Methods,systems, and computer program products for using managed port circuitry to map connections among structured cabling apparatus and network devices

A managed- port circuit includes a detection circuit that is disposed in a communication channel between a first local port (105) and a second local port (110) and a controller (115) that is coupled to the detection circuit and is operable to configure the detection circuit in a detection configuration in which the first and second local ports are connected to the controller and a second pass through configuration in which the first and second local ports are connected to each other via the communication channel, the controller being further operable to determine when an end device is connected, to one of the first and second local ports when the detection circuit is in the detection configuration. The managed port circuit is particularly useful in a communication network 100 including a layer-one, structured cabling apparatus or device, such as a patch panel, in which a plurality of channels are defined between patch cord terminations, such as RJ45 connector ports on one side of the panel'l and cable terminations, such as Insulation Displacement Contacts (IDC) on the other side of the panel.