Power ramp-up in a line-powered network element system

• US 7,340,051 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc. (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: ADC DSL Systems, Inc. (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Phillips, Melvin Richard, Lomax, Charles Weston Jr., Ammann, Christopher Tad
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh; Ramnandan
• Application Number:
  US10/449,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 37941301-41304, 379/413
• US Class Current: 379/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/001 Current supply source at the exchanger providing current to substations

Abstract

A method of ramping up a power supply that supplies power on a communication medium. The method includes supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a first set point, determining if an overload condition exists, and, if the overload condition does not exist, signaling a first alarm. If the overload condition exists, power is supplied on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a second set point. It is determined if the overload condition continues to exist while operating the power supply at the second set point. If the overload condition continues to exist while operating the power supply at the second set point, a second alarm is signaled.

Claims

1. A method of ramping up a power supply that supplies power on a communication medium, the method comprising:

supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a first set point;

determining if an overload condition exists while supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the first set point;

if the overload condition does not exist, signaling a first alarm;

if the overload condition exists;

supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a second set point;

determining if the overload condition continues to exist while supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the second set point; and

if the overload condition continues to exist while supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the second set point, signaling a second alarm.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if a boot trigger condition exists and wherein power is supplied on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the first set point when the boot trigger condition exists.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the boot trigger condition is a short circuit on the communication medium.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the boot trigger condition exists when a predetermined period has elapsed since the power supply supplied power on the communication medium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the first set point includes ramping up a nominal voltage of the power supply to a first voltage value and ramping up a power limit of the power supply to a first power limit value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set point is selected so as to supply enough power to cause a sink network element coupled to the communication medium to start up but not enough power to operate the network element normally.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first set point is selected so that power supplies one half the amount of power that is supplied when during normal operation of the sink network element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set point is selected so that the power supply supplies an amount of power needed to operate a sink network element coupled to the communication medium in a normal manner.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the second set point includes ramping up a nominal voltage of the power supply to a second voltage value and ramping up a power limit of the power supply to a second power limit value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if a ground fault exists and, if a ground fault exists, signaling a third alarm.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication medium includes at least one twisted-pair telephone line.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically adjusting the set point of the power supply.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising monitoring a power-related attribute and adjusting the operation of the power supply based on the monitored power-related attribute.

14. A network element, comprising:

a communication interface that produces a telecommunication service signal that includes traffic for a communication link;

a power interface adapted to couple the network element to a power source, the power interface including a power supply that produces a power signal;

a controller that controls the operation of the power supply; and

a splitter that combines the telecommunication service signal with the power signal and applies the combined signal to the communication medium;

wherein the controller;

causes the power supply to supply power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a first set point;

determines if an overload condition exists while power is supplied on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the first set point;

if the overload condition does not exist, signals a first alarm;

if the overload condition exists, causes the power supply to supply power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a second set point;

determine if the overload condition continues to exist while the power supply supplies power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the second set point; and

if the overload condition continues to exist while the power supply supplies power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the second set point, signal a second alarm.

15. The network element of claim 14, wherein the controller includes at least one of hardware and software.

16. The network element of claim 14, wherein the controller is included in the power interface.

17. The network element of claim 14, wherein the communications interface couples the network element to an upstream communication medium.

18. The network element of claim 14, wherein a digital subscriber line communication link is provided on the communication medium.

19. The network element of claim 14, wherein the network element is a central office terminal.

20. The network element of claim 14, wherein a voltage signal is provided between the controller and the power supply, wherein the voltage signal is used by the controller to set a nominal voltage at which the power supply is to supply power on the communication medium.

21. The network element of claim 14, wherein a power limit signal is provided between the controller and the power supply, wherein the power limit signal is used by the controller to set a power limit for the power supply, wherein the power limit is a maximum power the power supply is to provide on the communication medium.

22. The network element of claim 14, wherein an overload signal is provided by the power supply to the controller, wherein the overload signal is used by the power supply to inform the controller that an overload condition exists.

23. A network element, comprising:

an interface adapted to couple the network element to a communication medium; and

a power supply adapted to couple the network element to a power source;

wherein power is supplied on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a first set point;

wherein the network element determines if an overload condition exists while power is supplied on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the first set point;

wherein if the overload condition does not exist, the network element signals a first alarm;

wherein if the overload condition exists, the power supply supplies power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at a second set point;

wherein the network element determines if the overload condition continues to exist while the power supply supplies power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the second set point; and

wherein if the overload condition continues to exist while the power supply supplies power on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the second set point, the network element signals a second alarm.

24. The network element of claim 23, wherein a first communication link is provided on the communication medium.

25. The network element of claim 24, further comprising a communications interface that couples the network element to an upstream communication link and to the first communication link.

26. The network element of claim 23, wherein the communication medium includes a twisted-pair telephone line.

27. A network, comprising:

a source network element including a power supply coupled to a power source; and

a sink network element coupled to the source network element over a communication medium;

wherein power is supplied on the communication medium to power the sink network element with the power supply operating at a first set point;

wherein the network element determines if an overload condition exists while power is supplied on the communication medium with the power supply operating at the first set point;

wherein if the overload condition does not exist, the network element signals a first alarm;

wherein if the overload condition exists, the power supply supplies power on the communication medium to power the sink network element with the power supply operating at a second set point;

wherein the network element determines if the overload condition continues to exist while the power supply supplies power on the communication medium to power the sink network element with the power supply operating at the second set point; and

wherein if the overload condition continues to exist while the power supply supplies power on the communication medium to power the sink network element with the power supply operating at the second set point, the network element signals a second alarm.

28. The network of claim 27, wherein the source network element is central office power plug.

29. The network of claim 27, wherein the sink network element is remote network element including a wireless access point.

30. The network of claim 27, further comprising a line interface unit coupled to the source network element.

31. The network of claim 27, further comprising a wireless services manager.