An addressable outlet for use as part of
local area network based on wiring installed in a building, such as telephone, electrical,
cable television, dedicated wiring, and the like. The use of such wiring for data communications networks in addition to the wiring's primary usage creates a need for ways of determining the condition of the network and monitoring this information remotely. Network condition includes such factors as continuity of wiring, connector status, connected devices, topology,
signal delays, latencies, and routing patterns. Providing basic
processing and addressing capabilities within the outlet permits messaging to and from specific individual outlets, thereby allowing inquiries and reports of the condition of the immediate environment of each outlet. In addition, outlets can be configured with sensors to report on
voltage, temperature, and other measurable quantities.