Systems and methods for network port occupancy state change monitoring using low energy wireless communications
Systems and methods for network port monitoring using low energy wireless communications are provided. In one embodiment, a device comprises: at least one port module, the at least one port module comprising one or more connector ports each configured to receive a connector of a network data cable; and a port state sensor that includes a port sensing circuit coupled to a sensor controller, wherein the port sensing circuit is configured to sense a port state for the one or more connector ports; wherein the sensor controller is configured to input the port state from the port sensing circuit, wherein in response to detecting a change in the port state from the port sensing circuit, the sensor controller wirelessly transmits port state information to a port state monitor.
1. A device, the device comprising:
at least one port module, the at least one port module comprising one or more connector ports each configured to receive a connector of a network data cable; and
a port state sensor that includes a port sensing circuit coupled to a sensor controller, wherein the port sensing circuit is configured to sense a port state for the one or more connector ports;
wherein the sensor controller is configured to input the port state from the port sensing circuit, wherein in response to detecting a change in the port state from the port sensing circuit, the sensor controller wirelessly transmits port state information to a port state monitor; and
wherein the sensor controller is configured to switch from a low power mode to an active power mode in response to detecting the change in the port state.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a chassis; and
the port state monitor;
wherein the port state monitor, the port state sensor and the at least one port module are installed within the chassis.
3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a chassis; and
the port state monitor;
wherein the port state sensor and the at least one port module are installed within the chassis;
wherein the port state monitor is located outside the chassis, and is coupled to at least one antenna element installed within the chassis.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more connector ports comprise either fiber optic network data cable connector ports, electrical conductor network data cable connector ports, or hybrid network data cable connector ports.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor controller wirelessly transmits port state information to the port state monitor using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the port sensing circuit comprises a respective switch associated with each of the one or more connector ports, wherein the respective switch changes state in response to either an insertion of the connector into the one or more connector ports or a removal of the connector from the one or more connector ports.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor controller comprises:
a processor coupled to a memory;
an I/O port, wherein the port sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor controller through the I/O port, and where the processor is configured to input the port state from the port sensing circuit;
a wireless communication circuit coupled to the processor, wherein the sensor controller wirelessly transmits the port state information to the port state monitor using the wireless communication circuit.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the port state monitor further comprises:
a wireless communication circuit configured to receive the port state information from the sensor controller;
a processor coupled to a memory and configured to input the port state information and store the port state information in the memory;
a network interface circuit coupled to the processor, wherein the network interface circuit communicatively couples the port state monitor with a network;
wherein, in response to receiving the port state information from the sensor controller, the processor forwards the port state information to an automated infrastructure management system via the network.
9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to wirelessly communicate using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.
10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the sensor controller further comprises one or more profiles that define and implement services executed by the processor and are accessible to the port state monitor, wherein the one or more profiles include at least a Port Module Service comprising a plurality of data objects associated with the one or more connector ports of the at least one port module, wherein the plurality of data objects comprise at least at port state data object that stores the port state for the one or more connector ports as sensed by the port sensing circuit.
11. The device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to switch operating modes between the low power mode and the active power mode;
wherein when the processor is operating in the low power mode, the wireless communication circuit transmits a heartbeat beacon to the sensor controller at a first periodicity;
wherein when the processor senses a change in the port state from the port sensing circuit, the processor switches from the low power mode to the active power mode, wherein while in the active power mode, the processor:
begins transmitting an advertising message the port state monitor indicating that a port state change has occurred;
transmits the port state information to the port state monitor; and
in response to confirming that the port state monitor has received the port state information, switches from the active power mode back to the active power mode.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the port state monitor comprise at least one interface or web service accessible from the network.
13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the port state monitor further receives configuration information associated with the at least one port module from the port state monitor and stores the configuration information in the memory.
14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the port state monitor determines whether the port state sensor has completed an initial configuration process based on whether the Port Module Service is activated.
15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of data objects of the Port Module Service further comprise data objects that store data for one or more of:
a module identifier, a module type, a slot number, a slot position, a number of ports, or a port type.
16. The device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more profiles further includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol defined Device Information Service (DIS) and Battery Service (BAS).
17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the heartbeat beacon comprises information about the current charge of a battery powering the port state sensor.
18. A network port state monitoring system, the system comprising:
a port state sensor that includes a port sensing circuit coupled to a sensor controller, wherein the port sensing circuit is configured to sense a port state for one or more connector ports of a device, the one or more connector ports each configured to receive a connector of a network data cable;
a port state monitor, wherein the sensor controller is configured to input the port state from the port sensing circuit, wherein in response to detecting a change in the port state from the port sensing circuit, the sensor controller wirelessly transmits port state information to the port state monitor; and
wherein the sensor controller is configured to switch from a low power mode to an active power mode in response to detecting the change in the port state.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the sensor controller wirelessly transmits port state information to the port state monitor using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the sensor controller comprises:
a processor coupled to a memory;
an I/O port, wherein the port sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor controller through the I/O port, and where the processor is configured to input the port state from the port sensing circuit;
a wireless communication circuit coupled to the processor, wherein the sensor controller wirelessly transmits the port state information to the port state monitor using the wireless communication circuit.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the sensor controller further comprises one or more profiles that define and implement services executed by the processor and are accessible to the port state monitor, wherein the one or more profiles include at least a Port Module Service comprising a plurality of data objects associated with the one or more connector ports of the at least one port module, wherein the plurality of data objects comprise at least at port state data object that stores the port state for the one or more connector ports as sensed by the port sensing circuit.
22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to switch operating modes between the low power mode and the active power mode;
wherein when the processor is operating in the low power mode, the wireless communication circuit transmits a heartbeat beacon to the sensor controller at a first periodicity;
wherein when the processor senses a change in the port state from the port sensing circuit, the processor switches from the low power mode to the active power mode, wherein while in the active power mode, the processor:
begins transmitting an advertising message the port state monitor indicating that a port state change has occurred;
transmits the port state information to the port state monitor; and
in response to confirming that the port state monitor has received the port state information, switches from the active power mode back to the active power mode.
23. The system of claim 18 , wherein the port state monitor further comprises:
a wireless communication circuit configured to receive the port state information from the sensor controller;
a processor coupled to a memory and configured to input the port state information and store the port state information in the memory;
a network interface circuit coupled to the processor, wherein the network interface circuit communicatively couples the port state monitor with a network;
wherein, in response to receiving the port state information from the sensor controller, the processor forwards the port state information to an automated infrastructure management system via the network.
24. The system of claim 20 , wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to wirelessly communicate using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol.
25. The system of claim 21 , wherein the port state monitor determines whether the port state sensor has completed an initial configuration process based on whether the Port Module Service is activated.
26. The system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of data objects of the Port Module Service further comprise data objects that store data for one or more of:
a module identifier, a module type, a slot number, a slot position, a number of ports, or a port type.
27. The system of claim 21 , wherein the one or more profiles further includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol defined Device Information Service (DIS) and Battery Service (BAS).
28. The system of claim 22 , wherein the heartbeat beacon comprises information about the current charge of a battery powering the port state sensor.