An adapted piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment comprising: an Ethernet connector comprising a plurality of contacts; and at least one path coupled across selected contacts, the selected contacts comprising at least one of the plurality of contacts of the Ethernet connector and at least another one of the plurality of contacts of the Ethernet connector, wherein distinguishing information about the piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment is associated to impedance within the at least one path. view more

The piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment according to claim 31 wherein the impedance within the at least one path is part of a detection protocol.

The piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment according to claim 31 wherein the at least one path comprises a controller.

The piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment according to any one of claims 31 through 54 and claim 57 wherein the selected contacts are at least some of the same contacts used for normal network communication.

The piece of Ethernet data terminal equipment according to claim 59 wherein the normal network communication is BaseT Ethernet communication.

A BaseT Ethernet system comprising: a piece of central BaseT Ethernet equipment; a piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment; data signaling pairs of conductors comprising first and second pairs used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals between the piece of central BaseT Ethernet equipment and the piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment, the first and second pairs physically connect between the piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment and the piece of central BaseT Ethernet equipment, the piece of central BaseT Ethernet equipment having at least one DC supply, the piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment having at least one path to draw different magnitudes of current flow from the at least one DC supply through a loop formed over at least one of the conductors of the first pair and at least one of the conductors of the second pair, the piece of central BaseT Ethernet equipment to detect at least two different magnitudes of the current flow through the loop and to control the application of at least one electrical condition to at least two of the conductors. view more

The BaseT Ethernet system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the different magnitudes of current flow through the loop is part of a detection protocol.

The BaseT Ethernet system of claim 1 wherein the piece of central BaseT Ethernet equipment to distinguish the piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment from at least one other piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment.

The BaseT Ethernet system according to any one of claims 1, 10-13, 16-18, 21-32, 35-46, 52-57, 59-66, or 67-71 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment is a powered-off piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

The BaseT Ethernet system according to any one of claims 73, 82-91, 94-107, 108-121, 127-132, 134-129, or 140-144 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment is a powered-off piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

A piece of Ethernet terminal equipment comprising: an Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry Ethernet communication signals, at least one path for the purpose of drawing DC current, the at least one path coupled across at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts, the piece of Ethernet terminal equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current flow via the at least one path, the different magnitudes of DC current flow to result from at least one condition applied to at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts, wherein at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow to convey information about the piece of Ethernet terminal equipment. view more

The piece of Ethernet terminal equipment of claim 1 wherein the Ethernet communication signals are BaseT Ethernet communication signals.

The piece of Ethernet terminal equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one magnitude of the DC current is part of a detection protocol.

The piece of Ethernet terminal equipment of any one of claims 1, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 31, 32, 46, 47, 67, 68, 85, and 86-89 and wherein the piece of Ethernet of terminal equipment is a piece of powered-off Ethernet terminal equipment.

A central piece of network equipment comprising: at least one Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals; and the central piece of network equipment to detect different magnitudes of DC current flow via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts and to control application of at least one electrical condition to at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts in response to at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow. view more

The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to provide at least one DC current via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts and to detect distinguishing information within the DC current via the at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts. view more

The central piece of network equipment of claim 1 wherein the central piece of network equipment to distinguish one end device from at least one other end device based on at least one of the magnitudes of the DC current flow.