Apparatus and methods for data distribution devices having selectable power supplies

• US 20090073957A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Goodman, Daniel, Conklin, Stuart D., Gross, Wolf-Dieter, Newland, Paul Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A network apparatus includes an independent power supply providing a first power signal, and a data distribution device which is operably coupled to the independent power supply and a remote data distribution device, where the remote distribution data device exchanges data and provides a second power signal to the data distribution device, and further where the data distribution device selects the first power signal or the second power signal for operational power. A method includes scanning a plurality of sensors, each coupled to a plurality of power inputs, to ascertain if a power signal is present, determining whether a power signal associated with an independent power supply is present at a power input, sourcing power from the independent power supply if the power signal is associated with an independent power supply, and sourcing power from an alternative supply if the power signal is not associated with an independent power supply.

Claims

1. A network apparatus which receives power from a plurality of power sources, comprising:

an independent power supply providing a first power signal; and

a data distribution device which is operably coupled to the independent power supply and a remote data distribution device, wherein

the remote distribution data device exchanges data with, and provides a second power signal to, the data distribution device using a common connection, and further wherein

the data distribution device selects either the first power signal or the second power signal for operational power.

2. The network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data distribution device exchanges data with at least one externally powered network device, and exchanges data and power with at least one network device.

3. The network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data distribution device provides feedback to the remote data distribution device regarding the amount of power to allocate and/or offer to the data distribution device.

4. The network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data distribution device is a switch, a hub, router, or a patch panel.

5. The network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one network device includes a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone, a camera, a wireless access point, and/or a remote telemetry data collection device.

6. The network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the externally powered network devices includes a personal computer, a router, and/or a switch.

7. The network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data distribution device is a Gigabit Ethernet device.

21. The network apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data distribution device may operate with the remote data distribution device in any Power over Ethernet (PoE) configuration, including endspan and midspan configurations, and provides a first power signature to the remote data distribution device.

22. The network apparatus according claim 21, wherein the data distribution device receives a second power signature from the network device which provides information regarding how much power the network device requires, wherein this second power signature is different from the first power signature.

23. The network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the data distribution device is operative to provide a power signature to an endspan or midspan remote data distribution device which is different that a power signature which is provided by the network device.

24. The network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein no power is provided by the data distribution device to the at least one externally powered network device.

8. A network switch which interfaces with a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone, comprising:

a first circuit which exchanges data and receives power from a remote data distribution device;

a second circuit which exchanges data and supplies power to the VoIP telephone;

a third circuit which exchanges data with a networked based device;

a power switching circuit which receives power from an independent power supply and from the first circuit; and

a process controller, functionally coupled to the power switching circuit, which instructs the power switching circuit to select power from either the first circuit or the independent power supply.

9. The network switch according to claim 8, further comprising:

a Power over Ethernet (PoE) controller, operably coupled to the independent power supply and the first circuit, which provides feedback, through the first circuit, to the remote data distribution device regarding how much power to supply.

10. The network switch according to claim 9, further comprising:

a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) controller and power controller, coupled to the PoE controller, which determines how much power is required for the VoIP telephone over the second circuit.

11. The network switch according to claim 8, wherein the third circuit replaces an internal switch located in the VoIP telephone, and further wherein the third circuit exchanges data at a faster rate than the internal switch located in the VoIP telephone.

12. The network switch according to claim 8, further comprising:

a first power detector which provides to the controller a first signal when power is being received on the first circuit; and

a second power detector which provides to the controller a second signal when power is being received from the independent power supply, wherein

the process controller, upon receiving the second signal, instructs the power switching circuit to establish a connection to the independent power supply and open circuit a power connection to the remote data distribution device.

13. The network switch according to claim 8, wherein the process controller sources power from the remote data distribution device when the first signal is received, and sources power from the independent power supply when the second signal is received.

14. The network switch according to claim 8, wherein the networked based device is a personal computer, a wireless access point, a video camera, or a data collection device.

15. The network switch according to claim 8, wherein the remote data distribution device is closet Gigabit Ethernet switch supplying power using Power over Ethernet (IEEE 801.3af) in any allowed configuration.

16. The network switch according to claim 8, wherein the independent supply is a battery, or a power supply which converts AC power into DC power.

17. A method for selecting a power source for a network switch, comprising:

scanning a plurality of sensors, each coupled to a plurality of power inputs, to ascertain if a power signal is present;

determining whether a power signal associated with an independent power supply is present at a power input;

sourcing power from the independent power supply if the power signal is associated with an independent power supply; and

sourcing power from an alternative supply if the power signal is not associated with an independent power supply.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the alternative power supply is a switch which provides power in conjunction with a data signal.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

providing feedback to the alternative power supply as to whether power is required, based upon the determining.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

providing power to a downstream networked device functionally coupled to the network switch.

25. An adapter interface for connecting a network device to a midspan or endspan product, comprising:

a power over Ethernet (PoE) controller generating a first power signature for transmission to the midspan or endspan product, wherein the first power signature represents a request for a first power level and does not depend upon the value or presence of any other power signature request received by the adapter interface from the network device.

27. The adapter interface according to claim 25 wherein said device is a telephone, and wherein the telephone sends no power signature transmission to said adapter interface, and the interface adapter sends the first power signature representing a request for the first power level.

28. The adaptor interface according to claim 25, wherein said first power signature represents a class 2 power consuming device or a class 3 power consuming device.

26. The adapter interface of claim 26, wherein the network device is a telephone, and further wherein the telephone sends a second power signature transmission to the adapter interface representing a request for a second power level, and the interface adapter sends the first power signature representing a request for the first power level, which is different than the second power level.

29. An adapter interface for connecting at least two devices to an endspan or midspan product comprising:

a Power over Ethernet (PoE) controller generating a first power signature for transmission to the endspan or midspan product, wherein the first power signature represents a request for a first power level;

a first port for providing power to a first device of the at least two devices; and

a second port for providing a communication path to a second device of the at least two devices.

30. The adapter interface according to claim 29, wherein the second port does not provide power to said second device.

31. The adapter interface according to claim 30, wherein the first port also provides a communication path to the first device.

32. A method for connecting at least two devices to a midspan or endspan product, comprising:

generating a first power signature for transmission to the endspan or midspan product, wherein the first power signature represents a request for a first power level;

providing power to a first device of the at least two devices; and

providing a communication path to a second device of the at least two devices.