US 7,519,003 B2
System and method for electronically identifying connections of a cross-connect system
Robert J. Koziy, Burnsville, Minn. (US); Gregory C. Pfeiffer, Bloomington, Minn. (US); Leah E. Danzinger, Minnetonka, Minn. (US); John C. Keller, Minneapolis, Minn. (US); and Eric Kar-Wing Sit, Eden Prairie, Minn. (US)
Assigned to ADC Telecommunications, Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn. (US)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2001, as Appl. No. 10/17,653.
Application 10/017653 is a continuation of application No. 08/972159, filed on Nov. 17, 1997, granted, now 6,421,322.
Prior Publication US 2002/0071394 A1, Jun. 13, 2002
Int. Cl. H04J 3/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 370—248  [370/380] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cross-connect system, comprising:
a plurality of termination elements through which cross-connections can be made;
a first communication medium communicatively coupling cross-connected termination elements of the plurality of termination elements, the first communication medium communicating user information signals between cross-connected termination elements of the plurality of termination elements;
a second communication medium communicatively coupling cross-connected termination elements of the plurality of termination elements that is separate from the first communication medium such that the user information signals are communicated only over the first communication medium, the second communication medium communicating connection information signals; and
a processor coupled to the first and second communication mediums, the processor coordinating the communication of the connection information signals via the second communication medium and acquisition of connection information with regard to the cross-connected termination elements.