Solving Your Network Connectivity
Prominent Features
- Real-time Current Measuring: Measurement of electrical current flowing through each patch panel port onto the cable.
- Port Control: Users can turn patch panel ports on and off manually or through scheduling.
- Power Consumption Monitoring: Users can monitor the power consumed by powered devices.
- Port Mapping: Automated discovery of the physical connection between network switch ports and IoT patch panel ports.
Countable Benefits
- Boosts compliance by helping to ensure commercial building and energy codes are met.
- Provide an additional layer of physical network security by preventing unauthorized network port access and a quick way to power cycle a powered device.
- Prevents power budget overrun and reduces time troubleshooting powered device issues.
- Troubleshoot network issues quickly and efficiently by keeping track of network connectivity changes and identifying the location of devices on the network.
Interactive Tour
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Guided UI/UX Tour
Site Navigation & Metrics
The software provides easy navigation and key metrics across multiple sites. The navigation tree structure supports the management of IoT patch panel systems deployed in enterprise building networks. Note the following:
- Navigation tree structure shows site, campus, building, floor, telecom room, and rack information.
- Dashboard displays key site metrics.
- Filtering provides a more granular level, location-specific dashboard with key metrics.
- Toggling between sites is simple and intuitive.
NEC Compliance Management
The IoT patch panel system dynamically calculates the current threshold using the ampacity tables in NEC 725.144 and the worst-case (or average) ambient temperature. Note the following:
- Worst-case ambient temperature along the cable pathway entered by the user.
- Cable bundle consists of (16) 23 AWG cables with a 75° C rated jacket.
- At an ambient temperature of 30° C, the current threshold is 1110mA per conductor.
- When the ambient temperature increases to 45° C, the current threshold is reduced to 910mA per conductor.
Port Scheduling
The IoT patch panel system provides unprecedented control of patch panel ports. Ports can be turned on and off manually or with the port scheduling feature. Note the following:
- User-defined port scheduling enables day-by-day or interval scheduling.
- An information indicator appears on each port when a schedule has been assigned.
- Schedule shows when hovering over the information indicator.
- Assigned port schedule can be easily overridden with the click of a button.
Port Mapping
The IoT patch panel system uses the port accessibility control feature and network switch SMNP function to map each patch panel port to its corresponding switch port. Note the following:
- Simple and intuitive setup procedure for adding switches.
- Ability to map new port connections without remapping existing port connections.
- Switch port view shows mapped connections and location information.
- An information indicator appears on each port when an association with a corresponding switch port has been established.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IoT patch panel system?
The IoT patch panel system consists of the IoT patch panel, software, and optional wireless temperature sensor (WTS).
Is the system commercially available?
No. We are currently conducting beta trials. Once beta trials are completed, we will begin proof of concept (POC) trails. We expect these trials to run during the 2024 fiscal year.
What is the IoT patch panel?
The IoT patch panel consists of patented smart technology that measures current passing through each port, controls port accessibility, and auto-discovers patch cord connections.
Does the IoT panel require special tools for terminating the cable?
No. Cables are terminated in the same manner and with the same punch down tools used on standard patch panels.
Is the channel performance of the cabling system affected by the smart circuitry in the IoT patch panel?
No. The novel design and integration of the detection and control circuitry does not affect the transmission performance. A cabling channel consisting of an IoT patch panel and other NFLEXON cabling products will exceed TIA Category 6 / ISO Class E specifications.
What is port scheduling?
Every IoT patch panel port can be turned on and off manually. Port scheduling is a programmable feature which allows users to schedule when ports turn on and off. A scheduled event can be created on a port-by-port basis or for multiple ports by importing a CSV file.
How does the IoT patch panel help users demonstrate compliance with NEC Section 725.144?
The IoT patch panel system provides pre-programmed features to address the three compliance options specified in the NEC.
- Option 1 specifies the maximum input current shall be 300mA per conductor at an ambient temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. The system uses current monitoring and port accessibility control as a software-controlled circuit breaker which triggers when the injected current exceeds 300mA.
- Option 2 specifies an ampacity table which provides the maximum allowable current per conductor based on specific cable information (gauge, temperature rating, bundle size) and the ambient temperature. The IoT patch panel system continuously calculates the current limit for each conductor using the cable information and ambient temperature. When the injected current exceeds the calculated current limit, the software-controlled breaker will be triggered.
- Option 3 specifies the use of Limited Power (LP) cables which are rated for a specific current carrying capacity per conductor. Unlike LP rated cables which cannot prevent the injected current from exceeding the current rating of the cable, the IoT patch panel system uses current thresholds and the software-controlled circuit breaker for over-current protection.
How does the automated port mapping function work?
The system uses the port accessibility control feature of IoT patch panel and the network switch SMNP function to map each patch panel port accurately and efficiently to its corresponding switch port. The complete network path (logical + physical) can be bridged with this automated mapping function.
Can the network switch perform automated port mapping?
No. Although a switch can detect the device type (and MAC address) that connects to its port, it cannot determine the association between its ports and the patch panel ports in an automated manner.
Can the classification of a powered device (PD) be determined by the system?
Yes. The system can determine the PD classification by measuring and determining the maximum current draw of the PD. It then compares this information to the IEEE PD classifications to assign a class to the PD.
Can the IoT patch panel system determine the power utilization of PoE switches?
Yes. The system can determine the power utilization of managed and unmanaged PoE switches.
How is the power utilization of the PoE switch calculated?
The power utilization is calculated using the power rating of the switch, output voltage of the switch, switch port connection records, and maximum PD current based on its classification.
How is the bundle utilization calculated?
The bundle utilization is calculated based on the ratio between the total amount of current from the energized conductors within a cable bundle and the maximum allowable current for all conductors in the same cable bundle (per NEC 725.144).
How is the bundle utilization function utilized?
Bundle utilization calculates the percentage of cable bundle current capacity that is being utilized. With this information, users can determine if additional PDs can be added to a bundle while maintaining compliance with the NEC.
What is the wireless temperature sensor (WTS)?
A WTS is a battery-powered temperature sensor that transmits data via the Wi-Fi network. It gathers information such as temperature readings, time when the readings were taken, battery status, etc. and can be programmed to take readings and transmit data at certain time intervals.
Are wireless temperature sensors required?
No. Wireless temperature sensors are recommended because they provide a more accurate and up-to-date temperature for the ambient environment. If wireless temperature sensors are not used, the user can manually enter the worst-case ambient temperature along the path where the cables are installed.
Can the system be used to document and track network cabling & connectivity?
Yes. Users can import cabling information (port-to-port connections, cable bundle information, and cable runs) on a link-by-link basis or for multiple links by importing a CSV file.
