Abstract: Systems, equipment and methods for automatically tracking cable connections and for identifying work area devices and related methods of operating communications networks are provided. In one embodiment, a method of automatically identifying an end device that is connected to a local area network, the method comprising: transmitting a first control signal over a control channel that runs from a first connector port on a patch panel of the local area network to an integrated circuit chip mounted on the end device through at least a communications cable, a second connector port and a patch cord; receiving a second control signal from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel in response to the first signal, the second signal including identifying information for the end device.

Abstract: Systems, equipment and methods for automatically tracking cable connections and for identifying work area devices and related methods of operating communications networks are provided. In one embodiment, a method of automatically identifying an end device that is connected to a local area network, the method comprising: transmitting a first control signal over a control channel that runs from a first connector port on a patch panel of the local area network to an integrated circuit chip mounted on the end device through at least a communications cable, a second connector port and a patch cord; receiving a second control signal from the integrated circuit chip over the control channel in response to the first signal, the second signal including identifying information for the end device.

Abstract: Methods for collecting information regarding a remote connector port that is connected to a patch panel connector port by a communications cable that has at least one data communications channel and a separate control channel are provided in which a first conductor of the separate control channel of the communications cable is biased to power an integrated circuit chip that is associated with the remote connector port. A first signal is transmitted over the separate control channel of the communications cable to the integrated circuit chip associated with the remote connector port. A second signal is received from the integrated circuit chip over the separate control channel of the communications cable in response to the first signal. The second signal includes information regarding the remote connector port.

Abstract: A conductor for a communications cable includes an elongated metal wire and a metal sheet that includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes that at least partially surrounds the elongated metal wire. The metal wire may include copper, and the metal sheet may likewise include copper and may be welded to an outside surface of the metal wire to surround the metal wire. This conductor may be used in a variety of communications cables that carry high frequency signals.

Abstract: A communications cable includes a plurality of insulated conductors that are arranged as at least four twisted pairs of insulated conductors and a cable jacket that surrounds the at least four twisted pairs of insulated conductors, the cable jacket including an outer surface that defines the exterior surface of the communications cable. The cable jacket may be a thermally conductive cable jacket.

Abstract: A conductor for a communications cable includes an elongated metal wire and a metal sheet that includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes that at least partially surrounds the elongated metal wire. The metal wire may include copper, and the metal sheet may likewise include copper and may be welded to an outside surface of the metal wire to surround the metal wire. This conductor may be used in a variety of communications cables that carry high frequency signals.

Abstract: Methods for collecting information regarding a remote connector port that is connected to a patch panel connector port by a communications cable that has at least one data communications channel and a separate control channel are provided in which a first conductor of the separate control channel of the communications cable is biased to power an integrated circuit chip that is associated with the remote connector port. A first signal is transmitted over the separate control channel of the communications cable to the integrated circuit chip associated with the remote connector port. A second signal is received from the integrated circuit chip over the separate control channel of the communications cable in response to the first signal. The second signal includes information regarding the remote connector port.

Abstract: Both differential mode-to-differential mode crosstalk compensation and differential-to-common (or common mode-to-differential mode) crosstalk compensation are realized by using a pattern of conductor crossovers in a multi-pair electrical connector dictated by the algorithm (a−b)n with n≧3, where n determines the number of compensating stages and the coefficients of the expanded algorithm in each stage. An electrical connector with a pattern of conductors fashioned with these constraints among several of the pairs of conductors.

Abstract: A connector block for electrically cross-connecting two sets of conductors. The connector block has a wiring block with a plurality of insulation displacement contacts for mating with a first set of TIP conductors and a second set of RING conductors. An index strip made from dielectric material, is provided for securing the TIP and RING conductors against their respective contacts, wherein the index strip includes a plurality of C-shaped metal clips which provide crosstalk compensation in the connector block thereby providing the connector block with a worst conductor pair to conductor pair near-end crosstalk loss @100 MHz of better than 55 dB.

Abstract: An electrical connector 60 achieves improved transmission performance by introducing predetermined amounts of compensation between two pairs of conductors that extend from its input terminals to its output terminals along interconnection paths. Electrical signals on one pair of conductors are coupled onto the other pair of conductors in two or more compensation stages that are time delayed with respect to each other. Illustratively, the electrical connector is a modular jack that is adapted to receive a modular plug 20. Associated with the modular plug and the input of the modular jack there exists a known amount of offending crosstalk A.sub.0, which is approximately canceled by the two or more stages of compensating crosstalk. In a first stage, compensating crosstalk A.sub.1 is introduced between the pairs, and it has a first predetermined magnitude and phase at a given frequency. In a second stage, compensating crosstalk A.sub.