System and method for indicating a configuration of power provided over an ethernet port

• US 7,221,261 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vernier Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Klingensmith, James B, Dimick, Brent, Armstrong, Elton
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US10/953,407
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/509, 340/517, 340/538, 340/540, 340/659, 340/660, 340/693.1, 340/310.16, 340/286.02, 370/466, 455/402, 455/67.11, 174/113.R, 702/60, 709/250, 324/539, 714/14, 714/22, 713/340, 713/300
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A system and method indicates the configuration of power to be provided over Ethernet cabling.

Claims

1. A method of indicating a configuration for providing power via a communication network connector, comprising:

receiving configuration information about the power to be provided via the communication network connector, the communication network connector comprising at least one lead to receive network communication signals and at least one lead to receive the power; and

indicating the configuration information received at least near the communication network connector.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication network connector comprises an RJ-45 connector.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the network communication signals comprise Ethernet signals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicating step is performed using at least one lamp.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one lamp comprises at least one LED.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least one lamp is used to communicate network status information.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the indicating step comprises flashing at least one of the at least one lamp.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration information distinguishes between a power configuration specified by an industry standards organization and a power configuration specified by a corporation, such standards having opposite polarities.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicating step comprises indicating in a first manner responsive to at least one power condition not being detected, and indicating in a second manner responsive to all of at least one power condition being detected.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the indicating in the first manner step comprises flashing an LED in a color indicating the configuration information; and

the indicating in the second manner step comprises illuminating steadily an LED in the color indicating the configuration information.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein the indicator signal has a first state indicating in a first manner responsive to at least one power condition not being detected, and a second state indicating in a second manner responsive to all of at least one power condition being detected.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the indicator signal in the first state causes the display indicator to flash in a color indicating the configuration information; and

the indicator signal in the second state causes the display indicator to illuminate steadily in the color indicating the configuration information.

11. A system for indicating a configuration for providing power via a communication network connector, comprising:

a power sense controller having an input for receiving configuration information about the power to be provided via the communication network connector, the communication network connector comprising at least one lead to receive network communication signals and at least one lead to receive the power, the power sense controller for providing at an output an indicator signal responsive to the configuration information received at the power sense controller input; and

a display indicator having an input coupled to the power sense controller output for receiving the indicator signal, the display indicator for indicating, at least near the communication network connector, the configuration information received.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the communication network connector comprises an RJ-45 connector.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the network communication signals comprise Ethernet signals.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the display indicator comprises at least one lamp.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one lamp comprises at least one LED.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the at least one lamp is used to communicate network status information.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the power sense controller provides the indicator signal that can cause the display indicator to flash at least one of the at least one lamp.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the configuration information distinguishes between a power configuration specified by an industry standards organization and a power configuration specified by a corporation, such standards having opposite polarities.