Intelligent power over Ethernet power management for personal computing devices in enterprise environments

• US 20080005600A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Assouad, Simon, Diab, Wael William
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections

Abstract

A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) communication system dynamically provides power and data communications over a communications link. In an enterprise environment made up of one or more personal computing devices (e.g., personal or laptop computers), a switch determines an allocated amount of power to be supplied to each device. The system includes a switch, a power supply, and one or more personal computing devices having a PoE control module. The PoE control module can be part of, for example, a Power Source Equipment/Powered Device (PSE/PD) system or a LAN-On-Motherboard/Powered Device (LOM/PD) system. A method of dynamically providing power to personal computing devices includes determining the power requirements of each device based on one or more factors, which can include, for example, battery charge status, power load, power mode, etc., of each device. Various algorithms can be used to decide priority in providing power to the devices.

Claims

1. In a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) system, an automated method of dynamically supplying power to one or more personal computing devices, comprising:

(a) detecting one or more personal computing devices;

(b) determining power requirements for each of the detected personal computing devices;

(c) determining an available amount of power in a power supply;

(d) determining a respective allocated amount of power for each of the detected personal computing devices based on the available amount of power and the power requirements of each respective personal computing device;

(e) supplying the respective allocated amounts of power from the power supply to the respective personal computing devices; and

(f) repeating steps (a)-(e) at periodic intervals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) determines power requirements based on one or more of:

battery charge status of each personal computing device;

power load of each personal computing device;

power mode of each personal computing device;

load states of each personal computing device;

devices attached to each personal computing device;

backup needs of each personal computing device; and

priority information for each personal computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes receiving the power requirements directly from one or more of:

a network server; and

one or more of the personal computing devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes:

receiving power-related information from one or more of;

a network server; and

one or more of the personal computing devices; and

calculating the power requirements of each respective personal computing device from the received power-related information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) includes calculating the power requirements, the calculation performed by one of:

a switch; and

one or more of the personal computing devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) determines power requirements over a Layer 2 type communication layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a)-(f) are performed in a Power Source Equipment/Powered Device (PSE/PD) system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (a)-(f) are performed in a LAN-On-Motherboard/Powered Device (LOM/PD) system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) supplies the respective allocated amount of power to its respective personal computing device when a charge of the respective personal computing device is determined to be below a predetermined charge start level.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising stopping the supply of power to the respective personal computing device when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined charge stop level is equal to a full charge of the respective personal computing device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a priority order of personal computing devices to receive their respective allocated amounts of power.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining includes performing one or more priority algorithms, the priority algorithms performed by one or more of:

a switch; and

one or more personal computing devices.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the priority order is determined based on one or more of:

programmed priority settings reported for the personal computing devices; and

calculated priority settings based on the power requirements reported for the personal computing devices.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the priority order is determined on a “

first-come, first-served”

basis in which a first personal computing device determined to have its charge drop below the predetermined level is the first personal computing device to be supplied its allocated amount of power.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

stopping the supply of power to the first personal computing device when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level; and

supplying power to a second personal computing device that is next in priority order.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the priority order is determined based on which personal computing device is determined to have a lowest charge, such that a first personal computing device determined to have the lowest charge is the first personal computing device to be supplied its allocated amount of power.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

stopping the supply of power to the first personal computing device when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level; and

supplying power to a second personal computing device that is next in priority order.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined charge stop level is a level above a charge of the second personal computing device.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the priority order is determined based on which personal computing device is determined to have a highest priority assignment, such that a first personal computing device determined to have the highest priority assignment is the first personal computing device to be supplied its allocated amount of power.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

stopping the supply of power to the first personal computing device when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level; and

supplying power to a second personal computing device that is next in priority order.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

stopping the supply of power to the first personal computing device when its priority assignment is determined to be below that of a second personal computing device; and

supplying power to the second personal computing device.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

reducing the supply of power to the first personal computing device when its priority assignment is determined to be below that of a second personal computing device; and

supplying power to the second personal computing device.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

maintaining the supply of power to the first personal computing device when its priority assignment is determined to be below that of a second personal computing device; and

supplying power to the second personal computing device,

when there is enough power available to be supplied to both the first and second personal computing devices.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating the respective allocated amount of power to each respective personal computing device along with a request for confirmation that the allocated amount of power is acceptable; and

receiving confirmation from each personal computing device stating whether its allocated amount of power is acceptable.

26. In a Power-over-Ethernet system, an automated system for dynamically supplying power to one or more personal computing devices, comprising:

one or more personal computing devices having a PoE control module;

a switch connected to the one or more personal computing devices; and

a power supply connected to the switch and the personal computing devices,

wherein an allocated amount of power for each personal computing device is determined by the switch based on an available amount of power at the power supply and power requirements of each personal computing device, the allocated amount of power is supplied from the power supply to each of the personal computing devices via the PoE control module, and the allocated amount of power is reassessed by the switch and resupplied on a periodic basis.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the power requirements of each personal computing device is based on one or more of:

battery charge status of each personal computing device;

power load of each personal computing device;

power mode of each personal computing device;

load states of each personal computing device;

devices attached to each personal computing device;

backup needs of each personal computing device; and

priority information for each personal computing device.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the power requirements for a particular personal computing device are provided to the switch by the particular personal computing device.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the power requirements for a particular personal computing device are calculated by the particular personal computing device based on power need information located at the particular personal computing device.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the power requirements for a particular personal computing device are calculated by the switch based on power need information provided to the switch for the particular personal computing device.

31. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a network server having a database in which at least some of the power requirements for one or more of the personal computing devices are located.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the switch can request and receive power requirements from the network server.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein power requirements can be downloaded to the one or more personal communication devices from the network server.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein the power requirements are determined over a Layer 2 type communication layer.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the PoE control module for one or more of the personal computing devices is part of a Power Source Equipment/Powered Device (PSE/PD) system.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the PoE control module for one or more of the personal computing devices is part of a LAN-On-Motherboard/Powered Device (LOM/PD) system.

37. The system of claim 26, wherein one or more of the personal computing devices is a laptop computer.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein the allocated amount of power for a particular personal computing device is supplied by the power supply when a charge of the particular personal computing device is determined to be below a predetermined charge start level.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the supply of power to the particular personal computing device is stopped by the switch when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the predetermined charge stop level is equal to a full charge of the particular personal computing device.

41. The system of claim 26, wherein the switch determines a priority order of personal computing devices to receive their respective allocated amounts of power.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the priority order is determined by the switch based on one or more of:

programmed priority settings reported to the switch for the personal computing devices; and

calculated priority settings based on the power requirements reported to the switch for the personal computing devices.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein a particular personal computing device calculates its programmed priority setting based on a priority algorithm.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the switch determines the priority order based on a priority algorithm.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the priority order is determined by the switch on a “

first-come, first-served”

basis in which a first personal computing device determined to have its charge drop below the predetermined level is the first personal computing device to be supplied its allocated amount of power.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the supply of power to the first personal computing device is stopped by the switch when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level, allowing power to then be supplied to a second personal computing device that is next in priority order.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the priority order is determined by the switch based on which personal computing device is determined to have a lowest charge, such that a first personal computing device determined to have the lowest charge is the first personal computing device to be supplied its allocated amount of power.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the supply of power to the first personal computing device is stopped by the switch when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level, allowing power to then be supplied to a second personal computing device that is next in priority order.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the predetermined charge stop level is a level above a charge of the second personal computing device.

50. The system of claim 41, wherein the priority order is determined by the switch based on which personal computing device is determined to have a highest priority assignment, such that a first personal computing device determined to have the highest priority assignment is the first personal computing device to be supplied its allocated amount of power.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the supply of power to the first personal computing device is stopped by the switch when its charge is determined to reach a predetermined charge stop level, allowing power to then be supplied to a second personal computing device that is next in priority order.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the supply of power to the first personal computing device is stopped by the switch when its priority assignment is determined to be below that of a second personal computing device, allowing power to then be supplied to the second personal computing device.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the supply of power to the first personal computing device is reduced by the switch when its priority assignment is determined to be below that of a second personal computing device, allowing power to then be supplied to the second personal computing device.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the supply of power to the first personal computing device remains unchanged when its priority assignment is determined to be below that of a second personal computing device, when there is enough power available to be supplied to both the first and second personal computing devices.

55. The system of claim 26, wherein the personal computing devices, the switch, and the power supply are located in a conference room.