(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Austerman, III et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,650,622 B1
`Nov. 18,2003
`
`US006650622B1
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH
`ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
`
`Inventors: John F. Austerman, III, Huntington
`Woods, MI (US); Marshall B.
`Cummings, Troy, MI (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: ChriMar Systems, Inc., Farmington
`Hills, MI (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`Appl. No.: 09/370,430
`Filed:
`Aug. 9, 1999
`
`(63)
`(60)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation-in-part of application No. PCT/US99/07846,
`?led on Apr. 8, 1999.
`Provisional application No. 60/081,279, ?led on Apr. 10,
`1998.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ........................ .. H04L 12/12; G08B 13/14
`US. Cl. ................................... .. 370/241; 340/568.1
`Field of Search ............................... .. 370/527, 252,
`370/241, 242, 445, 446, 419, 420, 421,
`463, 426; 340/5682, 568.4, 568.1, 571,
`572.1, 687, 573.4, 573.1, 505, 506; 375/222
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,359,379 A 12/1967 Pullum et al.
`3,407,400 A 10/1968 Lurie ....................... .. 340/517
`3,408,643 A 10/1968 Sliman
`. 340/568.1
`3,537,095 A 10/1970 Cones
`..... .. 340/517
`3,696,378 A 10/1972 Daniel ................... .. 340/568.2
`3,794,989 A
`2/1974 Manley et al. ............ .. 340/517
`3,863,036 A
`1/ 1975 McCrudden
`3,932,857 A
`1/1976 Way et al. ............. .. 340/568.2
`4,121,201 A 10/1978 Weathers
`4,156,799 A
`5/1979 Cave
`4,230,912 A 10/1980 Lee et al.
`4,273,955 A
`6/1981 Armstrong .............. .. 178/69 G
`
`7/1982 SbuelZ ..................... .. 370/250
`4,340,788 A
`1/1985 McCune
`4,495,494 A
`(List continued on neXt page.)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9/1996
`WO 96/29638
`SE
`3/1997
`WO 97/09667
`SE
`1/ 1996
`WO PCT/IB96/00223
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)”, International
`Telecommunication Union, vol. III, Fascicle 1118, pp.
`175—176 and 204—209 (Nov. 14—25, 1988).
`Track—It for Windows, 3 pages.
`Visual Audit Pro, 2 pages.
`(List continued on neXt page.)
`Primary Examiner—Chau Nguyen
`Assistant Examiner—Soon-Dong Hyun
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Harness, Dickey & Pierce,
`P.L.C.
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a
`communication system (17) is provided for generating and
`monitoring data over pre-eXisting conductors (2A—2D)
`between associated pieces of networked computer equip
`ment (3A—3D). The system includes a communication
`device (12) attached to the electronic equipment that trans
`mits information to a central module (15) by impressing a
`low frequency signal on the pre-eXisting data lines of the
`remotely located equipment. A receiver (6) in the central
`module (15) monitors the low frequency data on the data
`lines to determine the transmitted information of the elec
`tronic equipment. The communication device may also be
`powered by a low current power signal from the central
`module (15). The power signal to the communication device
`may also be ?uctuated to provide useful information, such as
`status information, to the communication device. Relocation
`of the electronic equipment with attached communication
`device to another location on the network is detected imme
`diately and may be used to update a database. This invention
`is particularly adapted to be used with an existing Ethernet
`communications link or equivalents thereof.
`
`20 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2026-1
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US 6,650,622 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,617,656 A * 10/1986 Kobayashi et al. ....... .. 370/445
`4,631,367 A 12/1986 Coviello et al.
`4,636,771 A
`1/1987 OCllS
`4,654,640 A * 3/1987 Carll et al. ............ .. 340/5682
`4,670,902 A
`6/1987 Naiwirt
`4,674,084 A
`6/1987 SuZuki et al. ............. .. 370/509
`4,719,616 A
`1/1988 Akano ...................... .. 370/527
`4,731,829 A
`3/1988 Bonnet et al.
`4,733,223 A
`3/1988 Gilbert ..................... .. 340/505
`4,733,389 A
`3/1988 Puvogel
`4,736,195 A
`4/ 1988 McMurtry et al.
`4,760,382 A
`7/1988 Faulkner ................ .. 340/5682
`4,782,322 A 11/1988 Lechner et al. ...... .. 340/310.02
`4,813,066 A
`3/1989 HoltZ et al.
`4,896,315 A
`1/1990 Felker et al. ............. .. 370/252
`4,935,959 A
`6/1990 Markovic et al.
`5,034,723 A
`7/1991 Maman ................. .. 340/5682
`5,034,978 A
`7/1991 Nguyen et al.
`5,136,580 A
`8/1992 Videlock et al.
`5,142,269 A
`8/1992 Mueller
`5,144,544 A
`9/1992 Jenneve et al.
`5,231,375 A
`7/1993 Sanders et al. ........ .. 340/568.2
`5,243,328 A
`9/1993 Lee et al.
`5,301,246 A * 4/1994 Archibald et al. ........ .. 375/222
`5,365,515 A 11/1994 Graham
`5,406,260 A
`4/1995 Cummings et al. .... .. 340/568.2
`5,578,991 A 11/1996 Scholder
`5,675,321 A 10/1997 McBride ................ .. 340/5682
`5,692,917 A 12/1997 Rieb et al. ................ .. 439/225
`5,715,174 A
`2/1998 Cotichini et al.
`5,821,868 A 10/1998 Kuhling
`5,929,778 A * 7/1999 Asama et al. .......... .. 340/10.51
`5,963,557 A * 10/1999 Eng ........... ..
`370/432
`6,021,493 A * 2/2000 Cromer et al. ............ .. 713/200
`6,064,305 A
`5/2000 Lockyer
`6,130,894 A * 10/2000 Ojard et al. .............. .. 370/421
`6,147,603 A 11/2000 Rand .......... ..
`340/5682
`6,172,606 B1
`1/2001 Lockyer ..... ..
`340/5682
`6,344,794 B * 2/2002 Ulrich et al. .......... .. 340/573.1
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`a1, Les Installations Terminales
`et
`Lavoisard, J .L.
`D’Abonnes, Commutation & Transmission No. 3, 1987, pp.
`35—50.
`An Interoperable Solution for FDDI Signaling Over
`Shielded Twisted Pair, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., May
`21, 1991, 9 pgs.
`FDDI on Copper with AMD PHY, Advanced Micro Devices,
`1991, 8 pgs.
`Information Processing Systems—Fibre Distributed Data
`Interface (FDDI) Part 1: Token Ring Physical Layer Proto
`col (PHY), Global Engineering Documents, 1989, 38 pgs.
`
`Information Processing Systems—Fibre Distributed Data
`Interface (FDDI) Part 3: Physical Layer Medium Depen
`dent, Global Engineering Documents, 1989, 55 pgs.
`Information Processing Systems—Fibre Distributed Data
`Interface (FDDI) Part 2: Token Ring Media Access Control
`(MAC), Global Engineering Documents, 1989, 75 pgs.
`“Attachment Module Guide for the IBM Token—Ring Net
`wor ”, IBM, Apr. 1992.
`“Token Ring Access Method”, The Institute of Electrical and
`Electronics Engineers, Inc., 1985, 80 pages.
`LattisNet System 3000 Ethernet Connectivity Guide, Syn
`Optics Communications, Inc., Sep. 1991, 19 pages.
`Stallings, William, Local Networks (Second Edition), 435
`pages.
`FDDI Metallic Media—Shielded Twisted Pair Physical
`Layer Medium Dependent, British Telecom, Oct. 15, 1991.
`Letter of Assurance Process Flowchart, IEEE, 2 pages.
`IEEE—SA Standards Board Bylaws, 3 pages.
`Keller, R. et a1, “Performance Bottlenecks in Digital Movie
`Systems”, Proceedings of the 4’I1 International Workshop on
`Network and Operating System Support for Digital Audio
`and Video, Lancaster, U.K., Nov. 1993, 13 pages.
`LattisNet System 3000 Ethernet Connectivity Guide, Syn
`Optics Communications, Inc., Sep. 1991, 12 pages.
`Chapter I LattisNet Operation, Ethernet Connectivity Guide,
`145 pages.
`LattisNet System 3000 Ethernet Connectivity Guide, Sep.
`1991, 19 pages.
`Technical Response Center, Technical Tip, Bay Networks, 2
`pages.
`LattisNet System 3000 Ethernet Connectivity Guide, Sep.
`1991, 7 pages.
`Local Area Networks, Managing the Physical Layer, Inter
`national Data Corporation, Mar. 1990, 36 pages.
`Levine, Judity, FDDI Spec Consortium, 21 pages.
`Stallings, William, Local Networks, An Introduction.
`An Interoperable Solution for FDDI Signaling Over
`Shielded Twisted Pair, Advanced Micro Devices, May 21,
`1991, 25 pages.
`Token Ring Network Architecture Reference, IBM, 15
`pages.
`Reference Data for Engineers: Radio, Electronics, Computer
`and Communications, 1989, 17 pages.
`IEEE Network Magazine, vol. 1, No. 1, Jan. 1987, 30 pages.
`System Consideration for Multisegment 10 Mb/s Baseband
`Networks, (Section 13) and Twisted Pair Medium Attach
`ment Unit (MAU) and Baseband Medium, Type 10BASE—T
`(Section 14), 33 pages.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2026-2
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 18,2003
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`US 6,650,622 B1
`
`1
`SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH
`ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part under
`35U.S.C.§111 and §120 of international application PCT/
`US99/07846, ?led Apr. 8, 1999, designating, inter alia, the
`United States, and Which claims the bene?t of US. provi
`sional application No. 60/081,279 ?led Apr. 10, 1998.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1.Technical Field
`This invention relates generally to computer netWorks
`and, more particularly, to a netWork management and secu
`rity system for managing, tracking, and identifying remotely
`located electronic equipment on a netWork.
`2. Discussion
`Over the last several years, one of the largest problems in
`managing the computeriZed office environment has been
`identi?ed as controlling the Total Cost of OWnership, or
`TCO, of the office computer. Controlling TCO includes not
`only the cost of the asset but also all costs associated With
`that asset, such as support costs, softWare costs, and costs
`due to loss or theft, including hardWare, softWare, and most
`importantly, information.
`An aspect of the support costs of TCO is asset movement.
`Today, many employees have more than one computer.
`When that employee is moved to another location, the assets
`must be moved as Well. A typical organiZation can have as
`much as 40% of its employees move from one location to
`another over the course of a year. When these movements
`occur daily, tracking each asset over time is nearly impos
`sible. There is also the unauthoriZed movement of assets,
`such as moving an asset from an employee’s of?ce to his or
`her associated lab area. In addition to these physical
`movements, the asset may also be changed over time
`through hardWare and softWare modi?cations. Even if an
`asset is successfully tracked over a period of time, the asset
`may not be the same at the end of the period. Due to this
`constant asset relocation and reorganiZation, an organiZation
`may not alWays knoW Where all of its assets are located. In
`fact, it is very likely that a company may not even knoW hoW
`many assets they oWn or if those assets are still in their
`possession. Additionally, an organiZation that desires to send
`a message to all of the assets Within a particular physical
`area is limited to relying on databases that correlate the
`netWork identi?cation of an asset to Where that asset should
`be located, not Where the asset actually is located. Previous
`attempts to provide asset tracking and management have
`relied on softWare solutions that have proven to be funda
`mentally ?aWed. Asset tracking and management softWare is
`limited in a number of important areas. It is generally
`incapable of detecting the electrical connection status of
`equipment, it cannot detect the physical location of
`equipment, the identifying name of equipment is not
`permanent, and the monitored assets must be poWered-up.
`Therefore, a method for permanently identifying an asset
`by attaching an external or internal device to the asset and
`communicating With that device using existing netWork
`Wiring is desirable. Also, it is desirable to communicate With
`an asset based upon the physical location of the asset.
`Additionally, a method of determining When an asset is
`being removed or added to the netWork is desirable. It Would
`also be desirable to communicate With the device Without
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`requiring the device or the asset to be connected to alter
`nating current (AC) poWer. Such a device Would alloW a
`company to track its assets, locate any given asset, and count
`the total number of identi?ed assets at any given time, thus
`signi?cantly reducing its TCO of identi?ed assets.
`One method that attempted to control the hardWare theft
`aspect of TCO is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 5,406,260 issued
`to Cummings et. al, (hereby incorporated by reference)
`Which discusses a means of detecting the unauthoriZed
`removal of a netWorked device by injecting a loW current
`poWer signal into each existing communications link. A
`sensor monitors the returning current How and can thereby
`detect a removal of the equipment. This method provides a
`means to monitor the connection status of any netWorked
`electronic device thus providing an effective theft detection/
`deterrent system.
`It Would, hoWever, be desirable to provide a further means
`in Which a netWorked device may also be identi?ed by a
`unique identi?cation number using the existing netWork
`Wiring as a means of communicating this information back
`to a central location. More particularly, it is desirable to
`provide a means for identi?cation that feasibly employs
`conductors provided through an existing data communica
`tion link. In addition, it is desirable to provide an identi?
`cation system that is easily and inexpensively implemented
`in an existing netWork system.
`The theft of information is a further aspect of TCO. Today,
`the most important resources a company has are its employ
`ees and the information that they create and accumulate.
`Information that is available on a company’s internal net
`Work can range from personnel ?les and corporate business
`plans to research and development efforts related to neW
`products. Restricting access to sensitive or con?dential
`information such as personnel ?les is a high priority for all
`companies. The use of passWords and limiting access to
`certain types of information to particular computer stations
`are typical methods that companies employ to protect infor
`mation. These passive methods of protecting company infor
`mation are suf?cient to prevent technically unknoWledge
`able people from gaining access to protected information.
`HoWever, these methods are usually unable to protect infor
`mation from a technically knoWledgeable person With spe
`cialiZed electronic equipment. The existence of an unautho
`riZed device connected to the company netWork may
`indicate the presence of someone With electronic equipment
`that has the capability to defeat a company’s internal secu
`rity measures. A method of blocking communications With
`such a device connected to a netWork is desirable. Further,
`automatically blocking communications With an unautho
`riZed device is desirable. An active system that interrogates
`the devices connected to a netWork and blocks communi
`cations With unauthoriZed devices Would provide enhanced
`security for sensitive information.
`A further aspect of support costs is the cost associated
`With utiliZation of netWork bandWidth. Today, the bandWidth
`of most netWorks is being constantly increased to meet the
`increasing need to transmit large quantities of data. In order
`to provide the required bandWidth costly hardWare upgrades
`must be purchased resulting in an increase in the TCO. To
`reduce the need for hardWare upgrades the use of available
`netWork bandWidth is dedicated to data that is required for
`the operation of application programs. Using valuable net
`Work bandWidth to provide a means of identifying assets
`Would either limit the availability of bandWidth for appli
`cation programs or require the purchase of neW hardWare.
`Additionally, using netWork bandWidth for asset identi?ca
`tion Would limit the identi?cation system to operating only
`
`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2026-16
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US 6,650,622 B1
`
`3
`When the asset has AC power applied. Assemblies Within the
`asset Would have to be operational in order to transmit data
`over the network. Requiring poWer to be applied to every
`monitored asset Would limit the capability to identify all the
`assets connected to a netWork at any particular time.
`Therefore, it is desirable to provide a means for asset
`identi?cation that does not use existing netWork bandWidth.
`Such a device Would more fully utiliZe existing netWork
`resources Without increasing the TCO associated With net
`Work bandWidth.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In accordance With the teachings of the present invention,
`a communication system is provided for generating and
`monitoring data over pre-existing conductors betWeen asso
`ciated pieces of netWorked computer equipment. The system
`includes a communication device attached to the electronic
`equipment that transmits information to a central module by
`impressing a loW frequency signal on the pre-existing data
`lines of the remotely located equipment. A receiver in the
`central module monitors the loW frequency data on the data
`lines to determine the transmitted information of the elec
`tronic equipment. The communication device may also be
`poWered by a loW current poWer signal from the central
`module. The poWer signal to the communication device may
`also be ?uctuated to provide useful information, such as
`status information, to the communication device. Relocation
`of the electronic equipment With attached communication
`device to another location on the netWork is detected imme
`diately and may be used to update a database. This invention
`is particularly adapted to be used With an existing Ethernet
`communications link or equivalents thereof.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Other objects and advantages of the present invention Will
`become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the
`folloWing detailed description and upon reference to the
`draWings in Which:
`FIG. 1 is a general block diagram that illustrates a
`netWork that includes a communication system in accor
`dance With a ?rst embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective vieW that illustrates
`installation of the central module into an existing computer
`netWork in accordance With the ?rst embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates the ?rst embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is an interconnection diagram that illustrates a
`second embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates a central module
`made in accordance With the teachings of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 6 is a detailed schematic diagram of the central
`module in accordance With the second embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram that illustrates a remote module
`made in accordance With the teachings of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 8 is a detailed schematic diagram that illustrates a
`central module in accordance With the second embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram that illustrates alternate circuits for
`blocking communications in accordance With an embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 10 is a detailed schematic diagram Which illustrates
`a remote module and a central receiver module coupled to a
`
`4
`netWork in accordance With the third embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a perspective vieW of one embodiment of the
`hardWare for the remote module;
`FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective vieW of the hardWare
`of FIG. 11;
`FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional vieW of the hardWare shoWn
`mounted to a computer;
`FIG. 14 is a perspective vieW of an alternative embodi
`ment of the hardWare for the remote module;
`FIG. 15 illustrates the installation of the hardWare of FIG.
`14 into a computer;
`FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of an electronic
`tether in accordance With the fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional vieW of an electronic tether
`used in connection With the fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 18 is a schematic representation of circuitry for the
`fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 19a is a block diagram that illustrates a system for
`electronically identifying an object made in accordance With
`the teachings of the present invention;
`FIG. 19b is a cross-sectional vieW of an ID sender tag
`used in connection With the system for electronically iden
`tifying an object;
`FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of circuitry used in
`a system for electronically identifying an object;
`FIG. 21 is a perspective vieW that illustrates installation of
`an ID sender tag and decoder plug; and
`FIG. 22 is a perspective vieW that illustrates an ID sender
`tag and decoder plug interconnected by a serial bus.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Four embodiments of the invention are illustrated Within
`this speci?cation. The ?rst embodiment illustrates the gen
`eral teachings of the invention, Whereas the second, third,
`and fourth embodiments depict speci?c implementations of
`the teachings. Turning noW to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a ?rst
`embodiment of a central module and remote module 16
`system is provided therein for achieving identi?cation of
`electronic computer equipment associated With a computer
`netWork 17. Although, the ?rst embodiment depicts merely
`communicating equipment identi?cation information, the
`principles of the invention may be readily extended to
`include the communication of more general information
`such as identi?cation of the equipment processor type and
`the equipment harddrive capacity. In general, the central
`module 15 monitors remote module circuitry 16 that may be
`permanently attached to remotely located electronic Work
`stations such as personal computers 3A through 3D over the
`computer netWork 17. The communication system 15 and 16
`described herein is particularly adapted to be easily imple
`mented in conjunction With an existing computer netWork 17
`While realiZing minimal interference to the computer net
`Work. In addition to being implemented from the hub of a
`netWork to remotely located PCs, the invention can be
`applied to other elements of an office environment such as
`telephones, fax machines, robots, and printers. The inven
`tion is particularly suitable for being incorporated into a
`patchpanel. The asset aWare patchpanel Would then be
`capable of identifying the existence and location of netWork
`assets Without poWer being applied to the assets.
`Remotely located personal computers 3A through 3D are
`each connected to the computer netWork 17 so as to provide
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`Chrimar Systems, Inc.
`Exhibit 2026-17
`IPR2016-00573 USPN 9,019,838
`
`

`
`US 6,650,622 B1
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`10
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`15
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`25
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`Widespread remote user access to the computer network 17.
`The remotely located personal computers 3A through 3D are
`shoWn connected to hub 1 via data communication links 2A
`through 2D. Data communication links 2A through 2D
`include a plurality of transmit and receive data communi
`cation links for communicating information betWeen each of
`remotely located computers 3A through 3D and other com
`munication devices on the netWork such as other computers
`and ?le servers (not shoWn).
`The invention described herein is particularly suited to be
`implemented in conjunction With a computer netWork 17
`Which preferably employs a conventional Wiring approach
`of the type Which may include tWisted pair Wiring such as
`Ethernet, Token Ring, or ATM. Wiring schemes similar to
`Ethernet are commonly employed to provide data commu
`nication links for electronic computer equipment. In accor
`dance With conventional Wiring approaches, data commu
`nication links 2A—2D generally include a pair of transmit
`Wires (not shoWn) as Well as a pair of receive Wires (not
`shoWn) connected to each of personal computers 3A through
`3D. Each pair of transmit and receive Wires are internally
`coupled to an associated personal computer via tWo Wind
`ings of an internally located isolation transformer (not
`shoWn). Each pair of transmit Wires and each pair of receive
`Wires thereby form a current loop through one of the
`personal computers 3A through 3D Which is advantageously
`employed in accordance With the approach described herein.
`The central module 15 includes an isolation poWer supply
`8 (see FIG. 3) Which supplies a continuous direct current
`(DC) poWer supply to each of current loops 2A through 2D.
`The DC poWer supply has a loW current preferably on the
`order of magnitude of about 1 mA. The isolation poWer
`supply 8 includes an input terminal for receiving a loW
`voltage signal VLV Which has a magnitude of approximately
`?fteen (15) volts. The present embodiment of the invention
`sources DC current from a 15 volt source to the remote
`modules 16. HoWever, it is Within the scope of the invention
`to provide other voltage levels such as 3V dc, and 20V dc.
`Although the present embodiment sources current for the
`immediate poWer needs of the remote module, it is also
`Within the scope of the invention to supply current to charge
`a battery, capacitor bank, or other energy storage device that
`poWers the remote module. Additionally, poWering the
`remote module from some other source such as a primary
`battery, rechargeable battery or capacitor bank that receives
`energy from a source other than the central module is Within
`the scope of the invention.
`The poWer generated by isolation poWer supply 8 is
`passed through signal modulator 7 Which can slightly alter
`the voltage supplied by isolation poWer supply 8 based upon
`status data provided by the status data encoder 9. Status data
`encoder 9 receives its status data from the ?rmWare kernel
`4. Signal modulator 7 inserts this loW poWer supply across
`the transmit and receive lines or into either the transmit lines
`or the receive lines in order to supply the remote module 16
`With both status information and poWer. The scope of the
`invention includes transmitting status information as a single
`bit or as a pulse train. Types of transmitted status informa
`tion include Whether the protection circuit is active, date,
`time, and port location. It is also Within the scope of the
`invention to encode the status data using methods such as
`single bit on/off, Manchester, 4B/5B, and Frequency Shift
`Keying
`Isolation poWer supply 13 draWs poWer for the remote
`module 16 and provides status information that Was encoded
`into the poWer supply signal by signal modulator 7 Within
`the central module 15. This status information is in turn
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`passed over to the ?rmWare kernel 10 of the remote module
`16 by Way of the status data reader 14.
`FirmWare kernel 10 provides a preprogrammed unique
`identi?cation number to Manchester encoder 11 in order to
`reliably traverse the data communication link 2A. The
`Manchester encoder then passes this encoded number to
`signal transmitter 12 Which sends the encoded number
`across the data communication link 2A by altering the total
`current draW of the remote module 16. Although the present
`embodiment of the invention uses Manchester encoding, the
`principles of the invention may be readily extended to other
`encoding techniques such as Frequency Shift Keying,
`4B/5B, PAM5x5, 8B/6T, Polar NRZ, and Bipolar.
`Additionally, Waveshaping the encoded signal With tech
`niques such as MLT-3 is Within the scope of the invention.
`In addition to transmitting an identi?cation number the
`?rmWare kernel 10 may also elect to send additional infor
`mation such as con?rmation of the status information or
`additional data provided by an external device 18, such as
`the computer 3A to Which the remote module 16 is attached.
`The information sent from the remote module 16 is
`received by the signal receiver 6 Within the central module
`15, decoded by Manchester decoder 5, and passed on to the
`?rmWare kernel 4. The ?rmWare kernel may noW pass this
`received information on to an external device 19, such as a
`computer responsible for asset tracking.
`Kernel 4 may optionally provide a blocking signal to
`blocking circuit 20 to deny, to an unauthoriZed computer,
`access to the netWork information via hub 1. For example,
`if someone uses a laptop to attempt to plug into the netWork,
`the central module 15 detects the absence of the proper
`identi?cation code from the laptop and, as noted before,
`kernel 4 Would issue a suitable signal to blocking circuit 20
`to prevent access to the netWork information and also
`generate an alarm. Furthermore, if the potential thief later
`disconnects protected equipment from the netWork, this
`action is also detected and an alarm can be generated.
`Although the present embodiment illustrates the blocking
`function as shorting the data lines together 131 (see FIG. 9),
`it is Within the scope of the invention to implement blocking
`by other means, such as opening both lines of the transmit
`or receive data lines 130, opening one of the data lines 132,
`and transmitting noise onto the data lines 134.
`FIGS. 4—8 illustrate a second embodiment of the inven
`tion Which generally differs from the ?rst embodiment by
`having circuitry that transmits a modulated signal directly to
`central module 15a from remote module 16a. In the ?rst
`embodiment current sourced from