Method and apparatus for dynamic termination of unused wired connection

• US 20040146061A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Bisceglia, Brian, Carrafiello, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00

Abstract

A system and method provide dynamic termination of the unused wired connections in a communications interface of a communications device. An interconnected controller, switch, and termination circuit are provided to connect at least one unused wired connection of the communications interface to ground in response to a pre-determined event. Dynamic termination of one or more unused wired connections of the communications interface can occur while still allowing power delivery, via the interface, to the communications device to maintain operation of the communications device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dynamic termination, comprising:

a controller;

a switch for receiving a control signal from said controller; and

a termination circuit, interconnected to said switch, and for interconnection to ground and to at least one unused wired connection in a communications interface, wherein said controller, in response to a pre-determined event, sends a control signal to said switch to connect said at least one unused wired connection to ground using the termination circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pre-determined event is a voltage threshold being satisfied by an input voltage to said communications interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said voltage threshold is approximately 30 volts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communications interface is a local area network communications interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communications interface allows power and data to be delivered to a communications device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communications device is one of either a computing device, camera, telephone and wireless communications device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control signal is a digital signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one unused wired connection is an unused pin in said communications interface.

9. A method for terminating unused terminals of a communication interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a communications interface for connecting a device to a network;

sensing if a voltage is transmitted from the network to the device through the communications interface; and

if so, connecting at least one unused terminal of the communications interface to ground.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of connecting includes:

activating a switch within a termination circuit, which switch causes the at least one unused terminal to be connected to ground.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said step of sensing includes:

comparing a voltage transmitted through the communication interface to a first predetermined threshold.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first predetermined threshold is approximately 30 volts.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the voltage transmitted through the communication interface to a second predetermined threshold; and

if the voltage exceeds the second predetermined threshold, disconnecting the at least one unused terminal of the communication interface from ground.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second predetermined threshold is approximately 36 volts.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the voltage transmitted through the communication interface to a second predetermined threshold; and

if the voltage exceeds the second predetermined threshold, disconnecting the at least one unused terminal of the communication interface from ground.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second predetermined threshold is approximately 36 volts.