BIDIRECTIONAL INLINE POWER PORT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a network port;
power supply circuitry constructed and arranged to provide power to remote devices;
power receiving circuitry constructed and arranged to receive power from a remote device;
a controller configured to selectively couple the power supply circuitry and power receiving circuitry to the networking port based on a mode of operation, wherein;
in a first mode of operation, the controller is configured to simultaneously couple the power supply circuitry to the network port and decouple the power supply circuitry from the network port, the first mode of operation being in effect while the network port is connected to a remote network device that requests remote power; and
in a second mode of operation, the controller is configured to simultaneously couple the power receiving circuitry to the network port and decouple the power supply circuitry from the network port, the second mode of operation being in effect while the network port is connected to a remote network device that provides remote power.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for bidirectional provision of inline power over data telecommunications cabling permits power to be received at a local powered device (PD) from remote power sourcing equipment (PSE) via at least one conductor at a first time and power to be provided by the local device to a remote device or another device at a second different time.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a network port; power supply circuitry constructed and arranged to provide power to remote devices; power receiving circuitry constructed and arranged to receive power from a remote device; a controller configured to selectively couple the power supply circuitry and power receiving circuitry to the networking port based on a mode of operation, wherein; in a first mode of operation, the controller is configured to simultaneously couple the power supply circuitry to the network port and decouple the power supply circuitry from the network port, the first mode of operation being in effect while the network port is connected to a remote network device that requests remote power; and in a second mode of operation, the controller is configured to simultaneously couple the power receiving circuitry to the network port and decouple the power supply circuitry from the network port, the second mode of operation being in effect while the network port is connected to a remote network device that provides remote power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method comprising:
-
detecting which of a plurality of modes of operation a network device is operating in, wherein detecting includes; selecting a first mode of operation when the network port is connected to a remote network device that requests remote power; and selecting a second mode of operation when the network port is connected to a remote network device that provides remote power; and selectively coupling power supply circuitry of the network device and power receiving circuitry of the network device to a network port of the network device based on the mode of operation that the network device is operating in, wherein selectively coupling includes; in the first mode of operation, simultaneously coupling the power supply circuitry to the network port and decoupling the power supply circuitry from the network port; and in the second mode of operation simultaneously coupling the power receiving circuitry to the network port and decoupling the power supply circuitry from the network port. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a first communication port to communicate with a first device by way of a first cable; a second communication port to communicate with a second device by way of a second cable; a rechargeable power store; and a controller coupled to the first communication port, the second communication port, and the rechargeable power store, the controller being constructed and arranged to; charge the rechargeable power store through the first communication port by way of the first cable upon a determination that the first device has surplus power; and enable the apparatus to receive power through the second communication port by way of the second cable upon a determination that the first device is not delivering power to the apparatus by way of the first cable. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification