JP3814613B2 - Wiring connection management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiring connection management system for managing information on connection destinations of cables including metal wires and optical fibers.

A conventional cable is attached with a label or tape on which arbitrary characters or barcodes are recorded as management information for management.
When managing cable installation and wiring work in such a state, management is generally performed using a personal computer (PC), etc., but if the management information is text, the person in charge recognizes it. Since input processing is performed on the personal computer, there is a risk that errors such as misrecognition and incorrect input may occur.
In addition, when the medium on which the management information is printed is a label or a tape, it is necessary for the person in charge to recognize the medium so that the medium has a certain size and is collected in the wiring board in the actual usage environment. At this time, the label itself obstructs the handling, and hinders the convenience of handling.
Furthermore, when the material of the medium is paper or the like, it may be damaged during handling. At that time, recognition is impossible and management is impossible.
In addition, when cables are wired to a wiring board or device with a remarkably large number of wires, the medium on which the management information is printed is hidden behind the already wired cables and the individual recognition information cannot be easily recognized. There is a fear.

In order to eliminate these drawbacks, a card that stores management information in a connector connected to a cable, and reads the management information from the card to manage the connection state of the cable has been proposed ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
USP 5821510

  However, in this conventional example, since an embodiment using a card on which a bar code is recorded is taken, the recorded information cannot be changed on the card, the installation and handling of the card is inconvenient, and efficient wiring connection Can not manage.

  The present invention provides a wiring connection management system capable of obtaining the convenience of efficient handling with a simple configuration.

In order to achieve this object, a wiring connection management system according to the present invention includes at least one connection cord having a plug connected to one end thereof, and
A wiring board in which a plurality of adapters coupled to the plug are arranged;
At least two memory function units that are arranged on the connection cord side and the adapter side, respectively, and can write and read information without contact;
A hand-held probe unit having an antenna and a display for accessing and reading the information in a contactless manner by accessing the two memory function units;
An information processing unit for processing the information detected by the probe unit and displaying the processing result;
Predetermined ID information and address information are stored in the at least two memory function units respectively arranged on the connection cord side and the adapter side,
Management information corresponding to a connection state between any one of the plurality of adapters and the plug of the connection cord is obtained from the information processing unit as the processing result.

The information processing unit can be formed integrally with the probe unit.
On the connection cord side, the memory function unit may be arranged on the plug.
On the connection cord side, the memory function unit may be arranged in the cord.
On the adapter side, the memory function unit can be individually provided in a plurality of adapters.
On the adapter side, the memory function unit can be provided collectively for at least one predetermined group of a plurality of adapters.
The probe unit may have information writing and reading functions with respect to the memory function unit.
One or the other of the plug and the adapter is provided with an actuator and a passive element of a proximity sensor, respectively, and a normal connection state of the plug and the adapter and a half-insertion state where the plug and the adapter are not normally connected are It can comprise so that it can distinguish and detect with the output of a passive element.
The ID information may be configured such that an ID obtained by adding a code for distinguishing the both ends to the same unique ID is assigned to both ends of the connection cord.

In the wiring connection management system according to the present invention, since the main part of the detection function is a hand-held control probe, it is very small and the handling complexity is eliminated.
Further, since the reader is directly connected to the personal computer so that the information related to the wiring connection is automatically input, there is no need for human intervention, and there is no information input mistake.
Furthermore, if the processing function of the personal computer is mounted on the hand-held probe and integrated, the structure can be simplified and the convenience of handling can be further improved.

  In the system according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a connection cord 2 connected to a connector plug 3 and an adapter or receptacle (hereinafter referred to as an adapter) 4 into which the plug 3 is inserted are managed. For example, it has memory function units 1a and 1b such as a wireless tag having a non-contact type integrated circuit based on an electromagnetic induction method that has been commercialized as an RFID system and used for IC cards and IC commuter passes. As shown in FIG. 1, the probe unit 5 serving as a reading control device includes an antenna 6 as a sensor for electromagnetically coupling with the memory function units 1 a and 1 b, a control unit 7, and a probe unit 5. A display unit 8 for displaying the processed data and a battery 9 as a power source for the probe unit 5 are provided. In addition, the control unit 7 is connected to the personal computer 10 via the communication path 11 in order to store read / write data.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, when the plug 3 connected to the cord 2 is inserted into the adapter 4, the memory function unit 1 b on the connection cord 2 side via the antenna 6 installed in the probe unit 5 and It communicates with the memory function unit 1a on the adapter 4 side, and functions as the connection cord 2 with a memory function that can identify the connection destination of the cable connected to the adapter 4 by reading information.

In the memory function units 1a and 1b, address information and unique identification information (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as unique ID) are recorded in advance. Each piece of this identification information is unique, and no two pieces of identical information exist.
With such a configuration, the object of the present invention can be achieved by realizing a code with a memory function. The following are specific usage examples corresponding to the purpose.

(1) In the operation of connecting the connector plug 3 of the connection cord 2 to the adapter 4, the address information and the unique ID are written in the memory function portion 1a of the adapter 4 and the memory function portion 1b of the connection cord 2, respectively. If the work date and time and the like are input to the personal computer 10 later, the connection status of each connector can be traced from the address information and the unique ID, and the connection work quality can be improved.
(2) Further, the address information and the unique ID are automatically read by the control unit 7 via the antenna 6 from the memory function units 1a and 1b by bringing the probe unit 5 close to the connection part during each process. Since the data is directly input to the personal computer 10, it is possible to prevent errors such as erroneous recognition, input error, and input forgotten in the prior art as described above.
(3) In the wiring connection management system according to the present invention, the other end of the connection cord is connected in a semi-fixed state, and even when the present invention is applied to one end, the wiring state can be efficiently managed. Is possible.

  In the wiring connection management system according to the present invention, the personal computer 10 and the communication path 11 in FIG. 1 are omitted as shown in FIG. 2, and among the functions provided in the personal computer 10, the plug 3 and the adapter 4 are mutually coupled. Only a function necessary for detecting a state and performing processing and display can be a new probe unit 5 a coupled to the probe unit 5.

  On the connection cord side, the memory function unit 1b may be provided in the plug 3 as shown in FIG. 3A, or may be provided in the connection cord 2 as shown in FIG. 3B.

  On the adapter side, the memory function unit 1a may be provided individually for a plurality of adapters 4 as shown below, or may be provided in a predetermined group.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which one memory function unit 1 is provided for each adapter 4 in the vertical direction with respect to a plurality of adapters 4 arranged in a matrix on the wiring rack 20. In this way, when one memory function unit 1 is arranged for each group, a specific adapter can be designated by group designation and row position designation.

  FIG. 5 shows a plurality of adapters 4 arranged in a matrix on the wiring rack 20 and one memory function unit 1 for each column A, B,... Z in the vertical direction and each row in the horizontal direction. 1, 2, 3... 10 is provided with one memory function unit 1, and one of the numbers (A, B,... Z) and the number (1, 2, 3,. 10), an example in which a desired adapter 4 is displayed by coupling (for example, 1A, 1B,... 10A, 10B,...) With one of 10).

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which the memory function unit 1 is individually provided for all the adapters 4 of the wiring rack 20.

  FIG. 7 shows a case where a proximity sensor actuator 30 and a passive element 31 are provided on the plug 3 and the adapter 4. As a combination of the actuator 30 and the passive element 31, a combination of a magnet and a magnet sensor, a combination of an LED and an optical sensor, or the like can be employed. The output of the passive element 31 can be input to the detection display unit 12 to detect and display whether or not a predetermined detection output has been obtained. The detection display unit 12 may be integrated with the personal computer 10 or may be configured separately. By arranging such a proximity sensor, it is possible to confirm whether the connection between the plug 3 of this connector and the adapter 4 is normal or abnormal (half-insertion state). By adopting it as a determination element of the coupling state, it is possible to perform wiring connection management with higher reliability.

An example of a management operation procedure of the coupling state between the plug 3 and the adapter 4 at each connector in the wiring connection management system according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.
For example, when 10 × 10 = 100 adapters are arranged on the wiring rack 20, it is assumed that the address information is assigned as shown in Table 1 to these adapters. Table 1 is set in a database on the personal computer 10.

  Further, it is assumed that a unique ID is assigned to the memory function 1b on one end side and the other end side of each connection cord for connecting the two wiring racks 20 as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

  In the case where the wiring racks 20 are arranged at both ends of the connection cord, not limited to the unique ID assignment table shown in FIG. 8, both end portions such as a and b are assigned to the same unique ID for each connection cord. An ID to which a code for distinguishing between them is added can be assigned.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the probe unit 5 used in the system of the present invention. In FIG. 9, 50 is a central processing unit (CPU) which forms the center of the control processing in the probe unit 5, 51 is an antenna unit for forming a wireless transmission path for communicating with the memory function units 1, 1a, 1b, An RF reader / writer control unit 52 controls whether the memory function units 1, 1a, and 1b are set in the read mode or the write mode under the control of the CPU 50, and 53 displays pattern information necessary for processing operation. A display control unit 54, a display control unit for controlling the display operation on the display unit 53 under the control of the CPU 50, 55 a data storage memory for storing data necessary for processing by the probe unit 5, 56 a control button, a switch, etc. A control input unit for providing necessary control inputs to the CPU 50, 57 as a battery as a DC power source, and 58 from the battery 57 to the CPU 50 under the control of the CPU. A power control unit for controlling the DC supply.
Further, 59 is an external communication port for forming a data communication path with the personal computer (PC) 10, and 60 is an external communication control unit for controlling data transmission between the personal computer (PC) 10 and the CPU 50 via the external communication port 59. It is.

  With such a configuration, a connection instruction such as a wiring connection pattern exemplified later on the wiring rack 20 sent from the personal computer (PC) 10 is displayed on the display unit 53, and according to this connection instruction, address selection, mode selection, etc. By performing necessary selection control from the control input unit 56, data is written to and read from the memory function unit 1, 1a, 1b at the address selected via the antenna unit 51. Thus, necessary display can be performed on the display unit 53, and further, the processing result can be transmitted to the personal computer (PC) 10 via the external communication port 59 to manage the progress of the wiring connection work.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of the probe unit 5a in which the CPU 50a has a function necessary for managing the wiring connection among the functions of the personal computer (PC) 10 without using the personal computer (PC) 10. Is shown. In this configuration example, each address information added to the adapter and each unique ID added to the plug can be confirmed with a simple display pattern as shown in Table 2 later in each address connector. Suitable for daily wiring connection monitoring work.

In order to further facilitate understanding of the processing operation in the system of the present invention, an example of a conventional wiring connection procedure when the two wiring devices 200 and 300 are connected by the optical fiber connection cable 100 will be described with reference to FIG. I will explain first.
I When the distance between wiring devices is relatively close enough to easily confirm the connection destination at both ends (conventional)
1. Reference is made to a “wiring table” (not shown) indicating to which address adapter each end of the individual connection cable 100 is connected.
2. A connection cable 100 that meets conditions such as a connector type, a cable type, and a length necessary for executing this wiring is selected. In this case, generally, no label is attached to the cable, but labels 202 and 302 are added to the important line as shown in FIG.
3. Next, in one wiring device 200, a label 201 indicating the address of the connection target adapter 204 referred to in the procedure 1 is confirmed.
4). The plug 203 connected to one end of the connection cable 100 is connected to the designated adapter 204 that has been identified in step 3.
5). Refer to the label 301 for the plug 303 connected to the other end of the connection cable 100 in accordance with the steps 1 to 4, and the important line further refers to the designation on the other wiring device 300 side with reference to the label 302. Connect to adapter 304.
6). The connection of the connection cable 100 in this case is completed by the above procedure.
7). When confirming the connection destination of the connection cable 100, the label 201 attached to the adapter 204 on one wiring device 100 side is confirmed, and the other wiring device 300 side follows the connection cable 100 to connect the connection cable 100. The label 301 of the adapter 304 to which the cable 100 is connected is confirmed. At this time, it is necessary to confirm the labels 202 and 302 of the connection cable 100 for the important line.

II When the distance between wiring devices is relatively far enough to make the floors different (conventional)
1. Similarly to the above case, the “wiring table” is referred to.
2. When connecting a plurality of connection cables 100, labels such as 202 and 302 are attached in advance to all the cables, and the connection destination on one end side and the connection destination on the other end side are attached to this label as shown in FIG. The connection cable is selected with reference to this.
3. A label 201 indicating the address of one of the wiring destination adapters 204 is confirmed.
4). The plug 203 connected to one end of the connection cable 100 is connected to the designated adapter 204 displayed on the attached label 202.
5). In the case of connecting a plurality of connection cables 100, the above procedure 1 and procedure 3 are repeated, and after connecting one side of all the connection cables 100, moving to the other side, all the connection cables 100 are connected. Connect the other side.
6). After confirming each label of each connection cable 100 individually from the other end of all the connection cables 100, refer to the labels 302 and 301 for the plug 303 connected to that end in the procedure of step 3. According to the procedure 4, it connects to the designated adapter 304 that has been found out.
7). The connection cable connection in this case is completed by the above procedure.
8). When the connection is changed, the labels 202 and 302 are rewritten or replaced when the plugs 203 and 303 are connected.

  The above is the work procedure performed conventionally. In the system of the present invention, the probe unit 5 is referred to the “wiring target table” displayed on the display screen of the personal computer in the above-described procedures. Therefore, each work is remarkably simplified and the work efficiency and accuracy can be remarkably improved.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 11, 12 and Table 2, an example of a connection procedure in the case where the two wiring devices 200 and 300 are interconnected by the connection cord 2 according to the system of the present invention will be described. A description will be given in contrast to the connection procedure example.

I When the distance between wiring devices is relatively close (the present invention)
1. A “wiring target table” indicating a plurality of pieces of connection information for designating connection relationships of a plurality of wiring targets to be executed in the wiring work is set in a database on the personal computer 10 as shown in Table 2 (part 1), for example. Here, in the first column of Table 2, the connection designation information is “F1” indicating the address of the connection target adapter of the rack 300 and “A1” indicating the address of the connection target adapter of the rack 200.
2. When executing these wiring operations, the table 2 set in the database on the personal computer 10 is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 10 and any of the plurality of wiring objects on the table 2 is the first one. Whether to execute as wiring is designated by a color-coded display or the like in a display column displaying the corresponding wiring target.
Therefore, for example, when the first column in Table 2 is selected, it is specified that “A1 adapter 24 of rack 200” and “F3 adapter 34 of rack 300” are to be connected. It will be.
3.2. In the memory function unit 1a or 1b, the unique IDs (for example, P001a and P001b) are set, respectively. Select the recorded connection code 2.
4). The name strip (label) 201 of the adapter 24 (in this case, A1) in one rack (for example, the rack 200) to which one plug 23 of the selected connection cord 2 is to be connected is confirmed.
5). 2. To the confirmed adapter 24 of A1, Connect one plug 23 of the connection cord 2 selected in (1).
6). The unique ID (P001a) recorded in the memory function unit 1a of the adapter 24 of A1 and the memory function unit 1b of the plug 23 connected to the adapter 24 is read by the probe unit 5, and the (2) of Table 2 To write.
7). In order to connect the other plug 33 of the connection cord 2 to the adapter 34 of the other rack 300, the processing according to the above-mentioned procedure 4 and procedure 5 is executed, and the unique ID (P001b) is shown in Table 2 (Part 3). ) Is written.
8). Thereafter, the same processing is sequentially performed on the wiring objects displayed in Table 2.

II When the distance between wiring devices is relatively long (Invention)
1. A plurality of pieces of connection information for specifying connection relations of a plurality of wiring objects to be executed in the wiring work are set in a database on the personal computer 10 as shown in Table 2 (Part 1), for example. Here, in the first column of Table 2, the connection designation information is “F1” indicating the address of the connection target adapter of the rack 300 and “A1” indicating the address of the connection target adapter of the rack 200.
2. When executing these wiring operations, the table 2 set in the database on the personal computer 10 is displayed on the display screen of the personal computer 10 and any of the plurality of wiring objects on the table 2 is the first one. Whether to execute as wiring is designated by a color-coded display or the like in a display column displaying the corresponding wiring target.
Therefore, for example, when the first column in Table 2 is selected, it is specified that “A1 adapter 24 of rack 200” and “F3 adapter 34 of rack 300” are to be connected. It will be.
3.2. In the memory function unit 1a or 1b, the unique IDs (for example, P001a and P001b) are set, respectively. Select the recorded connection code 2.
4). The name strip (label) 201 of the adapter 24 (in this case, A1) in one rack (for example, the rack 200) to which one plug 23 of the selected connection cord 2 is to be connected is confirmed.
5). One plug 23 of the connection cord 2 selected in 3 is connected to the confirmed adapter A1.
6). The unique ID (P001a) recorded in the memory function part 1a of the adapter 24 of A1 and the memory function part 1b of the plug 23 connected to the adapter 24 is read by the probe part 5, To write.
7). Thereafter, the same processing is sequentially executed for the other wiring objects displayed in Table 2.
8). One plug 23 of the connection cord 2 is connected to the adapter 24 of one rack 200, but the other plug 33 selects the connection cord 2 that is not connected to the adapter 34 of the other rack 300.
9.8. The probe unit 5 reads the unique ID (for example, P001b) recorded in the memory function unit 1b of the plug 33 to which the connection cord 2 selected in (2) is not connected.
10. The unique ID (P001b) is recorded as the unique ID (P001b) by referring to the “connection status” column of Table 2 in which the read unique ID (P001b) is recorded in the database of the personal computer 10. In this case, the unique ID (P001b) recorded in the memory function unit 1b disposed on the other end side of the connection cord 2 to which the one plug 23 is connected is determined. To confirm that “the plug 33 on the other end side should be connected to the adapter 34 of F3 of the other rack 300”.
11. Connect the plug 33 to the F3 adapter 34 confirmed in 10.
12. Thereafter, the processing according to the above procedures 8 to 11 is executed, and the unique ID (P001b) is written as shown in (No. 3) of Table 2.
13. Hereinafter, the same processing is sequentially executed for the other wiring objects displayed in Table 2.

  When the connection between the plug and the adapter described above is confirmed, if the output from the means for determining whether or not the proximity sensor is normally connected described with reference to FIG. Confirmation of normal binding of can be performed.

  The present invention relates to a wiring device for connecting a cable and an in-station facility such as an exchange, and confirms and manages the connection status of adapters and plugs of each connector with a simple configuration by a simple procedure and with high reliability. Therefore, the present invention can be widely applied to the wiring processing work when such a wiring device is newly installed and when the wiring is changed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the Example of this invention system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the other Example of this invention system. It is an external appearance top view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the memory function part used for this invention system. It is a front schematic diagram which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the memory function part in the wiring rack in this invention system. It is front schematic drawing which shows the other example of arrangement | positioning of the memory function part in the wiring rack in this invention system. It is a front schematic diagram which shows the further example of arrangement | positioning of the memory function part in the wiring rack in this invention system. It is a plane top view which shows the structural example which confirms the half-insertion state of the coupling | bonding of the plug of the connector and adapter in this invention system. It is a figure which shows one example of the unique ID allocated to the memory function part located in the both ends of the connection cord used for this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the probe part used for this invention system. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the probe part used for this invention system. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a wiring procedure of the connection cord to which this invention system is applied. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the specific example of the connection operation | work between racks to which this invention system is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a wiring procedure of the connection cable by a conventional system.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a, 1b Memory function part (wireless tag)
2 Connection cord 3 Plug (connector plug)
4 Adapter (Connector / Adapter)
5, 5a Probe part 6 Antenna (sensor)
7 Control unit 8 Display unit 9 Battery 10 Personal computer (PC)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Communication path 20 Wiring rack 23 Plug 24 Adapter 30 Actuator 31 Passive element 33 Plug 34 Adapter 50, 50a CPU
51 Antenna Unit 52 RF Reader / Writer Unit 53 Display Unit 54 Display Control Unit 55 Data Storage Memory 56 Control Input Unit 57 Battery 58 Power Supply Control Unit 59 External Communication Port 60 External Communication Control Unit 100 Connection Cables 102 and 103 Label 200 Wiring Device 201 Label 202 Label 203 Plug 204 Adapter 300 Wiring device 301 Label 302 Label 303 Plug 304 Adapter

Claims (9)

At least one connection cord with a plug connected to one end;
A wiring board in which a plurality of adapters coupled to the plug are arranged;
At least two memory function units that are arranged on the connection cord side and the adapter side, respectively, and can write and read information without contact;
A hand-held probe unit having an antenna and a display for accessing and reading the information in a contactless manner by accessing the two memory function units;
An information processing unit for processing the information detected by the probe unit and displaying the processing result;
Predetermined ID information and address information are stored in the at least two memory function units respectively arranged on the connection cord side and the adapter side,
A wiring connection management system configured such that management information corresponding to a connection state between any one of the plurality of adapters and the plug of the connection cord is obtained from the information processing unit as the processing result.   The wiring connection processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing unit is formed integrally with the probe unit.   The wiring connection management system according to claim 1, wherein the memory function unit is arranged in the plug on the connection cord side.   The wiring connection management system according to claim 1, wherein the memory function unit is arranged in the code on the connection cord side.   5. The wiring connection management system according to claim 1, wherein, on the adapter side, the memory function unit is individually provided in a plurality of adapters. 6.   5. The memory device according to claim 1, wherein the memory function unit is provided collectively for at least one predetermined group of the plurality of adapters on the adapter side. 6. Wiring connection management system.   The wiring connection management system according to claim 1, wherein the probe unit has a function of writing and reading information to and from the memory function unit.   One of the plug and the adapter is provided with an actuator and a passive element of a proximity sensor, respectively, and a normal connection state of the plug and the adapter and a half-insertion state where the plug and the adapter are not normally connected The wiring connection management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wiring connection management system is configured to be detected in accordance with an output of the passive element.   9. The ID information according to claim 1, wherein an ID obtained by adding a code for distinguishing both ends to the same unique ID is assigned to both ends of the connection cord. The wiring connection management system described.

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