Enabling Cisco legacy power to support IEEE 802.3 AF standard power

• US 20050141698A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karam, Roger A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus and method for enabling Cisco legacy power to support IEEE 802.3af standard power. A network power system capable of delivering data terminal equipment power via a media dependent interface (MDI) includes power source equipment according to a first power via MDI scheme such as Cisco legacy power and at least one powered device according to a second power via MDI scheme such as IEEE standard power. A power compatibility module is inserted between the power source equipment and the powered device to enable the power source equipment to appear according to the first power via MDI scheme and the powered device to appear according the second power via MDI scheme. In one embodiment, the module includes switches, a DC/DC converter, an IEEE power source equipment circuit, and an isolator. The module may optionally include a user signaling device for communicating operating conditions of the module to a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing compatibility to a network power system having equipment capable of two power via Media Independent Interfaces (MDI) schemes for delivering data terminal equipment power via an MDI, the network power system including power source equipment (PSE) capable of a first power via MDI scheme and a powered device (PD) adapted to receive power via a second power via MDI scheme different from the first power via MDI scheme, the method comprising:

facilitating the PSE to operate according to the first power via MDI scheme while appearing to the PD to be operating according to the second power via MDI scheme; and

facilitating the PD to operate according to the second power via MDI scheme while appearing to the PSE to be operating according to the first power via MDI scheme.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first power via MDI scheme is Cisco legacy power.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the second power via MDI scheme is IEEE standard power.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second power via MDI scheme is IEEE standard power.

5. An apparatus for providing compatibility to a network power system having equipment capable of two power via Media Independent Interfaces (MDI) schemes for delivering data terminal equipment power via an MDI, the network power system including power source equipment (PSE) capable of a first power via MDI scheme and a powered device (PD) adapted to receive power via a second power via MDI scheme different from the first power via MDI scheme, the apparatus comprising:

means for operating the PSE according to the first power via MDI scheme while appearing to the PD to be operating according to the second power via MDI scheme; and

means for operating the PD according to the second power via MDI scheme while appearing to the PSE to be operating according to the first power via MDI scheme.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the first power via MDI scheme is Cisco legacy power.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the second power via MDI scheme is IEEE standard power.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the second power via MDI scheme is IEEE standard power.

9. A network power system for delivering data terminal equipment (DTE) power via a media dependent interface (MDI), the system comprising:

a power source equipment (PSE) capable of a first power via MDI scheme;

a DTE adapted to receive power via a second power via MDI scheme different from the first power via MDI scheme; and

a power compatibility module adapted to;

facilitate the PSE to operate according to the first power via MDI scheme while appearing to the DTE to be operating according to the second power via MDI scheme; and

facilitate the DTE to operate according to the second power via MDI scheme while appearing to the PSE to be operating according to the first power via MDI scheme.

10. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the first power via MDI scheme is Cisco legacy power.

11. The system as defined in claim 10, wherein the second power via MDI scheme is IEEE standard power.

12. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the second power via MDI scheme is IEEE standard power.