Patent Application
20170180835
None.
The present invention relates to the art of organizing network cabling termination within office buildings, warehouse, i.e., businesses with a need for multiple data circuit outlets. The invention is a storage panel that houses individual pieces of network equipment in one compartment, minimizing space and maximizing utility of the telecommunications cabling rack or cabinet, thereby allowing an increased number of cables to be connected onto the network.
The current art of operating the a network setup (local area network, wide area network, cloud network, or wireless network) requires multiple patch cords, panels, horizontal and vertical wire mangers to maintain network switches and patch panels. A network switch is a computer networking device that connects devices together on a computer network by processing and forwarding data from multiple devices. A patch panel is a unit having a number of jacks that allows the connection of routing circuits needed for monitoring, interconnecting, and testing of circuits in a network setup. When the patch panel is connected to a network switch, the patch panel is able to transmit the data from the network switch and allows users with computers to access the network. Localized networks are commonly used in office buildings, warehouses, places of education, hospitals, etc. Unlike a purely wireless network, the local area network (LAN) or the wide area network (WAN) are restricted in terms of size and coverage by the size and location of the network setup. Network equipment such as the network switches, multiport media converters, routers, panels, and other cables are separate pieces of instruments connected by cables or through wireless routers. The capacity of the area network grows with the size of the business, and with an increase in coverage, more wires and cables need to be installed onto the circuit board. In order to maximize space and facilitate technical support, this separate equipment is generally stored together in a server room on the premise of the business providing the network. It is common practice for the server room to house the network equipment as well as operate as the information technology office where technicians operate.
As the coverage of the service provided increases, the number of cables and hardware needed increase proportionally. Under the current art, the need for multiple network switches and different wire managers results in the difficult management of cables and wires in the separate patch panels. Also, as more cables and equipment are stored in the server room, it becomes increasingly more cumbersome for technicians to perform maintenance and troubleshooting on the equipment. Aside from the visible abhorrence the current art provokes, the loose cables and equipment presents a serious safety hazard.
The present invention comprises a novel media converter or termination circuit board that helps network providers better maintain their network equipments. The present invention is a novel patch panel that houses and consolidates all the loose equipment such as the network switch and various patch panels of a network setup into one piece of equipment that can be affixed to a shelf or cabinet. By introducing a new method to maintain the network, the invention allows for significantly more cables to be installed into a smaller area than the current art. The invention optimizes resources by minimizing dramatically the number of components required, thereby providing a new way to maximize space in a telecommunications cabling rack or cabinet.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which is a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The following is a listing of the reference numbers included in the original drawings.
The reference numbers correspond to elements of the invention as follows:
The present invention is a multiport media converter 1 that accommodates at least 24 termination ports 2 that allows up to at least 24 end users 7 to access a network using a single output port 3. Alternatively, the media converter 1 may be modified to accommodate 48, 96, 144, or 192 termination ports 2 on the media converter 1 to allow more end users 7 to access the network. Data cables 4 compatible to connect to the termination ports 2 of the media converter 1 comprise twisted pair copper cables. Furthermore, the data cables 4 are selected from the group consisting of CAT5E cables, CAT6A, and CAT6 cables. The termination ports 2 are placed on one side of the media converter 1, while the output port 3 and the test port 6 are positioned on the opposite end. This design comprises the external presentation of the media converter 1.
The testing port 6 is a tool the network provider can use to check for open ports on the connection. It also functions as a way to determine whether the network is set up correctly or if the server is being blocked by a firewall. The output port 3 is used in the normal operations of the network service and is the port that provides network access. The media converter 1 is capable of converting signal from a number of data cables to a single data cable 5. This allows the media converter 1 to provide network access through the termination ports 2. Depending on the type of network the business provides, the output port 3 of the media port 1 will be connected to a single data cable 5 that is attached to a network switch 8 selected from the group consisting of LAN, WAN, cloud, or wireless network. This setup of a single cable 5 attached to a network switch 8 that directly connects to the output port 3 combines the two panel process of the prior art, thereby eliminating any need for a standard horizontal wire management system and minimizing the need for vertical wire management system.
Referring to
With reference to
The media converter 1 within the shelf 10, collectively referred to as the data cable management system, is attached by a 2 piece connector that connects the data cables 4 compatible to connect to the termination ports 2 to a CPU circuit board. This 2 piece connector may be attached and removed from the CPU circuit board for the testing of individual ports. To optimize space for the data cables 4 to reach the termination ports 2, the 2 piece connector has a outer base piece measuring ⅜ inch diameter and a ¼ inch inner piece. The data cables 4 are coated by a hard plastic strain relief collar to protect the cables from strain when the 2 piece connector is removed or inserted.
To test the data cable management system, the media converter 1 requires at least one test port 6 capable of connecting to one or more data cables 4 at one end, and a second end capable of connecting the data cables 4 to each of the end users 7. A multi-media testing device is needed to determine whether the network is functioning properly. A multi-media device is an instrument with connector cabling that tests for voice, data, and video application supports. It is commonly a handheld device with a LCD display. To test the network, the remote end of the multi-media device connects to the test port 6 of the media converter 1 and the smart end of the multi-media testing device connects to the second end of one of the data cables 4. Repeat the step of connecting the smart end of the multi-media testing device to the second end of each of the data cables 4 connected to the termination ports 2 can determine whether the network is working properly for each end user 7.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
