Abstract: A bladed chassis system facilitates installation of the bladed chassis system and replacement of the blades at the chassis. For example, a front panel of the blade can be opened either upwardly or downwardly at the discretion of the user. Blades can be inserted and removed from the front and/or the rear of the bladed chassis system at the discretion of the user. Cables can be routed to the rear of the chassis system from either of two sides at the discretion of the user. The blades carried by the chassis have fiber management trays that can be rotationally oriented in any desired rotational position at the discretion of the user.

Abstract: A communications connection system includes an adapter module defining at least first and second ports and at least one media reading interface mounted at one of the ports. The first adapter module is configured to receive a fiber optic connector at each port. Some type of connectors may be formed as duplex connector arrangements. Some types of adapters may include ports without media reading interfaces. Some types of media reading interfaces include contact members having three contact sections.

Abstract: A telecommunications system (14) includes a chassis (12) defining a front (18), a rear (16), and a plurality of first signal connection locations (38) adjacent the rear (16). A plurality of removable cassettes (10) are housed within the chassis (12), each including a cassette body (68) defining a fixed portion (80) that is coupled to one of the first signal connection locations (38) on the chassis (12) and a movable portion (82) that telescopically slides relative to the fixed portion (80), wherein the movable portion (82) is configured for movement in a direction from the front (18) to the rear (16) of the chassis (12), each cassette (10) defining a plurality of second signal connection locations (58).

Abstract: A bladed chassis system facilitates installation of the bladed chassis system and replacement of the blades at the chassis. For example, a front panel of the blade can be opened either upwardly or downwardly at the discretion of the user. Blades can be inserted and removed from the front and/or the rear of the bladed chassis system at the discretion of the user. Cables can be routed to the rear of the chassis system from either of two sides at the discretion of the user. The blades carried by the chassis have fiber management trays that can be rotationally oriented in any desired rotational position at the discretion of the user.

Abstract: A communications connection system includes an adapter module defining at least first and second ports and at least one media reading interface mounted at one of the ports. The first adapter module is configured to receive a fiber optic connector at each port. Some type of connectors may be formed as duplex connector arrangements. Some types of adapters may include ports without media reading interfaces. Some types of media reading interfaces include contact members having three contact sections.

Abstract: A telecommunications system (14) includes a chassis (12) defining a front (18), a rear (16), and a plurality of first signal connection locations (38) adjacent the rear (16). A plurality of removable cassettes (10) are housed within the chassis (12), each including a cassette body (68) defining a fixed portion (80) that is coupled to one of the first signal connection locations (38) on the chassis (12) and a movable portion (82) that telescopically slides relative to the fixed portion (80), wherein the movable portion (82) is configured for movement in a direction from the front (18) to the rear (16) of the chassis (12), each cassette (10) defining a plurality of second signal connection locations (58).

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to an end node comprising a programmable processor configured to execute software and an ETHERNET network interface communicatively coupled to the programmable processor. The network interface is configured to couple the end node to a network. The ETHERNET network interface comprises a media access control device, an ETHERNET physical layer device, and a port to connect a cable to the network interface. The physical layer device comprises an integrated storage-device interface to communicate with a storage device associated with a connector attached to an end of the cable when connected to the network interface via the port. The software is configured to use the integrated storage-device interface to read information stored in the storage device and to communicate the read information over the network.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a heterogeneous physical layer management system comprising first devices, each comprising first physical layer information acquisition technology to obtain physical layer information about cabling attached to the first devices. The system further comprises second devices, each comprising second physical layer information acquisition technology to obtain physical layer information about cabling attached to the second devices, wherein the second physical layer information acquisition technology differs from the first physical layer information acquisition technology. The system further comprises a common management application communicatively coupled to the first devices and the second devices, wherein the common management application is configured to aggregate physical layer information from the first devices and the second devices. Another embodiment is directed to providing a physical layer management application as a service hosted by a third party.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to an end node that includes functionality to read information stored on or in a segment of physical communication media that is attached to the end node and to communicate the read information over a network (for example, to an aggregation point). Another exemplary embodiment is directed a wall outlet that includes functionality to read information stored on or in a segment of physical communication media connected to it and communicate at least a portion of the information read from the segment of physical communication media to an aggregation point. Another exemplary embodiment is directed a wall outlet that includes a switch and functionality to read information stored on or in a segment of physical communication media connected to it and to communicate at least a portion of the information read from the segment of physical communication media to an aggregation point.

Abstract: A bladed chassis system facilitates installation of the bladed chassis system and replacement of the blades at the chassis. For example, a front panel of the blade can be opened either upwardly or downwardly at the discretion of the user. Blades can be inserted and removed from the front and/or the rear of the bladed chassis system at the discretion of the user. Cables can be routed to the rear of the chassis system from either of two sides at the discretion of the user. The blades carried by the chassis have fiber management trays that can be rotationally oriented in any desired rotational position at the discretion of the user.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a heterogeneous physical layer management system comprising first devices, each comprising first physical layer information acquisition technology to obtain physical layer information about cabling attached to the first devices. The system further comprises second devices, each comprising second physical layer information acquisition technology to obtain physical layer information about cabling attached to the second devices, wherein the second physical layer information acquisition technology differs from the first physical layer information acquisition technology. The system further comprises a common management application communicatively coupled to the first devices and the second devices, wherein the common management application is configured to aggregate physical layer information from the first devices and the second devices. Another embodiment is directed to providing a physical layer management application as a service hosted by a third party.

Abstract: A system (90) for routing a stack of fiber optic ribbons (100) includes a fiber optic cable (50) and a fiber guide tube (300). The fiber optic cable (50) includes a jacket (54) and a ribbon stack (110). The jacket (54) extends from a first end (56) to a second end (58). The ribbon stack (110) extends from a first end (112) to a second end (114). A jacketed portion (60) of the ribbon stack (110) is surrounded by the jacket (54) from the first end (56) of the jacket (54) to the second end (58) of the jacket (54). The fiber guide tube (300) extends from a first end (302) to a second end (304) along a central longitudinal axis (A1). The fiber guide tube (300) is positioned between the first end (56) of the jacket (54) and the first end (112) of the ribbon stack (110). The fiber guide tube (300) includes a round exterior (308) and an interior (310) with a rectangular cross-section (318).

Abstract: A telecommunications system (14) includes a chassis (12) defining a front (18), a rear (16), and a plurality of first signal connection locations (38) adjacent the rear (16). A plurality of removable cassettes (10) are housed within the chassis (12), each including a cassette body (68) defining a fixed portion (80) that is coupled to one of the first signal connection locations (38) on the chassis (12) and a movable portion (82) that telescopically slides relative to the fixed portion (80), wherein the movable portion (82) is configured for movement in a direction from the front (18) to the rear (16) of the chassis (12), each cassette (10) defining a plurality of second signal connection locations (58).

Abstract: A system (90) for routing a stack of fiber optic ribbons (100) includes a fiber optic cable (50) and a fiber guide tube (300). The fiber optic cable (50) includes a jacket (54) and a ribbon stack (110). The jacket (54) extends from a first end (56) to a second end (58). The ribbon stack (110) extends from a first end (112) to a second end (114). A jacketed portion (60) of the ribbon stack (110) is surrounded by the jacket (54) from the first end (56) of the jacket (54) to the second end (58) of the jacket (54). The fiber guide tube (300) extends from a first end (302) to a second end (304) along a central longitudinal axis (A1). The fiber guide tube (300) is positioned between the first end (56) of the jacket (54) and the first end (112) of the ribbon stack (110). The fiber guide tube (300) includes a round exterior (308) and an interior (310) with a rectangular cross-section (318).

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is directed to a system comprising a switch used in a network and a central function configured to receive physical layer information related to the network. The physical layer information includes information associating media access control (MAC) addresses of devices on the network with ports of the switch. The switch is configured to use information about a spanning tree determined by the central function to configure the switch to carry out a switching function performed by the switch. The central function is configured to use at least some physical layer information about patching equipment in the network and end devices in the network in associating MAC addresses of devices on the network with the ports of the switch. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A bladed chassis system facilitates installation of the bladed chassis system and replacement of the blades at the chassis. For example, a front panel of the blade can be opened either upwardly or downwardly at the discretion of the user. Blades can be inserted and removed from the front and/or the rear of the bladed chassis system at the discretion of the user. Cables can be routed to the rear of the chassis system from either of two sides at the discretion of the user. The blades carried by the chassis have fiber management trays that can be rotationally oriented in any desired rotational position at the discretion of the user.

Abstract: A bladed chassis system facilitates installation of the bladed chassis system and replacement of the blades at the chassis. For example, a front panel of the blade can be opened either upwardly or downwardly at the discretion of the user. Blades can be inserted and removed from the front and/or the rear of the bladed chassis system at the discretion of the user. Cables can be routed to the rear of the chassis system from either of two sides at the discretion of the user. The blades carried by the chassis have fiber management trays that can be rotationally oriented in any desired rotational position at the discretion of the user.

Abstract: A communications connection system includes a fiber optic adapter module configured to receive multiple fiber optic connectors. The fiber optic adapter module includes one or more media reading interfaces. Each media reading interface is configured to read physical layer information stored on one of the fiber optic connectors received at the adapter module. Certain types of media reading interfaces extend between an internal passage of the adapter module and an external surface of the adapter module.

Abstract: First and second active optical modules that terminate first and second active optical cable segments, each of which having a respective active end and a respective passive end, can be authenticated by: reading information from active-end storage devices attached to the respective active ends of the first and second active optical modules; providing information read from the active-end storage devices to an aggregation point; reading information from passive-end storage devices attached to the respective passive ends of the first and second active optical cable segments; providing information read from passive-end storage devices to the aggregation point; and authenticating the first and second active optical modules using information provided to the aggregation point.