Inline power based device communications
First Claim
1. A network power system for delivering inline power, the system comprising:
- a first power source equipment having at least one output power interface capable of transmitting inline power;
a first powered device having an input power interface capable of receiving inline power; and
a first transmission media capable of carrying inline power and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the at least one output power interface of the first power source equipment and the second end is coupled to the input power interface of the first powered device,wherein at least one of the first power source equipment or the first powered device includes a first negotiator capable of negotiating a resolution to at least one inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics, said requirements and/or characteristics being identified by information that is stored in the system and that is communicated to the first negotiator for use thereby in negotiating the resolution.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network power system that is capable of communicating and resolving various inline power allocation issues. The system includes a power source equipment having at least one output power interface capable of transmitting inline power, at least one powered device having an input power interface capable of receiving inline power, and a first transmission media that is coupled between the power source equipment and the at least one powered device. Either or both of the power source equipment and the at least one powered device includes a negotiator that is capable of communicating and resolving the at least one inline power allocation issue. The negotiator, independently or in combination with other negotiators, reaches a negotiated decision and performs at least one response function in an effort to resolve the at least one inline power allocation issue. The system may have a multi-point layout or be experiencing a power outage condition.
92 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A network power system for delivering inline power, the system comprising:
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a first power source equipment having at least one output power interface capable of transmitting inline power; a first powered device having an input power interface capable of receiving inline power; and a first transmission media capable of carrying inline power and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the at least one output power interface of the first power source equipment and the second end is coupled to the input power interface of the first powered device, wherein at least one of the first power source equipment or the first powered device includes a first negotiator capable of negotiating a resolution to at least one inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics, said requirements and/or characteristics being identified by information that is stored in the system and that is communicated to the first negotiator for use thereby in negotiating the resolution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of inline power allocation for a network power system having at least two components coupled together, wherein at least a first component is a power source equipment capable of transmitting inline power, at least a second component is a powered device capable of receiving inline power, and at lease one of the at least two components includes a first negotiator capable of communicating and resolving at least one inline power allocation issue, the method comprising:
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storing, in the network power system, information identifying power draw requirements of a powered device and/or power supply characteristics of a power source equipment; communicating the stored information to the first negotiator; identifying, based on the communicated information, an inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics; communicating as suitable within the network power system; and reaching a negotiated decision in an effort to resolve the identified inline power allocation issue. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for inline power allocation for a network power system having at least two components coupled together, wherein at least a first component is a power source equipment capable of transmitting inline power, at least a second component is a powered device capable of receiving inline power, and at lease one of the at least two components includes a first negotiator capable of communicating and resolving at least one inline power allocation issue, the apparatus comprising:
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means for storing, in the network power system, information identifying power draw requirements of a powered device and/or power supply characteristics of a power source equipment; means for communicating the stored information to the first negotiator; means for identifying, based on the communicated information, an inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics; means for communicating as suitable within the network power system; and means for reaching a negotiated decision in an effort to resolve the identified inline power allocation issue. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of inline power allocation for a network power system having at least two components coupled together, wherein at least a first component is a power source equipment capable of transmitting inline power, at least a second component is a powered device capable of receiving inline power, and at lease one of the at least two components includes a first negotiator capable of communicating and resolving at least one inline power allocation issue, the method comprising:
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storing, in the network power system, information identifying power draw requirements of a powered device and/or power supply characteristics of a power source equipment; communicating the stored information to the first negotiator; identifying, based on the communicated information, an inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics; communicating as suitable within the network power system; and reaching a negotiated decision in an effort to resolve the identified inline power allocation issue. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A power source equipment (PSE) for a network power system for delivering inline power, the PSE comprising:
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at least one output power interface capable of transmitting inline power; and at least one negotiator capable of communicating and at least partially resolving at least one inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics identified by information stored in the network power system and communicated to the at least one negotiator for use thereby in partially resolving said at least one inline power allocation issue. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A powered device (PD) for a network power system for delivering inline power, the PD comprising:
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an input power interface capable of receiving inline power; and a negotiator capable of communicating and at least partially resolving at least one inline power allocation issue arising from existing or predicted changes in power draw requirements and/or power supply characteristics identified by information stored in the network power system and communicated to the negotiator for use thereby in partially resolving said at least one inline power allocation issue. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification