System and method for detecting a device requiring power

• US 20050213637A1
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nariman Yousefi, Vafa Rakshani
• Inventors: Yousefi, Nariman, Rakshani, Vafa
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/135
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0001 using modification of a parameter of the network power signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/242 by comparing a transmitted test signal with a locally generated replica
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/02 Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A system and technique for detecting a device that requires power is implemented with a power detection station. The power detection system includes a detector having an output and a return which are coupled together by the device when the device requires power. The detector includes a word generator for generating test pulses for transmission to the device via the detector output, and a comparator for comparing the detector output with the detector return. The power detection station has a wide variety of applications, including by way of example, a switch or hub.

Claims

1-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A method of detecting whether a data terminal equipment device (DTE) is receiving power, comprising:

transmitting a test signal over a two-way data transmission line to a DTE;

receiving a response signal from the DTE via the two-way data transmission line;

determining, based on the response signal, whether the DTE is receiving power; and

if it is determined that the DTE is not receiving power, operatively coupling a power source to the two-way data transmission line to provide operating power to the DTE.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein determining, based on the response signal, whether the DTE is receiving power comprises determining that the DTE is receiving power if the response signal comprises the test signal.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the response signal comprises at least a portion of the test signal.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein receiving a response signal from the DTE via the two-way data transmission line comprises receiving the test signal from the DTE.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

59. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of operatively coupling the power source to the two-way data transmission line occurs only if the response signal comprises the test signal.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the test signal comprises at least a first pulse characterized by a first pulse width and a second pulse characterized by a second pulse width that is substantially different from the first pulse width.

61. A power detection system for detecting whether a coupled device is not receiving power from a power source, comprising:

a first device that transmits a signal to the coupled device over a two-way data transmission line; and

a second device that causes operating power to be supplied over the two-way data transmission line if the first device receives the signal from the two-way data transmission line.

62. The power detection system of claim 61, wherein the first device comprises a physical layer transceiver, and the second device comprises a controller.

63. The power detection system of claim 61, wherein the signal comprises a predetermined test signal.

64. The power detection system of claim 61, wherein the signal comprises a random word.

65. The power detection system of claim 61, wherein the coupled device comprises a data terminal equipment device.

66. A method of detecting a data terminal equipment device (DTE) that is not receiving power, comprising:

determining whether a DTE coupled to a two-way data transmission line is receiving power; and

providing power to the DTE via the two-way data transmission line if it is determined that the DTE is not receiving power.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein determining whether a DTE coupled to a two-way data transmission line if receiving power comprises transmitting a signal to the DTE and determining whether the signal returns from the DTE.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein determining whether a DTE coupled to a two-way data transmission line is receiving power comprises transmitting a test signal to the DTE and determining whether a first portion and a second portion of the test signal returns from the DTE.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

70. The method of claim 66, further comprising detecting whether the DTE is coupled to the two-way data transmission line.

71. A power detection system comprising:

a first device that determines, using a test signal, whether a data terminal equipment device (DTE) coupled to a two-way data transmission line is receiving power; and

a second device that causes a power source to be coupled to the two-way data transmission line for providing operating power to the DTE if it is determined that the DTE is not receiving power.

72. The power detection system of claim 71, wherein the first device determines whether the DTE is receiving power by, at least in part, transmitting a signal to the DTE and determining whether the signal returns from the DTE.

73. The power detection system of claim 71, wherein the first device determines whether the DTE coupled to the two-way data transmission line is receiving power by, at least in part, transmitting a test signal to the DTE and determining whether a first portion and a second portion of the test signal returns from the DTE.

74. The power detection system of claim 71, wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

75. The power detection system of claim 71, wherein the first device further determines whether the DTE is coupled to the two-way data transmission line.

76. A method for detecting whether a device is receiving power from a source other than over a transmission line, comprising:

transmitting a pulse to the device over a transmission line;

receiving the pulse from the device over the transmission line; and

determining whether the device is receiving power from a source other than over the transmission line in response to at least the received pulse.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising determining whether the device is receiving power in response to at least the received pulse.

78. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

transmitting a second pulse to the device over a transmission line;

receiving the second pulse from the device over the transmission line; and

determining whether the device is receiving power from a source other than over the transmission line in response to at least the received second pulse.