Rack Equipment Location Capture via Visual Overlay Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional physical layer management technologies struggle to automatically determine the location of patch panels and inter-connection devices within a network, requiring manual input that is inconvenient, error-prone, and may not capture additional useful information.
Innovation Solution
A portable device equipped with a camera and screen is used to capture images of racks, overlay markings defining equipment positions, and receive location information, which is then communicated to a management application for storage and model population, enabling accurate and convenient tracking of rack configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual mechanisms are used to provide rack location information to the management application, then the system can capture location data, but the process becomes inconvenient, error-prone, and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device automatically captures images of racks and extracts location information without requiring manual input. The system uses the camera to photograph the rack and its identifiers, then automatically processes the image to obtain location data, making the system self-serve rather than requiring manual operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes (typing, copying, pasting location data) with automated optical and computational processes. The camera captures images, and computational algorithms automatically extract location information from the images, substituting manual mechanical operations with automated electronic processes
2Quantity of substance
If conventional manual methods are used for rack information capture, then simple processes can be maintained, but additional useful information cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device serves multiple functions: it captures images of racks, extracts location information, identifies equipment positions, and communicates with the management application. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to gather various types of information (visual, location, configuration) that would otherwise require multiple separate processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a visual dimension to information capture by using camera images. Instead of relying solely on textual or numerical data entry, the system captures visual images of racks and equipment, then extracts information from these images. This dimensional shift from 1D (textual input) to 2D (visual images) enables capture of additional useful information
3Extent of automation
If automatic discovery of controllers is implemented, then device connection is simplified, but determination of rack installation location remains manual
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing images of racks and extracting location information before the actual configuration process. The portable device is used to photograph racks and their identifiers in advance, and the location data is extracted and stored beforehand, so that when the management application needs the information, it is already ready and eliminates time-consuming manual entry
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is directed to a method comprising obtaining, using a portable device, identifier information about one or more identifiers associated with one or more of a rack and equipment installed in the rack and displaying on the portable device a picture of the rack captured and displaying on the portable device an overlay that includes markings that define a perimeter of the rack and a plurality of equipment positions within the rack. The method further comprises receiving, by the portable device, an alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack and the equipment positions and receiving location information for the rack. The method further comprises storing the picture of the rack, the alignment of the overlay on the picture of the rack, the identifier location, and the location information by a management application. Other embodiments are disclosed.