Method and apparatus for supplying power in a local area network
First Claim
1. A power supply subsystem for providing electrical power to a local area network (LAN) node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:
- a power management and control unit;
a current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to provide a current limited direct current output;
a voltage measurement means; and
one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limited output to the communication cabling;
said power management and control unit being further operative to;
measure, utilizing said voltage measurement means at three pre-determined time intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said coupled current limited direct current output; and
determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined time intervals whether characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for supplying power to a local area network node over communication cabling, the method comprising: injecting current-limited current into communication cabling connected to the local area network node; measuring a voltage developed in accordance with said injected current limited current across said communication cabling at three pre-determined intervals; and determining, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined intervals whether characteristics of the local area network node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power supply subsystem for providing electrical power to a local area network (LAN) node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:
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a power management and control unit; a current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to provide a current limited direct current output; a voltage measurement means; and one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limited output to the communication cabling; said power management and control unit being further operative to; measure, utilizing said voltage measurement means at three pre-determined time intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said coupled current limited direct current output; and determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined time intervals whether characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for supplying power to a local area network (LAN) node over communication cabling, the method comprising:
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providing one of a combiner and a power supply interface arranged to receive a current limited direct current; injecting said received current-limited direct current into the communication cabling connected to the local area network node; measuring a voltage developed in accordance with said injected current limited direct current across said communication cabling at three pre-determined time intervals; and determining, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined time intervals whether characteristics of the local area network node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A local area network providing power over communication cabling comprising:
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a local area network (LAN) switch; a plurality of local area network nodes; communication cabling enabling data communication between said LAN switch and said plurality of local area network nodes; and a power supply subsystem, said power supply subsystem comprising; a power management and control unit; a current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to supply a current limited direct current output; a voltage measurement means; and one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limited output to said communication cabling, said power management and control unit being operative to; measure, utilizing said voltage measuring means at three pre-determined time intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said supplied current limited direct current output; and determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage whether characteristics of at least one of said plurality of local area network nodes allow it to receive power over said communication cabling. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A power supply subsystem for providing electrical power to a local area network node over communication cabling, the power supply subsystem comprising:
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a power management and control unit; a current limiting circuitry responsive to said power management and control unit to supply a current limited direct current output; a voltage measurement means; one of a combiner and a power supply interface operative to couple said current limited direct current output to the communication cabling; said power management and control unit being operative to; measure, utilizing said voltage measurement means at three pre-determined time intervals, a voltage developed in accordance with said supplied current limited direct current output, said voltage being measured across a line associated with the communication cabling; determine, as a consequence of said measured voltage at said three pre-determined time intervals whether characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling; and in the event that said characteristics of the node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling, provide said current limited direct current output via said one of a combiner and a power supply interface over the communication cabling to the node.
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Specification