Combined ethernet switch and power strip

• US 7,271,502 B1
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Remaker, Phillip Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/791,567
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 439/501, 439/650, 439/653, 439/639, 439/142, 439/144, 307/115, 307/38, 307/43, 361/622, 361/626, 361/641, 361/88, 395/750, 395/838, 709/222, 709/223
• US Class Current: 307/38
• 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: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The disclosed device is directed towards a combined network switch and power strip including a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A power cord is coupled to the housing. A power surge protector coupled to the power cord is disposed in the housing. An electrical power switch is coupled to the surge protector and is disposed in the housing. An array of electrical outlets is coupled to the electrical power switch and is disposed in the housing in operative communication between the interior and the exterior. A power transformer is coupled to the power surge protector in the housing interior. A network switch is coupled to the power transformer and is disposed in the housing interior. The network switch includes a network port array in operative communication between the interior and the exterior. A network connection is in operative communication with the network switch and a network outlet.

Claims

1. A combined network switch and power strip comprising:

a housing defining an interior and an exterior;

a power cord coupled to said housing;

a power surge protector disposed in said housing interior and coupled to said power cord;

an electrical power switch coupled to said surge protector and disposed in said housing in operative communication between said interior and said exterior;

an array of electrical outlets coupled to said electrical power switch and disposed in said housing in operative communication between said interior and said exterior;

a power transformer coupled to said power surge protector and disposed in said housing interior;

a network switch coupled to said power transformer and disposed in said housing interior, said network switch including a network port array in operative communication between said interior and said exterior; and

a network connection in operative communication with said network switch and a network outlet.

2. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said array of electrical outlets are configured to receive electrical power cords for supply of electrical power.

3. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said array of electrical outlets comprise at least six outlets configured to provide a variety of electrical power.

4. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said power surge protector comprises one of a circuit breaker and a fuse.

5. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said power transformer is configured to condition electrical power from an alternating current to a direct current.

6. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said power transformer is coupled to said network switch through a DC power bus.

7. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said network switch comprises an indicator coupled to said network port array, said indicator configured to indicate network connection.

8. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said network connection comprises one of a network cable and an upstream network port.

9. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 1 wherein said network switch comprises a wireless router having a wireless coupling, said wireless coupling configured to couple to a computer network in the absence of network cords.

10. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 9 wherein said wireless router includes an upstream network port configured to couple to said network outlet.

11. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 9 wherein said wireless router is configured to receive a PCMCIA/PC card configured to for wireless communication.

12. A method for using combined network switch and power strip comprising:

linking a computer network with a power supply and a network connection outlet with a combined network switch and power strip, said combined network switch and power strip includes a housing defining an interior and an exterior, a power cord coupled to said housing, a power surge protector disposed in said housing interior and coupled to said power cord, an electrical power switch coupled to said surge protector and disposed in said housing in operative communication between said interior and said exterior, an array of electrical outlets coupled to said electrical power switch and disposed in said housing in operative communication between said interior and said exterior, a power transformer coupled to said power surge protector and disposed in said housing interior, a network switch coupled to said power transformer and disposed in said housing interior, said network switch including a network port array in operative communication between said interior and said exterior, and a network connection in operative communication with said network switch and a network outlet;

coupling said network connection with said network outlet; and

coupling said power cord with said electrical power outlet.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said linking said computer network with said network outlet comprises transmitting a wireless connection from said computer network to a wireless router disposed in said housing, said wireless router having a wireless coupling, said wireless coupling configured to couple to a computer network in the absence of network cords.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said wireless router includes an upstream network port configured to couple to said network outlet.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said network switch includes a network port array in operative communication between said interior and said exterior and said method further comprises:

receiving at least one electrical power cord in said array of electrical outlets; and

receiving at least one network cord in said network port array.

16. A combined network switch and power strip comprising:

a means for linking a computer network with a power supply and a network connection outlet with the combined network switch and power strip;

a housing means defining an interior and an exterior;

a means for power surge protection disposed in said housing interior and coupled to a means for a power supply;

a means for switching electrical power coupled to said means for power surge protection and disposed in said housing means in operative communication between said interior and said exterior;

a means for receiving electrical cords coupled to said means for switching electrical power and disposed in said housing in operative communication between said interior and said exterior;

a means for transforming power coupled to said means for power surge protection and disposed in said housing interior;

a means for switching network connection coupled to said means for transforming power and disposed in said housing interior; and

a means for connection to a network in operative communication with said network switch and a network outlet.

17. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 16 wherein said a means for switching network connection comprises one of a network switch means and a means for wireless routing.

18. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 16 wherein said means for wireless routing comprises an upstream network port means configured to couple to a network outlet.

19. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 16 wherein said network switch means comprises a network port array means configured to receive at least one network cord means.

20. The combined network switch and power strip of claim 16 wherein said means for receiving electrical cords is configured to receive at least one electrical power cord means.