An RF antenna grid design in which the antenna array is installed on a
patch panel cover allows for the retrofitting of an RF antenna grid on
existing patch panel based systems without disrupting network operation.
An apparatus for determining connectivity between device ports on a patch
panel and cable ends having corresponding RFID tags attached thereto
comprises a patch panel having a plurality of device ports and a patch
panel cover comprising a plurality of RFID antennas, where each of the
RFID antennas comprises one or more protruding portions thereof, each of
the protruding portions of the RFID antennas being in close physical
proximity to one or more of the plurality of device ports when the patch
panel cover is positioned in a fixed positional relationship to the patch
panel (e.g., when the patch panel cover is "attached" to the patch
panel).