Patch Panel Port Occupancy Auditing for Connection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual auditing of patch panel connections in data centers is time-consuming and prone to errors, necessitating an automatic system for tracking connections.
Innovation Solution
An automatic auditing system using sensors to monitor port occupancy patterns, a controller to compare with predefined patterns, and a display to alert mismatches, with LEDs for visual guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual auditing of patch panel connections is performed, then connections can be visually identified, but the process is time-consuming and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual visual inspection process with an automated optical sensing system. Sensors capture images of port occupancy patterns, and a controller automatically compares these patterns against predefined designs, eliminating the need for manual mechanical inspection while improving both speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy (image) of the physical port occupancy pattern using sensors, then compares this copy against a predefined design pattern stored in memory. This allows automated verification without physical manual inspection, resolving the contradiction between manual accuracy and time efficiency.
2Productivity
If automated sensing system is implemented, then auditing speed increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions: it captures sensor data, processes images, compares patterns against predefined designs, identifies mismatches, and generates alerts. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the system achieves high productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is self-sufficient in performing the complete auditing process automatically. The sensors self-capture the port occupancy pattern, the controller self-compares it against the design, and automatically generates alerts for mismatches without requiring external manual intervention, thereby achieving high productivity with manageable complexity.
3Reliability
If real-time monitoring is implemented, then connection accuracy is ensured, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs periodic auditing of port occupancy patterns rather than continuous monitoring. The sensors and controller activate at scheduled intervals to capture and compare patterns, ensuring connection accuracy is maintained while reducing energy consumption compared to constant real-time monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic auditing system of cabling topologies using port occupancy patterns is provided. The system includes at least one sensor to sense occupancy of each port in a panel, a memory and a controller. The memory is used to store operating instruction and pre-defined port occupancy patterns associated with the ports in the panel. The controller is in communication with the memory and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to compare a sensed port occupancy pattern of the ports based on sensor data from the at least one sensor and an associated pre-defined port occupancy pattern from the pre-defined port occupancy patterns stored in the memory. The controller is configured to generate a mismatch message when the sensed port occupancy pattern does not match the associated pre-defined port occupancy pattern.