System and method for detecting a device requiring power

• US 7,174,259 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• 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: Rakshani, Vafa, Yousefi, Nariman
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/125,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 340/687, 307/64, 307/85, 307/86, 307/126, 327/143, 702/117, 702/60, 702182-185, 702/188, 379 9305- 9306, 324/76.11, 324/66
• US Class Current: 702/60
• 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 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;

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

if it is determined that 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the response signal, whether the DTE is receiving power comprises determining that the DTE is receiving power if the response signal comprises the test signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the response signal comprises at least a portion of the test signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a response signal from the DTE via the two-way data transmission line comprises receiving the test signal from the DTE.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

6. The method of claim 1, 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.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the test signal comprises at least a first pulse characterized by a first pulse width and a second pulse characterized by a second pulse width that is substantially different from the first pulse width.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the test signal comprises a random word.

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

a first device that transmits a signal comprising a random word to the coupled device over a two-way data transmission line; 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.

10. The power detection system of claim 9, wherein the first device comprises a physical layer transceiver, and the second device comprises a controller.

11. The power detection system of claim 9, wherein the signal comprises a predetermined test signal.

12. The power detection system of claim 9, wherein the random word is a 16 bit pseudo-random word.

13. The power detection system of claim 9, wherein the coupled device comprises a data terminal equipment device.

14. A method of detecting a data terminal equipment device (DTE) that is not receiving power, comprising:

determining whether a DTE coupled to a two-way data transmission line is receiving power, wherein said determining comprises;

transmitting a test signal to the DTE, where the test signal comprises a first test sub-signal and a second test sub-signal; and

determining whether the first test sub-signal and the second test sub-signal return from the DTE; and

providing power to the DTE via the two-way data transmission line if it is determined that the DTE is not receiving power.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first test sub-signal comprises one or more pulses characterized by a first pulse width, and the second test subsignal comprises one or more pulses characterized by a second pulse width different from the first pulse width.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether a DTE coupled to a two-way data transmission line is receiving power further comprises determining that the DTE is not receiving power if the first sub-signal returns from the DTE and the second test sub-signal does not return from the DTE.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising detecting whether the DTE is coupled to the two-way data transmission line.

19. A power detection system comprising:

a first device that determines, using a test signal, whether a data terminal equipment device (DTE) coupled to a two-way data transmission line is receiving power by, at least in part;

transmitting a test signal to the DTE, where the test signal comprises a first test sub-signal and a second test sub-signal; and

determining whether the first test sub-signal and the second test sub-signal return from the DTE; and

a second device that causes a power source to be coupled to the two-way data transmission line for providing operating power to the DTE if it is determined that the DTE is not receiving power.

20. The power detection system of claim 19, wherein the first test sub-signal comprises one or more pulses characterized by a first pulse width, and the second test sub-signal comprises one or more pulses characterized by a second pulse width different from the first pulse width.

21. The power detection system of claim 19, wherein the first device determines whether the DTE coupled to the two-way data transmission line is receiving power by, at least in part, determining that the DTE is not receiving power if the first test sub-signal returns from the DTE and the second test sub-signal does not return from the DTE.

22. The power detection system of claim 19, wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

23. The power detection system of claim 19, wherein the first device further determines whether the DTE is coupled to the two-way data transmission line.

24. A method for detecting whether a device is receiving power, the method comprising:

transmitting a pulse to the device over a transmission line;

receiving the pulse from the device over the transmission line; and

determining whether the device is receiving power in response to at least the received pulse.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein determining whether the device is receiving power in response to at least the received pulse comprises determining whether the received pulse was received within a time window.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

transmitting a second pulse to the device over a transmission line;

receiving the second pulse from the device over the transmission line; and

determining whether the device is receiving power in response to at least the received second pulse.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the pulse is a portion of a random word transmitted to the device over the transmission line.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the device comprises a data terminal equipment device.

29. A power detection system comprising at least one circuit operational to, at least:

transmit a pulse to a device over a transmission line;

receive the pulse from the device over the transmission line; and

determine whether the device is receiving power in response to at least the received pulse.

30. The power detection system of claim 29, wherein to determine whether the device is receiving power in response to at least the received pulse, the at least one circuit is operational to, at least, determine whether the received pulse was received within a time window.

31. The power detection system of claim 29, wherein the at least one circuit is further operational to, at least:

transmit a second pulse to the device over the transmission line;

receive the second pulse from the device over the transmission line; and

determine whether the device is receiving power in response to at least the received second pulse.

32. The power detection system of claim 29, wherein the pulse is a portion of a random word transmitted to the device over the transmission line.

33. The power detection system of claim 29, wherein the device comprises a data terminal equipment device.

34. A power detection system comprising at least one circuit operational to, at least:

transmit a test signal over a two-way data transmission line to a data terminal equipment device (DTE);

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

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

if it is determined that the DTE is not receiving power, operatively couple a power source to the two-way data transmission line to provide operating power to the DTE.

35. The power detection system of claim 34, wherein to determine, based on the response signal, whether the DTE is receiving power, the at least one circuit is operational to, at least, determine that the DTE is receiving power if the response signal comprises the test signal.

36. The power detection system of claim 34, wherein the response signal comprises at least a portion of the test signal.

37. The power detection system of claim 34, wherein to receive a response signal from the DTE via the two-way data transmission line, the at least one circuit is operational to, at least, receive the test signal from the DTE.

38. The power detection system of claim 34, wherein the DTE comprises an IP phone.

39. The power detection system of claim 34, wherein the at least one circuit is operational to operatively couple the power source to the two-way data transmission line only if the response signal comprises the test signal.

40. The power detection system of claim 34, wherein the test signal comprises at least a first pulse characterized by a first pulse width and a second pulse characterized by a second pulse width that is substantially different from the first pulse width.

41. The power detection system of claim 34, wherein the test signal comprises a random word.