Upon beginning execution (72) of the cable management tool, the cable management tool can enter the "Scan" mode 40, the "Scan and Verify" mode 50, or the "Search" mode 60.

[0054] As previously described and shown in flowchart 1500, "Scan" mode 40 proceeds with the cable management tool receiving panel name information 80 and port number information 82. For example, the panel name information and / or port number information may be received via an input device (e.g., a keyboard or touchscreen) or, in some embodiments, from another data source and entered into respective fields in the GUI.

[0055] The current cable's unique identifier is then scanned (84), and information obtained from the scanning of the unique identifier can be used to create or add to a database (86). For example, the cable management tool may obtain a cable identification code based on the scanned unique identifier and create a database entry for the cable under the obtained cable identification code. The database then stores corresponding cable information and associates it with the database entry for the cable identification code. Such cable information may include one or more of the cable end installation location, cable manufacturing data, and / or other cable attribute information accessed based on the cable identification code. Thus, the database identifies cables used in an installation and associates them with corresponding cable information, thereby providing an effective and efficient storage of relevant information for installers to access. The database can be structured, for example, in the form of a lookup table.

[0056] After such a scan (84), the port number is automatically incremented (88), and the cable management tool reaches a decision point (90) where it determines whether the next port number has a cable attached or not. If so, the cable management tool performs a looping process of scanning the next cable's unique identifier to obtain the next cable's cable identification code (84), adding the next cable's identification code to the database, accessing any known cable information leading to the database entry (86), and automatically incrementing the port number (88). Otherwise, the cable management tool determines (92) whether all cables associated with the current panel have been scanned. If not, the "Scan" mode 40 process moves to the next port on the current panel that has a cable attached (94). Otherwise, the cable management tool determines (96) whether all scans of additional panels have been completed. If there are additional panels to scan, the "Scan" mode 40 process moves to the new panel (98). Otherwise, when there are no more panels to scan, the "Scan" mode 40 process ends (100).

[0057] Also as previously mentioned, the "Scan and Verify" mode 50 may continue by loading saved results for the scanned cable from a database (102). The saved results may be obtained from a previous iteration of the "Scan" mode or from previously downloaded cable installation results. Panel name information and port number information are then entered into and / or received by the cable management tool (104).

[0058] The current cable's unique identifier is then scanned (106), and a PASS / FAIL result is reported by the cable management tool based on whether the input and / or received location (panel name and port number information) for the current cable's unique identifier matches that cable's previously saved location, and the cable is identified based on the scanned unique identifier (108). The port number is then automatically incremented (110), and the cable management tool determines (112) whether to scan another cable's unique identifier to perform another "scan and verify" operation. If there are additional cables to verify, the "scan and verify" mode 50 process repeats by looping back to input / receive (104) the panel name and port number information for the next cable to be verified. Otherwise, the "scan and verify" mode 50 process ends (100).

[0059] 16 is a logic flow diagram 1600 illustrating the process performed by a cable management tool for a "Search" mode 60, according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Again, as shown, the cable management tool can initially begin execution (72) based on two scenarios: first, a new installation environment (74) where a unique ID cable has not yet been fully installed; or second, a previously installed environment (76) where a unique ID cable has already been partially or fully installed. Upon beginning execution of the cable management tool (72), the cable management tool can enter a "Scan" mode 40, a "Scan and Verify" mode 50, or a "Search" mode 60.

[0060] As previously described, the cable management tool implements the "Search" mode 60 by identifying a first cable end from scanning 120 a unique identifier at a first location. By scanning the unique identifier, the cable management tool searches for and establishes as the first cable end a corresponding cable identification code with the goal of locating a corresponding second cable end using the "Search" mode 60.

[0061] The user then moves to a second location and begins scanning the unique identifiers from the cable ends found at the second location to find a matching second cable end. Thus, at this second location, the unique identifiers of the target cable end are scanned, and the cable management tool identifies the cable identification code of the target cable end (122). The cable identification codes of the first cable end and the target cable end are then compared to determine whether they match (124). If there is a match, the same cable identification code can be identified with the respective location codes (e.g., 10000090A and 10000090B).

[0062] If the cable management tool determines that there is a match, a PASS status is reported (126), e.g., via a display on the mobile computing device and / or via a first audible tone emitted by the mobile computing device 20. If the cable management tool determines that there is no match, a FAIL status is reported (128), e.g., via a display on the mobile computing device and / or via a second audible tone different from the first audible tone emitted by the mobile computing device.

[0063] If the cable management tool reports a FAIL status, it will scan the unique identifier of another target cable end at a second location and continue searching for the other end back to the first cable end (122). This looping process may continue until a match is found indicating a PASS status (126) or until the user exits the "search" mode.

[0064] 17 illustrates an exemplary structured cabling system 1000 in which a first cabinet (e.g., Cabinet A) is located remotely from a second cabinet (e.g., Cabinet B) and connected using bulk cable. Cable 150 is used to connect a connector panel (e.g., a modular patch panel or a fiber enclosure tray) mounted in Cabinet A to a connector panel mounted in Cabinet A in a one-to-one manner. In this structured cabling system 1000, Cabinet A and Cabinet B are directly connected one-to-one using one or more cable runs of cable 150 installed between the connector panels installed in each Cabinet A and Cabinet B. According to structured cabling system 1000, cable 150 can represent one or more separate runs of the same type of cable.

[0065] In the one-to-one cabling method shown in structured cabling system 1000, port 1 of the patch panel or fiber enclosure in Cabinet A is cabled to port 1 of the corresponding patch panel or fiber enclosure in Cabinet B. Therefore, during the installation process, the installer must keep track of the cables 150 to ensure that the appropriate cable is routed to the correct port. In past implementations, the installer might have attached temporary labels to the cables 150 to aid in identification during the cable pulling process. However, in situations where the cables 150 are not labeled with pulling labels or the pulling labels become detached during the installation process, the installer must spend additional time troubleshooting and identifying the cables 150 and installing them in their proper corresponding locations.

[0066] System installers not only pull the cable and terminate the connectors at the ends of the cable, but may also provide documentation for the pulled cable to the customer. Because structured cabling is used to connect two endpoints in different locations, documentation for structured cabling focuses on information describing the arrival and departure locations, specifically which port the first cable end is from (one end or near end of the cable) and which port the second cable end is to on the same cable (the other end or far end of the same cable).

[0067] 18 , to aid in the management of the cables 150 used in the structured cabling system 1000, the cables 150 themselves are bulk cables with pre-printed unique identifiers 151 placed at predetermined intervals directly on the cable jackets as they are manufactured and wound onto cable spools prior to installation. The unique identifiers 151 may be multi-part bar codes that include a unique number that identifies each individual spool of cable and may also include distance markers indicating the distance of the cable unwound from the spool, as well as other descriptive information. While the unique identifiers 151 are described herein as being bar codes for illustrative purposes, other types of unique identifiers may be used (e.g., machine-readable codes such as QR codes, or unique alphanumeric codes for image recognition).

[0068] FIG. 18 shows a partial view of a cable 150 including two instances of a unique identifier 151 spaced apart by a predetermined spacing distance. While the unique identifier 13 shown in FIG. 2 is printed on a label 12, the unique identifier 151 shown in FIG. 18 is pre-printed directly on the cable 150. The unique identifiers 151 are printed at positions spaced apart by a predetermined spacing length (e.g., 12 inches or less, 18 inches or less, 24 inches or less, or another predetermined spacing distance). The unique identifiers 151 are scanned by a cable management tool, which then identifies the cable identification code for the cable on which the unique identifier 151 was scanned. Using the cable identification code, the cable management tool can obtain further cable manufacturing data, such as, but not limited to, cable manufacturing information (e.g., cable length, part number, cable type, etc.), quality control data, country of origin, manufacturing date, material lot number, cable category, plenum or LSZH material identification, test result data such as insertion loss, crosstalk, DC resistance, or other known information about the cable (collectively referred to hereinafter as cable information). In some embodiments, the cable information may be stored on the mobile computing device 20 as part of the cable management tool, while according to other embodiments, the cable management tool communicates with a remote server via an API to access and download the cable information.

[0069] Additionally or alternatively, according to some embodiments, cable 150 may further include one or more labels containing a unique identifier 151 or other information (e.g., cable information). The labels may be attached near one or both of the cable ends, similar to label 12 described in Figure 2. The label may be attached at a predetermined distance from the end of the cable to which it is closest or farthest attached.

[0070] Cable 150 may be used in cable management system 200, and unique identifier 151 may be scanned by barcode scanner 30 to obtain corresponding information from unique identifier 151. Barcode scanner 30 may then similarly transmit the scanned information to mobile computing device 20 to execute a cable management tool, which may obtain cable identification codes and / or other cable information using the scanned information. For example, a process for identifying cable routes during a bulk cable installation process in structured cabling system 1000 may be performed, at least in part, by the cable management tool according to the process set forth in flowchart 1900 shown in FIG.

[0071] According to the first step of flowchart 1900, an inventory of the number of cable runs required for an installation is described by determining the number of cable runs used in the current installation (1901). This step may also include assigning unique identification codes to the cable runs and entering the unique identification codes into a cable management tool. The installer can then physically pull out the number of cable runs required (1902).

[0072] Because each cable run may be from its own individual cable spool, an inventory of spools being used to pull the cable is then taken into account by identifying the cable spool from which the cable run originates (1903). This step may also include inputting the identification of the cable spool into the cable management tool (1904).

[0073] The cable management tool is then updated to create a lookup table containing a data insertion row for each cable run identified in this current installation, associating each cable run with a unique identification code and cable information, such as its originating spool information (1905).

[0074] The installer then travels to a first location and inserts a first cable end into a first port at the first location (1906). After this insertion step, the installer enters the name of the port where the cable end is installed into the cable management tool and scans the cable's unique identifier 151 using the barcode scanner 30. The scanned information is received by the cable management tool running on the mobile device 20, which populates a table with the cable information and assigns it to the appropriate port where the first cable end is installed in the table (1907). For example, the installer may manually enter the patch panel and port information where the cable end is installed into the cable management application tool (i.e., Name=RoomA-panelA, Port=01) and then scan the unique identifier 151 near the terminated cable, and the corresponding cable identification code and / or cable information is populated into the cable management application tool (e.g., a table) as associated with the manually entered patch panel and port location.

[0075] The cable management tool then determines (1908) whether there are additional cable ends to insert into the remaining ports in the first location. If the cable management tool determines that there are additional cable ends to insert into the remaining ports, the additional cable ends are inserted (1909) into the remaining ports, and the unique identifiers are also scanned (1907) as the cable ends are attached to their respective ports. In this manner, the cable management tool receives the correct identification information to assign the appropriate cables to the port locations installed in the first location. This looping process continues until there are no more cables to install in the first location.

[0076] If there are no cable ends remaining to install into the ports at the first location, the installer travels to the second location and inserts the opposite cable end into the corresponding port at the second location (2000).

[0077] Now, at the second location, the installer uses barcode scanner 30 to scan cable unique identifier 151 at the second cable end (2001). The cable management tool reads cable unique identifier 151 and identifies the corresponding identification code to obtain the installation location of the corresponding cable from when it was previously identified and installed at the port location at the first location. From this identification information, the cable management tool displays the port location at which the corresponding first cable end was installed at the first location. Then, using this information, the installer determines the intended port installation location for the second cable end at the second location based on where the first cable end was installed at the patch panel at the first location (e.g., mirroring the installation location).

[0078] Additionally or alternatively, the cable management tool may have pre-stored information identifying the intended port installation location of the cable at the second location (e.g., not a mirrored installation location). Then, after identifying the cable based on the scanned unique identifier 151, the cable management tool displays the intended port installation location of the second cable end based on the pre-stored information.

[0079] Once installed, the scan information received by the cable management tool running on the mobile device 20 populates the table with the cable information and assigns the second cable end to the appropriate port where it is attached in the second location, so that the cable management tool has a record of where both the first and second cable ends of the same cable are attached for future reference.

[0080] The cable management tool determines (2002) whether there are additional cable ends to install in the remaining ports at the second location. If the cable management tool determines that there are cable ends remaining to install in the ports at the second location, the remaining cable ends are inserted into the remaining ports (2003) until no more cables are installed, while scanning (2001) each unique identifier 151 as the remaining cable ends are installed. Scanning the unique identifiers ensures that the cable management tool has a record of the locations where both the first and second cable ends of the same cable were installed for future reference. Because the second location may be where a cable spool is located, the cable can be cut from the spool after being scanned at the second location.

[0081] Once all cable ends have been installed in their locations and addressed with the cable management tool, the cable management tool can be run to perform an analysis to verify that the installation was performed correctly (2004). The resulting cable location data (e.g., a table) can be stored locally on the mobile device 20 or transmitted to an off-site storage device (e.g., cloud storage or a server computer).

[0082] According to some embodiments, a custom label may be created by an installer using, for example, a cable management tool (2005). After creating the custom label, the custom label is sent to an on-site portable cable printer for printing (2006). The custom label may then be applied to a desired cable (2007). The custom label may include information not included in the unique identifier 151. For example, the custom label may include one or more portions of cable manufacturing data downloaded based on the identification of the cable from the scanned unique identifier 151. The desired cable for receiving the custom label may be located using the information collected by the cable management application tool.

[0083] According to some embodiments, cables 150 including unique identifiers 151 pre-printed at predetermined intervals on their outer layer may also be used by a cable management tool during the implementation of the "scan," "scan and verify," and / or "search" modes described herein. In other words, the unique identifiers 151 found on cables 150 included in structured cabling system 1000 may be scanned by barcode scanner 30, and the scanned information may be used to implement the "scan," "scan and verify," and / or "search" modes described herein.

[0084] The process described in flowchart 1900 is a more efficient and effective installation process that eliminates the installer from having to perform the first step of a traditional installation, which was previously to create and draw labels and apply them to bulk cables.

[0085] Thus, the installation process in which an installer pulls cables from one location to another can significantly impact the time spent identifying the cables and creating associated documentation. According to some embodiments, the management application tool may include digital imaging capabilities to capture images of the location where cable management is taking place (e.g., a server room) and may include the images along with generated reports in a data file corresponding to the location.

[0086] According to some embodiments, the management application tool can store data files based on room name to better manage data files as the cable management plan grows. A database stored locally on the mobile computing device 20 or remotely in cloud storage can also be utilized to store data files and reports generated by the management application tool.

[0087] According to some embodiments, during any one or more of the processes described herein, the cable management tool may implement a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes increment (e.g., "+") and / or decrement (e.g., "-") button(s) for easily transitioning to the next or previous port and / or panel.

[0088] The present disclosure thus describes cable management devices, systems, methods, and application programs, including non-transitory computer-readable storage media, that solve the problems associated with the aforementioned known cable management approaches. The disclosed cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media provide and / or utilize unique cable identifiers, in combination with intelligent software, that enable documentation of patch field cables without the hassle of manually tracing cables and documenting their locations. When a patch field is scanned, the disclosed cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media can then use the stored information to verify or locate existing connections.

[0089] As is readily apparent from the foregoing, various non-limiting embodiments of cable management devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media have been described. While various embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, they are merely examples and are not intended to illustrate and describe all that these embodiments may be. Instead, the words used herein are words of description rather than of limitation, and it is understood that various modifications to these embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A machine-readable memory storage device configured to communicate with a processor and comprising processor-executable instructions, The processor-executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receiving, via an input to a user interface, first location information for a first cable; receiving, via a detection device, a first identifier of the first cable; Associating the first identifier with the first installation location information; displaying the first identifier in a first location field included in the user interface for association with the first location information; incrementing a second installation location field in the user interface to receive second installation location information where a first end of a second cable is installed; The machine-readable memory storage device is configured to cause

2. 10. The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 1, wherein the first identifier is located at a predetermined location measured from an end of the first cable.

3. Processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receiving, via an input to the user interface, first opposite end location information of the first cable; receiving, from the detection device, the first identifier of the first cable obtained from another instance of the first identifier printed on the first cable; Associating the first identifier with the first opposite end location information; Displaying the first identifier in a first opposite end location field included in the user interface for association with the first opposite end location information; incrementing a second opposite end location field at the user interface corresponding to second end location information of the second cable; the processor-executable instructions configured to cause The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 1 further comprising:

4. 10. The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 1, wherein the first identifier corresponds to at least one of cable attribute information, cable spool information, cable length information, or cable manufacturing data for the first cable.

5. Processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: communicating with a mobile computing device via an interface; receiving information corresponding to the first cable from the mobile computing device via the interface; the processor-executable instructions configured to cause The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 1 further comprising:

6. 10. The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 1, wherein the detection device is a barcode scanner.

7. The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 1 , wherein the first identifier is a machine-readable identifier.

8. The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 7 , wherein the first identifier is a barcode or a QR code.

9. The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 1 , wherein the first identifier is identifiable using image recognition by the detection device.

10. 10. The machine-readable memory storage device of claim 9, wherein the first identifier is an alphanumeric code.

11. 1. A mobile computing device, comprising: a processor; a machine-readable memory storage device configured to communicate with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receiving, via an input to a user interface, first location information for a first cable; receiving, via a detection device, a first identifier of the first cable; Associating the first identifier with the first installation location information; displaying the first identifier in a first location field included in the user interface for association with the first location information; incrementing a second installation location field in the user interface to receive second installation location information where a first end of a second cable is installed; the machine-readable memory storage device configured to cause The mobile computing device.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first identifier is located at a predetermined location measured from an end of the first cable.

13. The machine-readable memory storage device further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receiving, via an input to the user interface, first opposite end location information of the first cable; receiving, from the detection device, the first identifier of the first cable obtained from another instance of the first identifier printed on the first cable; Associating the first identifier with the first opposite end location information; Displaying the first identifier in a first opposite end location field included in the user interface for association with the first opposite end location information; incrementing a second opposite end location field at the user interface corresponding to a second end location of the second cable; The mobile computing device of claim 11 configured to:

14. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first identifier is used to identify at least one of cable attribute information, cable spool information, cable length information, or cable manufacturing data.

15. The machine-readable memory storage device further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: communicating with a remote computing device via an interface; receiving information corresponding to the first cable from the remote computing device via the interface; The mobile computing device of claim 11 configured to:

16. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the detection device is a barcode scanner.

17. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first identifier is a machine-readable identifier.

18. 20. The mobile computing device of claim 17, wherein the first identifier is a barcode or a QR code.

19. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein the first identifier is identifiable using image recognition by the detection device.

20. 20. The mobile computing device of claim 19, wherein the first identifier is an alphanumeric code.

Images