SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH OBJECTS ON A NETWORK

US 20090022057A1
Filed: 09/26/2008
Published: 01/22/2009
Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A system for conveying information on a network having objects that connect to the network by cables having a plurality of conductors therein said system comprising:

a separate cable that connects between each object and a central module, each cable having a plurality of conductors therein, the central module utilized to alter a flow of current within at least two conductors in each cable so as to convey information about an object to the central module while the object is physically connected to the network via the cable.

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Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a communication system (17) is provided for generating and monitoring data over pre-existing conductors (2A-2D) between associated pieces of networked computer equipment (3A-3D). The system includes a communication device (16) attached to the electronic equipment that transmits information to a central module (15) by impressing a low frequency signal on the pre-existing data lines of the remotely located equipment. A receiver (6) in the central module (15) monitors the low frequency data on the data lines to determine the transmitted information of the electronic equipment. The communication device may also be powered by a low current power signal from the central module (15). The power signal to the communication device may also be fluctuated to provide useful information, such as status information, to the communication device. Relocation of the electronic equipment with attached communication device to another location on the network is detected immediately and may be used to update a database. This invention is particularly adapted to be used with an existing Ethernet communications link or equivalents thereof.

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74 Claims

1. A system for conveying information on a network having objects that connect to the network by cables having a plurality of conductors therein said system comprising:
- a separate cable that connects between each object and a central module, each cable having a plurality of conductors therein, the central module utilized to alter a flow of current within at least two conductors in each cable so as to convey information about an object to the central module while the object is physically connected to the network via the cable.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
- - 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the altered current flow includes one or more changes having duration greater than 833 microseconds.
  - 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the altered current flow includes two or more changes in the current flow.
  - 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the current flow is a DC current flow and the altered current flow includes at least one change in the magnitude of the DC current flow.
  - 5. The system in claim 1 wherein the current flows through a center-tap of at least one isolation transformer.
  - 6. The system of claim 1 wherein one or more pass-through devices are located between the central module and one or more objects.
  - 7. The system of claim 1 wherein a pass-through device is installed into the object.
  - 8. The system of claim 1 wherein a pass-through device is integrated into the object.
  - 9. The system in claim 1 wherein the information identifies that the object can receive one or more signals from the central module.
  - 10. The system of claim 9 wherein at least one signal is a DC current signal.
  - 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the central module counts the number of objects physically connected to the network.
  - 12. The system in claim 1 wherein the flow of current indicates the physical connection of the object to the network.
  - 13. The system in claim 12 wherein the flow of current is a DC current flow.
  - 14. The system of claim 1 wherein the information is utilized in firmware.
  - 15. The system of claim 1 wherein the object is an asset.
  - 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the port location of the asset is tracked.
  - 17. The system in claim 1 wherein the information is communicated independent of normal network communications.
  - 18. The system of claim 1 wherein the conductors within which the current flow is altered form a current loop through the object.
  - 19. The system of claim 1 wherein the central module includes a transmitter.
  - 20. The system of claim 1 wherein the altered current flow results from at least one change in voltage across the conductors.
  - 21. The system of claim 1 wherein the altered current flow results from at least one change in impedance across the conductors.
  - 22. The system of claim 1 wherein the number of conductors within which the current flow is altered is four.
  - 23. The system of claim 1 wherein the information identifies one or more attributes of the object.
  - 24. The system of claim 23 wherein at least one attribute is an electronic attribute.
  - 25. The system of claim 1 wherein the central module interrogates the object connected to the network.
  - 26. The system of claim 25 wherein the central module provides one or more electrical signals to the object based upon the interrogation.
  - 27. The system of claim 1 wherein the information is utilized to distinguish between objects.
  - 28. The system of claim 1 wherein the information identifies the existence of the object.
  - 29. The system of claim 1 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 30. The system according to claims 1 through 27 or 28 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 31. The system according to claims 1 through 27 or 28 wherein the cable employs 10BaseT wiring.
  - 32. The system according to claims 1 through 27 or 28 wherein the network includes and Ethernet network and the cables are twisted pair Ethernet cables.
  - 33. The system according to claims 1 through 27 or 28 wherein the object is a piece of Ethernet equipment and the normal network communications is a BASE-T Ethernet.
  - 34. The system of claims 32 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 35. The system of claims 33 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 36. The system of claim 1 wherein the object includes a network connector.
  - 37. The system of claim 36 wherein the network connector is an RJ 45 connector.
  - 43. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more pass-through devices are located between the central module and one or more objects.
  - 44. The method of claim 1 wherein a pass-through device is installed into the object.
  - 45. The method of claim 1 wherein a pass-through device is integrated into the object.
  - 46. The method in claim 1 wherein the information identifies that the object can receive one or more signals from the central module.
  - 47. The method of claim 46 wherein at least one signal is a DC current signal.
  - 48. The method of claim 1 wherein the central module counts the number of objects physically connected to the network.
  - 49. The method in claim 1 wherein the flow of current indicates the physical connection of the object to the network.
  - 50. The method in claim 12 wherein the flow of current is a DC current flow.
  - 51. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is utilized in firmware.
  - 52. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is an asset.
  - 53. The method of claim 52 wherein the port location of the asset is tracked.
  - 54. The method in claim 1 wherein the information is communicated independent of normal network communications.
  - 55. The method of claim 1 wherein the conductors within which the current flow is altered form a current loop through the object.
  - 56. The method of claim 1 wherein the central module includes a transmitter.
  - 57. The method of claim 1 wherein the altered current flow results from at least one change in voltage across the conductors.
  - 58. The method of claim 1 wherein the altered current flow results from at least one change in impedance across the conductors.
  - 59. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of conductors within which the current flow is altered is four.
  - 60. The method of claim 1 wherein the information identifies one or more attributes of the object.
  - 61. The method of claim 60 wherein at least one attribute is an electronic attribute.
  - 62. The method of claim 1 wherein the central module interrogates the object connected to the network.
  - 63. The method of claim 62 wherein the central module provides one or more electrical signals to the object based upon the interrogation.
  - 64. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is utilized to distinguish between objects.
  - 65. The method of claim 1 wherein the information identifies the existence of the object.
  - 66. The method of claim 1 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 67. The method according to claims 1 through 64 or 65 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 68. The method according to claims 1 through 64 or 65 wherein the cable employs 10BaseT wiring.
  - 69. The method according to claims 1 through 64 or 65 wherein the network includes and Ethernet network and the cables are twisted pair Ethernet cables.
  - 70. The method according to claims 1 through 64 or 65 wherein the object is a piece of Ethernet equipment and the normal network communications is a BASE-T Ethernet.
  - 71. The method of claims 69 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 72. The method of claims 70 wherein the information can be conveyed even if the object is powered off.
  - 73. The method of claim 1 wherein the object includes a network connector.
  - 74. The method of claim 73 wherein the network connector is an RJ 45 connector.

38. A method for conveying information on a network having objects that connect to the network by cables having a plurality of conductors therein, said method comprising:
- connecting a separate cable between each object and a central module, each cable having a plurality of conductors therein,selecting a number of conductors within each cable,applying at least one power source to the selected conductors, andutilizing the central module to alter a flow of current within the selected conductors of each cable so as to convey information about an object to the central module while the object is physically connected to the network via the cable.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
- - 39. The method of claim 38 wherein the altered current flow includes one or more changes having duration greater than 833 microseconds.
  - 40. The method of claim 38 wherein the altered current flow includes two or more changes in the current flow.
  - 41. The method of claim 38 wherein the current flow is a DC current flow and the altered current flow includes at least one change in the magnitude of the DC current flow.
  - 42. The method in claim 38 wherein the current flows through a center-tap of at least one isolation transformer.

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Current Assignee
ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
Original Assignee
John F. Austermann III, Marshall B. Cummings
Inventors
Austermann, John F. III, Cummings, Marshall B.

Granted Patent

US 8,155,012 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

370/241
CPC Class Codes

H01R 2107/00   Four or more poles

H01R 24/64   for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45

H04B 2203/5445   Local network

H04B 2203/5458   Monitor sensor; Alarm systems

H04B 2203/5466   using three phases conductors

H04B 2203/547   via DC power distribution

H04B 2203/5491   using filtering and bypassing

H04B 2203/5495   having measurements and tes...

H04B 3/54   Systems for transmission vi...

H04L 1/24   Testing correct operation

H04L 25/0278   Arrangements for impedance ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH OBJECTS ON A NETWORK

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

99 Citations

74 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH OBJECTS ON A NETWORK

First Claim

1 Assignment

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

99 Citations

74 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links