Method and apparatus for receiving power over a data network

• US 20090003373A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morrissey, Michael P., Mathur, Mohit
• Granted Patent: US 8,755,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for receiving power over Ethernet in a redundant transceiver are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A determination is made in a redundant transceiver if electrical power is available over Ethernet. If power over Ethernet is available, power is received over Ethernet in the redundant transceiver, otherwise the redundant transceiver receives power from an attached power supply. For receiving power over Ethernet, the redundant transceiver remains in communication with the source of power over Ethernet using a wired section of the Ethernet, and the redundant transceiver receives electrical power to operate using the wired section of the Ethernet. The redundant transceiver receives power over Ethernet using a wire that is simultaneously carrying a data signal. When data signal and power are provided on a common wire, the redundant transceiver separates the electrical power from the data signal, uses the electrical power for operating the redundant transceiver, and uses the data signal for performing a function of the redundant transceiver.

Claims

1. A method for receiving power over Ethernet, the method comprising:

receiving, by a redundant transceiver for the redundant transceiver to operate, electrical power over Ethernet delivered by a first device located on Ethernet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, in the redundant transceiver, if electrical power is available from the first device over Ethernet.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if electrical power is not available from the first device over Ethernet, receiving power from an alternate AC power source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the redundant transceiver receives the electrical power using an unused wire in a wired section of the Ethernet to which the redundant transceiver and the first device are connected.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the electrical power is available on a wire simultaneously carrying a data signal; and

separating the electrical power from the data signal, using the electrical power for operating the redundant transceiver, and using the data signal for performing a function of the redundant transceiver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device provides all the electrical power to operate the redundant transceiver.

7. A redundant transceiver receiving power over Ethernet, the redundant transceiver comprising:

a first component for receiving electrical power over Ethernet delivered by a first device located on Ethernet, for the redundant transceiver to operate.

8. The redundant transceiver of claim 7, further comprising:

a second component including logic for determining if electrical power is available from the first device over Ethernet.

9. The redundant transceiver of claim 8, wherein if electrical power is not available from the first device over Ethernet, the redundant transceiver further comprising:

a third component for receiving power from an alternate AC power source.

10. The redundant transceiver of claim 7, wherein the redundant transceiver receives the electrical power using an unused wire in a wired section of the Ethernet to which the redundant transceiver and the first device are connected.

11. The redundant transceiver of claim 7, further comprising:

a fourth component including logic for determining whether the electrical power is available on a wire simultaneously carrying a data signal; and

a fifth component separating the electrical power from the data signal, using the electrical power for operating the redundant transceiver, and using the data signal for performing a function of the redundant transceiver.

12. The redundant transceiver of claim 7, wherein the first device provides all the electrical power to operate the redundant transceiver.

13. A redundant transceiver capable of receiving power over Ethernet for the redundant transceiver to operate, using a wired section of the Ethernet.

14. The redundant transceiver of claim 13, wherein the redundant transceiver receives power over Ethernet from at least one of a network interface card in a computer capable of providing power over Ethernet, and a networking device capable of providing power over Ethernet.

15. The redundant transceiver of claim 13, wherein if power over Ethernet is not available, the redundant transceiver receives power from an alternate AC power source.

16. A computer usable program product in a computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for receiving power over Ethernet in a redundant transceiver that, when executed, cause the redundant transceiver to:

receive, for the redundant transceiver to operate, electrical power over Ethernet delivered by a first device located on Ethernet.

17. The computer usable program product of claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions, that when executed cause the redundant transceiver to:

determine, in the redundant transceiver, if electrical power is available from the first device over Ethernet.

18. The computer usable program product of claim 17, wherein if electrical power is not available from the first device over Ethernet, the computer usable program product further comprising computer executable instructions, that when executed cause the redundant transceiver to:

receive power from an alternate AC power source.

19. The computer usable program product of claim 16, wherein the redundant transceiver receives the electrical power using an unused wire in the wired section of the Ethernet to which the redundant transceiver and the first device are connected.

20. The computer usable program product of claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions, that when executed cause the redundant transceiver to:

determine whether the electrical power is available on a wire simultaneously carrying a data signal; and

separate the electrical power from the data signal, using the electrical power for operating the redundant transceiver, and using the data signal for performing a function of the redundant transceiver.

21. The computer usable program product of claim 16, wherein the first device provides all the electrical power to operate the redundant transceiver.