Method and apparatus for supplying power in a local area network
First Claim
1. A power supply subsystem for providing electrical power to a local area network node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:
- a power management and control unit;
current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to provide a current limited output;
voltage measurement means; and
at least one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limited output to the communication cabling;
said power management and control unit being further operative to;
measure, utilizing said voltage measuring means at three pre-determined intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said coupled current limited output; and
determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage whether characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for supplying power to a local area network node over communication cabling, the method comprising: injecting current-limited current into communication cabling connected to the local area network node; measuring a voltage developed in accordance with said injected current limited current across said communication cabling at three pre-determined intervals; and determining, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined intervals whether characteristics of the local area network node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.
50 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power supply subsystem for providing electrical power to a local area network node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:
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a power management and control unit;
current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to provide a current limited output;
voltage measurement means; and
at least one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limited output to the communication cabling;
said power management and control unit being further operative to;
measure, utilizing said voltage measuring means at three pre-determined intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said coupled current limited output; and
determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage whether characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for supplying power to a local area network node over communication cabling, the method comprising:
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injecting current-limited current into communication cabling connected to the local area network node;
measuring a voltage developed in accordance with said injected current limited current across said communication cabling at three pre-determined intervals; and
determining, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined intervals whether characteristics of the local area network node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A local area network providing power over communication cabling comprising:
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a LAN switch;
a plurality of local area network nodes;
communication cabling enabling data communication between said LAN switch and said plurality of local area network nodes; and
a power supply subsystem, said power supply subsystem comprising;
a power management and control unit;
current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to supply a current limited output;
voltage measurement means; and
at least one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limited output to said communication cabling, said power management and control unit being operative to;
measure, utilizing said voltage measuring means at three intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said coupled programmable current limited output; and
determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage whether characteristics of at least one of said plurality of local area network nodes allow it to receive power over said communication cabling. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A power supply subsystem for providing electrical power to a local area network node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:
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a power management and control unit;
current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to supply a current limited output;
voltage measurement means;
at least one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limiting output to the communication cabling;
said power management and control unit being operative to;
measure, utilizing said voltage measuring means at three pre-determined intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said coupled current limited output, said voltage being measured across a line associated with the communication cabling;
determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined intervals whether characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling; and
in the event that said characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling, provide said programmable current limited output via said at least one of a combiner and a power supply interface over the communication cabling to the node.
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Specification