System and method for detecting a device requiring power

• US 7,054,779 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yousefi, Nariman, Rakshani, Vafa
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, PAUL L
• Application Number:
  US10/446,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 702/60, 702/117, 340/687, 3405681-568, 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 307/126, 307/64, 307/85, 307/86, 714/14, 714/22, 713/300, 713/310, 713/323, 327/143, 700/297, 361/168.1, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 702/117
• 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. A power detection system, comprising:

a detector having an output and a return; and

a device to selectively couple the detector output to the detector return when the device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source.

2. The power detection system of claim 1 wherein the detector output comprises a signal having a first pulse with a first pulse width and a second pulse with a second pulse width different from the first pulse width, said device passing the first pulse and attenuating the second pulse.

3. The power detection system of claim 2 wherein the second pulse width is programmable.

4. The power detection system of claim 2 wherein the detector determines that the device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source when the detector return comprises the first pulse but not the second pulse.

5. The power detection system of claim 4 further comprising a power source selectively coupled to the device when the detector determines that the device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source.

6. The power detection system of claim 1 wherein the detector output comprises a signal, and the detector determines that the device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source when the detector return comprises the signal.

7. The power detection system of claim 6 wherein the detector determines that the device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source only if the detector return comprises the signal within a predetermined time window.

8. The power detection system of claim 7 further comprising a power source selectively coupled to the device when the detector determines that the device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source.

9. The power detection system of claim 1 wherein the detector output includes a pseudo random word comprising a plurality of pulses.

10. The power detection system of claim 1 wherein the detector output comprises an identifier comprising a plurality of pulses.

11. The power detection system of claim 1 further comprising a power source selectively coupled to the device.

12. The power detection system of claim 1 wherein the device comprises an IP telephone.

13. A method for detecting whether a device is receiving power from a dedicated AC power source, comprising:

transmitting a pulse to the device;

receiving the pulse from the device; and

detecting whether the device is receiving power from a dedicated AC power source in response to the received pulse.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the dedicated AC power source detection comprises applying power to the device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the pulse transmission comprises transmitting a pseudo random word comprising a plurality of pulses.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the pulse transmission comprises transmitting an identifier comprising a plurality of pulses.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the transmitted pulse has a pulse width, the method further comprising transmitting another pulse having a different pulse width to the device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising programming the different pulse width.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the dedicated AC power source detection comprises applying power to the device when the received pulse comprises the transmitted pulse but not said another transmitted pulse.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the dedicated AC power source detection comprises applying power to the device when the received pulse comprises the transmitted pulse.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the dedicated AC power source detection comprises applying power to the device when the received pulse comprises the transmitted pulse within a predetermined time after the transmitted pulse is transmitted to the device.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the device comprises an IP telephone.

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

entering a DTE detection mode;

after entering the DTE detection mode, 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;

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

if 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.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the response signal comprises the test signal.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

26. The method of claim 23 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.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the two-way data transmission line comprises one of a category 3, 4 or 5 unshielded twisted pair cable.

28. 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;

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

if 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; and

entering an auto-negotiation mode for establishing a data communication link with the DTE over the two-way data transmission line.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the auto-negotiation mode utilizes an auto-negotiation scheme embedded within the IEEE 802.3u clause-28 rules.

30. 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;

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

if 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;

wherein the test signal comprises at least one unique fast link pulse word.

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

entering a DTE detection mode;

after entering the DTE detection mode, receiving a signal from a DTE via a two-way data transmission line;

determining, using the signal received, if the DTE is receiving power; and

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

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising applying a test signal to the two-way data transmission line, and wherein a determination that the DTE is not receiving power occurs if the signal received is an expected signal based on the application of the test signal to the two-way data transmission line.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the expected signal comprises the test signal.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the two-way data transmission line comprises one of a category 3, 4 or 5 unshielded twisted pair cable.

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

applying a test signal to a two-way data transmission line wherein the test signal comprises at least one unique fast link pulse word;

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

determining, using the signal received, if the DTE is-receiving power, wherein a determination that the DTE is not receiving power occurs if the signal received is an expected signal based on the application of the test signal to the two-way data transmission line, wherein the expected signal comprises the test signal; and

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

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

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

determining, using the signal received, if the DTE is receiving power;

operatively coupling a power source to the two-way transmission line if it is determined that the DTE is not receiving power; and

entering an auto-negotiation mode for establishing a data communication link with the DTE over the two-way data transmission line.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the auto-negotiation mode utilizes an auto-negotiation scheme embedded within the IEEE 802.3u clause-28 rules.

39. A power detection system comprising:

a first device for determining, using a test signal, that a data terminal equipment device (DTE) that is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source is coupled to a two-way data transmission line; and

a second device for causing the provision of operating power to the DTE that is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source via the two-way data transmission line.

40. The power detection system of claim 39 wherein the first device comprises a physical layer transceiver, and the second device comprises a controller.

41. The power detection system of claim 39 wherein the first device is responsive to the second device for determining that a DTE that is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source, and wherein the second device is responsive to the first device for causing the provision of operating power to the DTE that is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source.

42. The power detection system of claim 39 wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

43. The power detection system of claim 39 wherein the two-way data transmission line comprises one of a category 3, 4 or 5 unshielded twisted pair cable.

44. A method of detecting a device that is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source, comprising:

receiving a signal from a two-way data transmission line coupled to the device;

determining whether the signal received corresponds to a signal that was transmitted over the two-way data transmission line; and

coupling a power source to the two-way data transmission line if the signal received corresponds to the signal that was transmitted.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the signal received corresponds to the signal that was transmitted if the signal received comprises the signal that was transmitted.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the signal received comprises at least one unique fast link pulse word.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the two-way data transmission line comprises one of a category 3, 4 or 5 unshielded twisted pair cable.

48. A method of detecting whether a device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source, comprising:

transmitting signal over a two-way data transmission line coupled to the device;

receiving the signal from the device over the two-way data transmission line;

in response to receiving the signal from the device over the two-way data transmission line;

detecting that the device is not receiving power from a dedicated AC power source; and

causing power to be supplied to the two-way data transmission line.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the signal comprises a test signal.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the signal comprises at least one unique fast link pulse word.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the two-way data transmission line comprises one of a category 3, 4 or 5 unshielded twisted pair cable.

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

a first device that transmits a signal to the coupled device over a two-way data transmission line, wherein the signal comprises at least one unique fast link pulse word; 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.

53. The power detection system of claim 52 wherein the first device comprises a physical layer transceiver, and the second device comprises a controller.

54. The power detection system of claim 52 wherein the two-way data transmission line comprises one of a category 3, 4 or 5 unshielded twisted pair cable.

55. The power detection system of claim 52 wherein the signal comprises a test signal.