WO1998032249A2

WO1998032249A2 - Component-recognition and management system for optical networks

Info

Publication number: WO1998032249A2
Application number: PCT/EP1998/000249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edmond Grässer
Original assignee: Cla-Son Leasing Und Holding Gmbh
Priority date: 1997-01-18
Filing date: 1998-01-17
Publication date: 1998-07-23
Also published as: DE19701603A1; WO1998032249A3; DE19880053D2

Abstract

The invention relates to a component-recognition and management system for optical networks for establishing a network configuration with the following characteristics: a) readers (39, 41, 79, 79') are arranged in the area of every coupling sleeve (23, 24, 35, 35') of a distribution element (38, 38', 38', 61, 67, 68) such as patchbox or patchpanel, and by means of which, once a plug-in connection has been established, a data carrier (26, 32) positioned at a plug (20, 55) plugged into the corresponding coupling sleeve can be read out; b) to each distribution element (38, 38', 38', 61, 67, 68) is assigned an analyzing unit (21, 22) which is coupled via a data bus to the readers (39, 41, 79, 79') at the coupling sleeves of the distribution element, and which, via the readers (39, 41, 79, 79'), can read-out the data carriers (26, 31, 32) of plugs plugged into the corresponding coupling sleeves and assign them to the coupling; c) an analyzing unit (21, 22) consists of a master electronic unit (49, 49', 49', 50, 50', 50') and at least one slave electronic unit (51, 52, 53, 54, 51', 51', 52', 53', 54'), each slave electronic unit being assigned to a group of distribution elements, for example all distribution elements arranged in a distribution box, and one or more slave electronic units being managed by the corresponding master electronic unit (49, 49', 49', 50, 50', 50') so that the local network status can be established and checked from a master electronic unit.

Description

Component detection and management system for optical networks

Technical field:

The invention relates to a component recognition and management system for optical networks according to the preamble of claim 1 and an optical network managed thereby. The invention further relates to a method for recognizing and managing the components of an optical network.

State of the art:

When setting up an optical communication network, a large number of electronic devices for data transfer are coupled to one another via optical conductor cables, which contain glass fibers as line wires. For example, the outputs of a central computer system CPU are connected to a distribution cabinet or multiple distribution cabinets, to which peripheral devices such as printers, terminals or local computers or other distribution cabinets are connected via conductor cables. The individual components of the network set up in this way can be located in the same room or in the same building or can be up to a few kilometers apart. If several peripheral devices are far from the central computer, the associated conductor cables are usually first routed to a local distribution cabinet and from there to the respective peripheral devices.

For data transfer, the computer system and the peripheral devices have interfaces with external coupling points for conductor cables, into which the plug of a conductor cable can be inserted. The distribution cabinets have a large number of coupling sockets arranged within distribution elements, such as patch panels or patch boxes, which are designed on the front for receiving an optical connector, for example an FDDI connector. On the side of the distributor element facing away from the coupling socket, optical line cables are generally firmly connected to the distributor element, with all such line cables of a distributor element generally being combined to form a bundle of cables, trunk cables, and as such being led to a further distribution cabinet or to the CPU become. When fitting an optical conductor cable with a plug into a coupling socket of a distributor element, an optical connection of the line wires of the inserted conductor cable with the line wires of the rear outgoing cable manufactured. However, the distribution elements or cabinets themselves are generally passive.

A distribution cabinet can detachably accommodate a plurality of distribution elements at fixed locations. Each distribution element typically contains 8 or 16 coupling sockets for optical connectors. However, a distribution cabinet is also understood to mean a logical unit of several distribution elements, it also being possible for a plurality of these distribution cabinet groups to be located in a common mechanical cabinet.

The conductor cables are divided into trunk and jumper cables according to their structure. Jumper cables usually contain one or more conductor wires, as many as are required to control a device, and connect peripheral devices to the central computer system, to a distribution cabinet or other peripheral devices. Trunk cables are a functional fusion of several jumper cables, contain a plurality of conductor cores or strands of conductor cores and connect two distribution cabinets or two patch boxes of a distribution cabinet. At the patch box, the individual conductor wires are distributed to the couplings, to which jumper cables can then be connected on the other side.

Since a plurality of peripheral devices and distribution cabinets are connected to one another in a complex network with a large number of conductor cables, existing, modified or newly installed line connections between the components must always be logged in order to ensure the optimal functioning of the network while fully utilizing its performance and its To maintain clarity. It must always be ascertainable via which lines, distribution cabinets and couplings a peripheral device is connected to the computer system in order to be able to quickly access the components in question in the event of errors.

The manual logging of all established connections is prone to errors because the cables can be mixed up and later no longer recognized. Especially for systems with a large number of distribution cabinets, each of which has several hundred in patch boxes has arranged couplings, manual monitoring of all

Connections almost impossible. Manual monitoring of incoming

Connections between distribution cabinets is made difficult by the sometimes large spatial distance between the individual distribution cabinets.

DE 195 09 619 AI discloses a device for managing distribution cabinets which are network-connected to one another via a plurality of cable connections, in which a jumper cable carries a mechanical switch on a plug which, when a plug connection is made, is connected to a coupling of a distribution cabinet or a patch box Closing a circuit interacts. A signal is then transmitted from the coupling to an electronic module and possibly to a central control computer. The signal from the respective coupling is assigned by the control computer and included in the creation of an assignment plan for the couplings / distribution cabinets. With this system, trunk cable connections between two distribution cabinets can also be logged and included in the creation of a trunk cable connection plan by assigning a transmitter-receiver unit to a trunk cabinet for each trunk cable, which sends a signal via free trunk wires of the trunk cable , which is received by a second transmitter-receiver unit of a coupling when the plug connection is established. This then sends a confirmation signal, which is received by the first transceiver unit, whereby all trunk cable connections can be queried. However, this system has the costly disadvantage that for each trunk cable connection to be logged, two transmitter-receiver units, i.e. at least one per patch box must be available. Furthermore, trunk wires of the trunk cable must always be kept free to conduct the signal and are therefore not available for data transfer.

From US 5394503A a distribution plate and a cable management system is also known in which one or more electrical lines are used in a conductor cable in addition to the glass fibers for data transfer, which serve to control the connection. These electrical lines can be read on the distributor plate, which means that the connection established can be monitored at any time, for example by It is possible to send a signal identifier via the control circuit formed by the electrical lines.

A disadvantage of this prior art is that no commercially available fiber optic cables can be used, but that an electrical line has to be carried out at great expense. The preparation of such a line is very cost-intensive, which means that it is unlikely to be acceptable to the customer, especially when the network components are at great distances.

Furthermore, the control of the connection presupposes the existence of a control circuit with a corresponding signal feed, so that the control is not carried out immediately when a connection is established, e.g. a connector with a coupling of a distribution cabinet. Free line connections that are not terminated with a peripheral device or suggestions for the shortest or cheapest new line connections cannot simply be displayed.

From DE 41 14 921 AI an electrical connector, consisting of a plug and a suitable socket, is known, in which a data carrier is arranged on the plug. DE 41 14 921 AI provides for evaluation devices to be provided with such sockets, to store parameters of the signal to be transmitted in the data carrier and to transmit them to a receiver in the evaluation device in order to enable the evaluation device to be automatically adapted to the signal type and signal level.

Technical task:

The object of the invention is therefore to create a component recognition and management system for optical networks in which the components of the network can be recognized as completely automatically as possible and the line connections received are recognized and logged as completely as possible. It should be possible to use commercially available fiber optic cables in a cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the connection should be checked as soon as the communication network is set up. It should be possible to display ways or suggestions for the production of new line connections with little effort and cost savings.

Disclosure of the invention and its advantages: The task is solved with a component recognition and

Management system for optical networks, wherein optical line connections to distribution elements such as patch panels and / or patch boxes, which are arranged in a distribution cabinet, can be implemented within the network, for this purpose a plurality of coupling sockets for

Production of a detachable plug connection with a plug

Have conductor cables, with the following features: a) Readers, which are arranged in the area of each coupling socket of a distributor element and via which a data carrier, which is arranged on a plug inserted into the respective coupling socket, can be read out when the plug connection is made; b) each distributor element is assigned an evaluation unit which is coupled to the readers on the coupling sockets of the distributor element via a data bus and which can read out the data carriers of plugs which are inserted into the corresponding coupling sockets via the reader and assign them to the coupling; c) an evaluation unit consists of a master and at least one slave electronics, one slave electronics each of a group of distributor elements, e.g. is assigned to all the distribution elements arranged in a distribution cabinet and one or more slave electronics are managed by the corresponding master electronics, and thus on a master electronics the status of the distribution elements which are assigned to the master electronics via the respective slave electronics , can be set up and controlled.

Another contribution to the solution of the task is also a method for recognizing and managing the components of an optical network using such a component recognition and management system, wherein the data carriers of the optical connectors when establishing or disconnecting a plug connection or upon entering a read command on one of the Master electronics or on the central control computer or automatically at regular intervals or the occupancy status of the coupling socket is queried and a cable-specific assignment plan and, if applicable, a cable-specific connection plan is created or updated by master electronics or the control computer. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

Component recognition and management system is understood to mean a device which provides readers with access and readout options to data carriers located at different locations within an optical network, e.g. Data carriers which are arranged on plugs inserted into the couplings of a distributor element or a peripheral device, or data carriers which are in a defined position in the region of a distributor element and can be read out if the distributor element is held in the distribution cabinet. Furthermore, the component recognition and management system provides transport options for data or control signals between the readers and evaluation electronics in the master-slave hierarchy and, if appropriate, a control computer managing several evaluation electronics. This electrical and / or optical management network is independent of the optical communication network to be managed. Finally, the component recognition and management system includes evaluation options in the form of processors and input and output units, e.g. Keyboard and monitor, for processing and displaying the read data.

In the device according to the invention, electrical control lines connected in parallel or the keeping free of conductor wires in trunk cables are dispensed with in the case of optical fibers. As a result, commercially available fiber optic cables can be used to set up the communication network for optical information transmission with optical fibers, in which only the connectors are equipped with a data carrier. The individual conductor cables are identified by means of a label in the form of an electronic data carrier, which is preferably arranged on both ends of the cable on the plug or plugs and in which all the important characteristics of the conductor cable, e.g. Type, length, line capacity, identification number of the conductor cable, type of connector and / or device at the other end of the cable, measurement data are stored.

In the basic form of the invention, all coupling sockets of a distributor element are initially equipped with readers, by means of which data carriers arranged on jumper cable plugs are read out with a coupling socket once the plug connection has been established. The data is read out by the Evaluation unit causes, the data transmission and assignment of the data to the respective coupling takes place by coupling the evaluation unit with a plurality of readers via a data bus. This provides data for the preparation of a cable-specific assignment plan for the couplings of this distribution cabinet. The evaluation unit is assigned several distribution cabinets due to the structure of master-slave electronics, so that the occupancy plan can include several distribution cabinets if required.

It is advantageous if the distributor elements themselves also have data carriers in which characteristic data of the distributor element are stored. In a further development of the invention, these data carriers can be read out by means of a reader arranged on the distributor cabinet or on the holder for distributor elements if the distributor elements are held in their installed positions. In this way, all connections of one or more distribution elements can be queried on both sides, i.e. Both the jumper connection to a peripheral device or another distribution element as well as the trunk connections between two distribution cabinets. Ultimately, this also enables the assignment of a line core of a trunk cable to couplings for jumper cables on both sides, as a result of which a line connection can be tracked and logged over large distances and possibly also over several distribution cabinets.

The storage unit of the data carrier is a PROM or EEPROM or a magnetic stripe or a barcode or a flat memory chip. The information stored in the data carriers of a conductor cable is either identical - e.g. Length, identification number and measurement data of the cable - or specifically different, e.g. the marking of the cable end and / or the device to be connected. The data carrier is written before the cable or the distributor element is implemented in the network, so that later the assignment of the two cable ends to one another is possible even over large distances. The data carrier can simply be applied to the plug in the form of a chip or barcode, as a result of which conventional optical fiber cables with a plug can be used.

The data carrier is preferably read out automatically when a plug is inserted into a coupling or upon input on the evaluation unit or on the central control computer or automatically at regular time intervals. For example, when inserting a plug a mechanical switch closes an electrical circuit, which indicates the change in the network status and, if necessary, causes the data medium to be read out. This means that free couplings can also be displayed. The plug connections made between the coupling and the plug can be shown with the respective identification numbers on a display directly on the distribution cabinet or on the central control computer. Changes in the local configuration of the distribution cabinet can also be displayed there, also in connection with a warning signal.

When a plug connection is made with a plug, its data carrier can be read via a reader, e.g. an address chip, which can be read out, the read-out data and the identifier of the clutch being transmitted to the evaluation unit in a known manner by means of data bus techniques. Reading out the data transmission The evaluation unit can also query the status of a coupling or react to a loose connection.

An evaluation unit consists of master electronics and a plurality of subordinate slave electronics, each slave electronics belonging to a group of distribution elements, e.g. all within a distribution cabinet. This has the advantage that components that would otherwise be required for each distribution cabinet are shared among several distribution cabinets. It is advisable, for example, to administratively group spatially adjacent distribution cabinets with master electronics and only to store key data such as distance to the central computer (CPU), location, number of couplings, etc., and to the central control computer for the master electronics To make available. Local administrative tasks can then also be carried out locally. The master electronics are preferably coupled to one another and to the central control computer with a ring line or via a data bus in order to keep the wiring effort as low as possible. The data lines between the master electronics and the control computer are preferably optical fibers.

The component recognition and management system according to the invention can be operated in two modes: in a "local" mode, only the couplings of one or more distribution cabinets assigned to a given evaluation unit are evaluated, so that a local cable-specific assignment plan and possibly a local connection plan can be drawn up and can be called up directly at the evaluation unit. Status changes can be displayed directly. In a "global" mode, the data from several evaluation units are combined on the central control computer to form a global cable-specific assignment and, if necessary, connection plan. The shortest or easiest connections to be made between the CPU and a location located at a given location are new peripheral devices to be connected can be displayed and planned.

The central control computer is programmed so that it automatically processes the incoming data into an occupancy plan and can present it to the user. The assignment plan of the couplings is automatically updated when changes are made. In addition, manual input of incoming line connections, in particular with peripheral devices, is possible to supplement the automatically drawn up network plan.

Furthermore, the component recognition and management system according to the invention can be supplemented in such a way that a reader is arranged on or in the coupling sockets of the central computing system and / or the peripheral terminals and, when the plug connection has been established, reads out the data carrier with a plug and transmits it to an evaluation unit or the central control computer , so that a cable-specific assignment plan can also be drawn up for these couplings. Together with the cable-specific information about the assignment of the couplings of the distribution cabinets, a plan of the entire network can thus be computer-controlled and the entire network managed. To do this, it is also necessary to couple the readout units of the peripheral devices and the CPU to the central control computer, e.g. also with a ring line.

It is also advantageous to integrate a reader into a handheld device or to arrange it on a control coupling on a distribution cabinet or on master electronics. The characteristic data of a plug can then be read out simply by plugging it into the hand-held device or into the control coupling, for example if the user wants to request measurement data. Preferably, the information read out on the handheld device or on the control coupling can also be from the master electronics and, in “global” mode, from the Central control computer transmitted and used instead of manual entry of the missing data to complete the network plan.

The method according to the invention is carried out as follows: the data carrier of a plug, which is plugged into a coupling assigned to the reader, is read out via the reader, preferably directly when the plug is plugged in, which can be indicated by means of a control signal, or at regular intervals Intervals or after manual entry of a read command. The control signal when the plug is inserted can e.g. are given in that the plug actuates a mechanical switch when inserted into the coupling.

The data read out are then transmitted to an evaluation unit. Possibly these are already provided with the information about the respective clutch, or the evaluation unit assigns the data to the clutch. The evaluation unit can also determine whether a clutch is occupied or not. The evaluation unit uses the data transmitted to it to draw up a cable-specific coupling assignment plan for all the couplings from which information was transmitted to it. The data about a coupling or about the entire accessible can be shown on a display on the distribution cabinet, so that authorized persons can query couplings at any time and, if necessary, receive information about an inserted cable.

A plurality of evaluation units preferably transmit their data to a central control computer. The latter is able to draw up a cable-specific assignment plan for all the couplings to which an evaluation unit connected to the central control computer is assigned. A cable-specific network routing plan can also be created from this data. The network status can thus be logged and monitored in a simple manner that is not prone to errors. In order to also be able to read out couplings or connecting elements to which no evaluation unit is assigned, the characteristic data of inserted plugs are preferably entered manually together with the identification of the coupling or the connecting element, or the data carrier is read out on a handheld device or a control coupling, these data of the evaluation unit and / or the central control computer and this information with the manually entered identifier of the coupling or the connecting element added. In this way, a complete network plan can be drawn up, even if not all couplings and / or connecting elements are connected to readout units.

Brief description of the drawing, showing:

1 shows a schematic diagram of a component recognition and management system and the network to be managed. FIG. 2 shows a jump connector in a corresponding coupling. FIG. 3 shows a patch box with a trunk and a jumper cable

Figure 4 schematically shows the hierarchy of a component recognition and

Management system Figure 5 shows the structure of the electronics

6 shows a flow diagram of the method according to the invention FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of the method step "jumper control"

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION:

In Figure 1, a component detection and management system and the optical network to be managed is shown schematically. The optical network consists of a large number of optical fiber cables such as jumper cables 11, 12, 13, 14, which usually comprise one or two optical line wires, glass fibers, and trunk cables 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 each contain a large number of line wires, a central computer system 1 and a plurality of peripheral devices 6, 7, 8, 9. The line connections can be implemented on distributor elements 38, 38 ", patch boxes or distributor plates arranged inside distribution cabinets 2, 3, 4, 5 the line wires of a trunk cable, as sketched in Fig. 3, distributed to the coupling sockets 23, 23 'of a distributor element 38, 38', so that by inserting a suitable plug into the coupling socket a suitable for optical data transfer connection between line wires of a jumper cable 11, 12, 13, 14 and a trunk cable 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. A patch box usually connects a trunk with a plurality of jum percables. Not all couplings 23, 23 'of a patch box 38, 38' have to be occupied; a connection to the computer system or to a further distributor element can be provided, but not claimed. The computer system 1, the peripheral devices 6, 7, 8, 9, the conductor cables 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and the distribution cabinets 2, 3, 4, 5 form a network , which is only indicated schematically in the drawing. Actual networks have up to a few hundred distribution cabinets with a maximum of 500-600 couplings and the corresponding line connections. The invention is intended to identify and manage the existing line connections and the possibility of expanding the network, for example by connecting further peripheral devices.

In this example, the component recognition and management system according to the invention consists in that readers for reading data carriers arranged on plugged-in jumper plugs are arranged on all coupling sockets, and an evaluation system for evaluating and further processing the read data is provided. This evaluation system consists of a plurality of evaluation units 21, 22, which are coupled to one another and to a control computer 25 via a ring line 37. Each evaluation unit 21, 22 consists of master electronics 49, 50 and a plurality of slave electronics 51, 52, 53, 54, with two slave electronics each being assigned to and managed by master electronics. Each distribution cabinet has slave electronics which are able to control all readers arranged on the couplings 23, 23 '.

The data carrier of a plug inserted into a coupling 23, 23 'is caused by the slave electronics 51, 52, 53, 53 and indirectly by the master electronics 49, 50 or the control computer 25, via read lines 42, 43, 44 , 45, 46, 47, 48, only a few of which are shown as examples. Data bus techniques are used to assign the data to the respective coupling of the distribution cabinet.

In master electronics 49, 50, in a "local" mode, an assignment plan of the couplings of the subordinate distribution cabinets can be drawn up, ie the local net status can be created. It can be called up, for example, on a local display. Likewise, individual readers on couplings can be addressed and targeted single data carriers are read out and the information is displayed .. If several distribution cabinets are managed by one master electronics, as is the case here, a local plan of the connections within this subunit of the Entire network can be set up. The evaluation unit is also coupled to a central control computer 25 for monitoring the network. The information from an evaluation unit can also be evaluated and / or displayed on this and, if necessary, in a “global” mode, combined with the information from other evaluation units and used to manage the entire network. To save lines, the evaluation units 22, 21 are one below the other and coupled to the control computer 25 by means of a ring line 37.

A further development of this system is to equip the connecting elements 58, 59 of the computer system 1 and the peripheral devices 6, 7, 8, 9 with readout and evaluation units and their connection to the ring line to the control computer 25. This also enables the lines leading into the periphery to be automatic be included in the network plan.

In Figure 2, a coupling bush 24 is schematically on a distributor element, e.g. a patch box, with a reader 39 arranged inside the coupling socket. Such a coupling socket is an essential component in the construction of a component detection and component management system according to the invention. A jumper plug 20 is also shown, which is inserted into the coupling socket 24. The optical contact between the line wires 62, 62 'of the jumper plug with the line wires 63, 63' of a conductor cable coming from the coupling is closed by pushing the plug 20 into the coupling socket 24.

A data carrier 26 is arranged on the plug 20, in which characteristic data of the conductor cable are stored, e.g. Type, length of line capacity, identification number of the conductor cable, type of connector and / or device at the other end of the cable, measurement data. A data carrier is preferably also attached to the plug or the plugs of the other cable end, in which either the same information relating to the cable or specifically different information relating to the plug is stored. The data carriers are usually written to before the cable is installed in the network if both ends can be easily spatially merged.

The data carrier is read out via the reader 39 on the coupling 24 if the plug connection between the coupling and the plug is established. The The reader can read the data carrier, for example, by direct electrical contact or inductively or optically. The data are transmitted to the evaluation unit via a read line 46 or queried by the evaluation unit at a given point in time. Inductive coupling and inductive data transmission or optical readout between reader and data carrier is also possible.

The evaluation unit can determine via a signal line 60 whether a coupling socket is occupied, e.g. in that a plug 20 pushed fully into the coupling 24 actuates a mechanical switch. The information that a status change has taken place is stored by the evaluation unit and, if necessary, the data carrier is read out. Couplings with a changed occupancy status displayed in this way, or all couplings can be queried automatically or at a manual command.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a patch box 61 in its installation position in a distribution cabinet 64. The patch box has eight coupling sockets 35, 35 'for plugging in jumper plugs 55, which are generally duplex plugs with two line wires, here as a simplex plug for the sake of clarity shown with a line wire 57 '. The jumper plug 55 has a data carrier 32. Within the patch box 61, line wires 57 are firmly connected to the couplings 35 'and, combined into a trunk cable 33, are led out of the patch box.

A reader 41 with read lines 47 leading to the evaluation unit is arranged on each coupling socket 35, 35 'for jumper cables of the patch box 61. The readers of the free jumper couplings 35 'and the corresponding read lines are not shown. Another reader 40 is arranged on the distribution cabinet 64 in the area of an application point for distribution elements, here patch boxes. The patch box itself has a data carrier 31 which is arranged in a defined position on the patch box which corresponds to the position of the reader in the installed position. This means that the component detection and management system can be used to determine which patch box is in which position within the distribution cabinet. The data line 48 coming from the reader 40 leads to the evaluation unit assigned to the distribution cabinet. The data carrier 31 is, for example, a bar code and the reader 40 is an optical one Barcode reader that generates an electronic signal as a recognition result; the read lines 47 and 48 are electrical lines.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the hierarchy of a component recognition and component management system. The system has three master electronics 49 ', 50', 50 ", each of which manages a group of distribution cabinets, each with several patch boxes 38". The distribution cabinets themselves are not shown; in this context, the distribution cabinet is only to be understood as the logical combination of one or more patch boxes into a unit managed by a common slave electronics. The corresponding slave electronics 51 ', 52', 53 ', 54' and the patch boxes 38 '' assigned to them are only shown for the master electronics 51 '.

Each slave electronics 51 ', 52', 53 ', 54' represents an interface between the master electronics 49 'and the respective distribution cabinet with the associated patch boxes 38 ". Electronic commands, eg read commands, from the master electronics become The corresponding patch box is forwarded, and conversely, information about a status change within the subordinate patch boxes and, if applicable, the data read out are transmitted to the master electronics via this interface. The patch electronics are controlled serially by the slave electronics. A more detailed structure of the electronic units is shown in FIG .

Status changes can be displayed on the master electronics 49 'in local mode on all patch boxes 38 "subordinate to these master electronics (monitoring function). Furthermore, a cable-specific assignment plan of the coupling sockets of these patch boxes can be drawn up. Individual couplings can also be specifically queried, specific data contents, eg plug with given identification number or cable with certain properties, searchable (service function). If there are cable connections between these master electronics 49 'subordinate patch boxes 38 ", these can also be determined.

The master electronics 49 ', 50', 50 "are coupled to one another and to a control computer 25 'via a fiber optic ring 37'. The direction of the data flow is indicated by arrows. For coupling the data in the master electronics 49 ', 50', 50 "each have a transmitter and receiver unit 66, 66 ', 66" on the optical ring 37', which converts the electronic signals coming from the subordinate electronics into optical signals and vice versa. There is also an electro-optical module 65 at the input of the control computer 25 '; the control computer itself has a V24 interface.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the electronics of the component recognition and management system, consisting of master electronics 49 ", slave electronics 51" and electronics units within individual patch boxes 67, 68.

The master electronics 49 "mainly consists of a motherboard 69, which is supplied with voltage via a 5V power supply unit. The motherboard 69 is connected to an input and output unit, keyboard 70 and display 70 '. The coupling to the optical ring takes place via a transmitter and receiver unit 66 ". The group address can be set by means of a dip switch 72. The master electronics box has four plugs or coupling sockets 71, 71 'for connecting slave electronics 51 ", each of which manages a distribution cabinet or patch boxes 67, 68 combined into a logical distribution cabinet group.

The master electronics 49 "is connected to the slave electronics 51" via a line 73 extending from the coupling socket 71, which thus controls the distribution cabinet with the reference number 1 in this example. This line is routed as line 73 'within the slave electronics and as signal line 74 to the first of the patch boxes assigned to the distribution cabinet, reference number 67. It is looped through as line 74 'to the further patch boxes, here only one further patch box 68, that is to say output 75 of box 67 is connected to input 76' of box 68. The output 75 'of the last patch box of such a series is terminated with a resistance terminator 77.

The patch boxes are supplied with voltage via the slave electronics 51 "; there is a supply line 78 from the slave electronics to the first patch box, which is looped through as line 78 'to the other patch boxes. The patch boxes 67, 68 have an address chip 79, 79 'for each coupling socket, which functions as a reader, so that the data carrier of a plug inserted into a coupling socket can be read out via the latter, the data via the lines 73' and 74, if necessary. 74 'are also transmitted to the slave electronics 51 ". From there they are transmitted to the master electronics for display and evaluation. Furthermore, each patch box has an optical signal transmitter 80, 80', for example an LED, which changes the assignment of the couplings of the respective patch box immediately, preferably this status change must be verified by an authorized user.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart to illustrate the sequence of the method according to the invention for component identification and management. The process is e.g. carried out after an optical network has been rebuilt or changed. To the notation: hexagonal boxes indicate the procedural step that is currently being carried out, diamonds denote branches in the procedural sequence for yes / no decisions, rectangles denote assignments, rectangles with sideways bars represent procedures such as data evaluation or query and storage of the status data.

The status of the entire network is checked and the data read out or evaluated in a multi-stage process. The aim is to determine the status of the entire network when operating online using a control computer (PC) or a part of the network when operating offline without the control computer being involved. Once the network status has been determined, a memory integrated in the master electronics, e.g. an EEPROM, initialized or adapted, in which the status of the entire network is stored electronically. The following steps are carried out in a multi-stage process:

1. Cabinet selection, i.e. Determining how many and which distribution cabinets are assigned to the respective master electronics, logging the changes and including them in the network status;

2. trunk selection, i.e. Determining how many and which patch boxes are assigned to the respective slave electronics, logging the changes;

3. according to jumper selection: determining which couplings are used with which plugs. The first step is to check whether there is one under the distribution cabinets

Change has occurred. It is checked whether the connection sockets on a

Master electronics box are assigned for the connection of slave electronics or whether a change has occurred in this assignment. The latter is u. a. the case when a new cabinet is added to the optical network or a

Cabinet was removed. This data is saved. If such

If a change has been determined, this is shown on the display of the master electronics

Cabinet data shown; If the control computer is online, the data from the master electronics are forwarded directly to the control computer and can be evaluated there. The aim of this step is to integrate the cabinets to be managed into a system, i.e. determine which cabinets belong to which master or slave electronics. As already shown, the cabinets are grouped together, each of which is managed by master electronics. It is determined whether the maximum number of cabinets that can be assigned to master electronics has already been reached. If so, the new cabinet receives the code number 1 of a new cabinet group ("cabinet 1") of the next master electronics, if not, it is assigned the next free code number. The cabinet data can now be requested via the PC and, if necessary, displayed and further processed. If necessary, the step of cabinet detection is repeated until the network configuration or all changes are recorded at this level.

Starting from a selected cabinet, the second step, trunk cable or patch box detection, is now carried out. It is first checked whether a change flag is set, which is automatically set whenever a change in the assignment of the coupling sockets has occurred, see also Fig. 7. If not, the status of the trunk cable or patch boxes is determined, ie which one Patch boxes are available within a distribution cabinet. If a change is found here, the corresponding data are either shown on the display of the master electronics or, if the control computer is online, transmitted from the master electronics to the control computer and are available there for evaluation. An existing patch box is to be integrated into the network hierarchy, ie assigned to a distribution cabinet or slave electronics and master electronics. For this purpose, it is checked whether the maximum number of trunk cables or patch boxes for the distribution cabinet currently being processed has already been reached. If so, the patch box assigned the code number 1 of the next distribution cabinet, which also has to be initialized; it is referred back to step 1. If the maximum number of patch boxes for a distribution cabinet has not yet been reached, the patch box just treated is assigned to this distributor and receives the next higher patch box code number. The step of the patch box or Trunk detection is repeated until the network configuration or all changes are recorded at this level.

If there are no changes in the trunk configuration, the network configuration is created or adjusted at the jumper cable level (jumper cable selection). The checking and storage of the jumper and chip data, summarized under jumper control, is shown in detail in FIG. If a change was found, the corresponding data is shown on the display of the master electronics if the control computer is offline. If this is online, the data are passed on from the master electronics to the control computer. As in the previous steps, the jumper cable detection and classification in the network configuration or network system is checked to determine whether the maximum number of jumpers in the patch box has already been reached. If so, the identified cable is assigned the code number 1 of a new patch box and the procedure for patch box assignment is referenced. If the maximum number of jumpers has not yet been reached, the next higher code number is assigned to the jumper cable. The corresponding data are evaluated on the control computer. This step is also repeated until all changes at the jumper level have been recorded.

The overall network configuration created in this way is written to the memory of the master electronics and updated if necessary, e.g. whenever a change flag has been set.

FIG. 7 shows the sequence of the “jumper control” routine from FIG. 6. The “trunk control” and “cabinet control” routines can be designed analogously. It is first determined whether a jumper cable is inserted into a coupling socket, for example by checking whether there is mechanical contact between the plug and socket, for example by means of a control switch as in FIG. 2. When the jumper is inserted, the data carrier is read out. If the jumper was already set, for example by comparing it with the original network configuration to be updated Ascertainable, the newly read data are compared with the data originally stored for the given coupling socket, for example by the master electronics. If no difference is found, nothing has been changed on this coupling socket, so the network configuration does not have to be updated. If a difference is found, the change flag is set so that the configuration can be adjusted accordingly.

If the jumper was not previously inserted, the chip data is saved and a change flag is set so that the network configuration can be adapted accordingly to the new assignment of the coupling socket.

If the jumper is not inserted, it is checked whether the coupling socket was previously occupied. If so, the cable has been disconnected and a corresponding change flag is set. If not, the routine is ended.

Industrial applicability:

The invention is advantageous in the establishment and management of

Arithmetic units with optical information transmission used.

A coupling or plug connection is to be understood in general as optical couplings which consist of a first coupling part connected to a distributor element and a second coupling part connected to a conductor cable, which can form a releasable mechanical connection with the first coupling part, so that data transfer is possible. In addition to the plug connection, the connection can also be a screw or clamp connection, for example.

List of reference numerals:

1 central computer, CPU

2, 3, 4, 5 distribution cabinet 6, 7, 8, 9 peripheral device

11, 12, 13, 14, 34 jumper cables

15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 33 trunk cable

20, 55 plug (jumper)

21, 22 From evaluation unit 23, 24, 35, 35 'coupling bush

25, 25 'control computer

26, 31, 32 disk

37, 37 'ring line

38, 38 ', 38 ", 61, 67, 68 distribution element (patch box, patch panel) 39, 40, 41 readers

42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 readout lines

49, 49 ', 49 ", 50, 50', 50" master electronics

51, 52, 53, 54, 51 "

51 ', 52', 53 ', 54 "slave electronics 57, 57', 62, 62 ', 63, 63' cable cores

58, 59 coupling socket (peripheral device, CPU)

60 control signal line

64 distribution cabinet or mech. Patchbox holder

65 electro-optical interface 66, 66 ', 66 ", 66'" transmitter-receiver unit

69 motherboard

70, 70 'input / output unit

71, 71 'Connection for slave electronics

72 dip switches 73, 73 ', 74, 74' data lines

75, 75 ', 76, 76' data input / output patchbox

77 terminator

78, 78 'power supply line

79, 79 'address chips (reader patch box) 80, 80' LED

Claims

Claim p.

1. Component recognition and management system for optical networks, wherein within the network optical line connections to distribution elements (38, 38 ', 38 ", 61, 67, 68) such as patch panels and / or patch boxes, which are located in a distribution cabinet (2, 3, 4, 5) are arranged, can be implemented, for this purpose a plurality of couplings (23, 23 ', 24, 35, 35') for producing a releasable plug connection with a plug (20, 55, 56) of a conductor cable (11, 12 , 13, 14, 34), with the following features: a) Readers (39, 41, 79, 79 ') which are arranged in the area of each coupling of a distributor element and via which a data carrier (26, 32) is produced when the plug connection is made. , which is arranged on a plug (20, 55) plugged into the respective coupling socket, can be read out; b) an evaluation unit (21, 22) is assigned to each distributor element and communicates with the readers (39, 41, 79, 79 via a data bus ') is coupled to the coupling sockets of the distributor element and the data carriers (26, 31, 32) of plugs which are inserted into the corresponding coupling sockets can be read out via the reader (39, 41, 79, 79 ') and assigned to the coupling; c) an evaluation unit (21, 22) consists of a master (49, 49 ', 49 ", 50, 50', 50") and at least one slave electronics (51, 52, 53, 54, 51 "51 ' , 52 ', 53', 54 '), one slave electronics each being assigned to a group of distributor elements, for example all of the distributor elements arranged in a distribution cabinet (2, 3, 4, 5), and one or more slave electronics from the corresponding master electronics are managed, and thus the status of the distributor elements, which are assigned to the master electronics via the respective slave electronics, can be set up and controlled on a master electronics.

2. Component recognition and management system for optical networks according to claim 1, characterized in that the distribution cabinet in the area of each point of use for distribution elements has a reader (40), via which a data carrier held at or in the point of use, a data carrier on Distributor element or arranged on the outgoing trunk cable from the distributor element, can be read out, the read data of the The slave or master electronics assigned to the distributor element can be transmitted and assigned to the respective place of use.

3. Component recognition and management system for optical networks according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reader is able to read the data carrier electrically or inductively or optically and with the evaluation unit by an electrical or optical line connection (42, 43, 44th , 45, 46, 47, 48, 73, 73 ', 74, 74') is coupled for data transfer.

4. Component recognition and management system for optical networks according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reader is a readout chip.

5. Component recognition and management system for optical networks according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of master electronics via a ring line, preferably a fiber optic ring, or coupled via a data bus with each other and with a control computer and each master electronics the control computer is able to transmit the read data.

6. Component recognition and management system according to claim 1, characterized in that a control coupling with a reader (39, 40, 41, 79, 79 ') on a distribution cabinet (2, 3, 4, 5) or on an evaluation unit (21st , 22) is provided on which the data carrier of a plug (20, 55, 56) can be read out for checking purposes, the data on the evaluation unit, eg can be output via a display or on the central control computer (1).

7. Component recognition and management system according to claim 1, characterized by a hand-held device in which a reader (39, 40, 41) for reading out the data carrier of a plug is integrated, the hand-held device reading the data to the evaluation unit (21, 22) and / or the central control computer (25) is able to transmit. o2C |

8. Optical network within which optical line connections are implemented on distribution elements such as patch panels and / or patch boxes, which are arranged in a distribution cabinet and whose coupling sockets are equipped with readers (39, 40, 41) according to claim 1, wherein line connections between coupling sockets of two distribution elements or between a coupling socket of a distributor element and a terminal with conductor cables, in which a data carrier (26, 32) is arranged on at least one plug, in particular a PROM or an EPROM or a magnetic strip or a barcode or a flat memory chip, in which Characteristic data of the cable and the plug are stored, e.g. Type, length of line capacity, identification number of the conductor cable, type of connector and / or device at the other end of the cable, measurement data, and wherein the data carriers are read and processed by means of a component recognition and management system according to claim 1 or 5 and thus identify and manage the components of the network become.

9. Optical network according to claim 8, characterized in that distributor elements are used, in which a data carrier (31) is arranged in which on the distributor element or on the outgoing trunk cable (15, 16, 17, 33), in which characteristic data of the distributor element is stored are, e.g. The number, type, length, line capacity, identification number of the line wires or the trunk cable, measurement data, and a distribution cabinet in the area of each point of use for distribution elements has a reader via which the data carrier, which is assigned to the distribution element held in the distribution cabinet, can be read out is, the read data of the slave or master electronics assigned to the distributor element being transmitted, which is able to assign the data to the place of use.

10. Optical network according to claim 8, characterized in that in each case on all plugs (20, 55, 56) of a conductor cable (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 33, 34) Data carriers (26, 31, 32) are arranged and either carry identical or partially specifically different information.

11. Optical network with a central computing system (1) and peripheral terminals according to claim 8, characterized in that a reader is arranged in the area of a coupling socket (58, 59) of the central computing system (1) and / or a peripheral terminal c £ 5 which, when the plug connection is established with a plug (20, 55, 56), can be read from a data carrier arranged on the plug, the read-out data

Data can be transmitted via a ring line (37) or a data bus or directly to the central control computer and assigned to the respective coupling, so that these components can also be identified and managed.

12. A method for detecting and managing the components of an optical network using a component detection and management system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data carrier (26, 31, 32) of the optical connector when establishing or releasing a plug connection or upon input of a Read command on one of the master electronics (49, 50) or on the central control computer (25) or automatically at regular intervals or the assignment status of the coupling socket is queried and a cable-specific assignment plan and, if applicable, a cable-specific connection plan by master electronics ( 49, 50) or the control computer (25) is created or updated.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that status changes of the network, e.g. by pulling a plug or assigning a coupling socket, optically and / or acoustically e.g. are displayed in the form of an alarm signal, the identification number of the coupling socket and, if applicable, of the plug or line cable inserted being displayed.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that couplings (23, 24, 35, 36) and / or connecting elements (58, 59), to which no reading device is assigned, can be included in the drawing up of the cable routing plan by the identifier of the coupling or the connecting element and, if applicable, the characteristic data of a plugged-in conductor cable as a whole are manually entered on an input apparatus or the data carrier of the plug (20, 55, 56) is read with a hand-held device or a control coupling and inserted before being inserted into such a connecting element or such a coupling master electronics (49, 50) or the central control computer (1) is transmitted, this information then being supplemented manually with the identifier of the coupling and / or the connecting element.

15. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that by entering a control command on a master electronics (49, 50) or on the control computer (1) the occupancy of individual couplings can be queried and, if appropriate, the data carrier of a plug inserted into this connector can be read and the read data can be displayed.

16. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that by entering a search command on a master electronics (49, 50) or on the control computer (1) specific data contents of the data carrier, e.g. a specific cable number, searched and the coupling sockets into which the plug with this data carrier is inserted can be displayed, e.g. by specifying the corresponding distribution cabinet, distribution element and number of the coupling socket within the distribution element.