Inline power for multiple devices in a wired data telecommunications network
First Claim
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1. An inline power device, comprising:
- a first port configured as a powered device (PD) port for coupling power and data with a port of an external power sourcing equipment (PSE), the first port facilitating a power negotiation with the port of the external PSE;
a plurality of selectable electrical components for use in establishing a magnitude of a power request from the external PSE, said selectable electrical components being selected as a function of said power negotiation;
a summation unit configured to;
receive a power level from the PSE via the first port in response to the power negotiation with the external PSE, the power level representing a total amount of power provided to the inline power device by the PSE,detect a power consumption level associated with the inline power device, the power consumption level associated with an amount of power utilized by the inline power device during operation, anddetect an available power level for use by a downstream coupled PD based upon a difference between the power level and the power consumption level;
a second port configured as a PSE port for coupling available power and data with a port of a downstream coupled PD; and
a PSE manager unit configured for receiving inline power requests from a downstream coupled PD and responsive to the summation unit for providing up to the available power level to the downstream coupled PD.
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Abstract
A power sourcing equipment-powered device (PSE-PD) combination unit requests inline power from a connected PSE or other PSE-PD combination unit by having the PD portion of the PD-PSE combination unit adapt its electrical characteristics, if necessary, to obtain the maximum power available. The PD-PSE combination device keeps track of available power less power consumed locally with a summation unit. A PSE manager unit grants PD power requests from downstream devices based upon the available power left (e.g., original PSE power less losses less local consumption).
96 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inline power device, comprising:
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a first port configured as a powered device (PD) port for coupling power and data with a port of an external power sourcing equipment (PSE), the first port facilitating a power negotiation with the port of the external PSE; a plurality of selectable electrical components for use in establishing a magnitude of a power request from the external PSE, said selectable electrical components being selected as a function of said power negotiation; a summation unit configured to; receive a power level from the PSE via the first port in response to the power negotiation with the external PSE, the power level representing a total amount of power provided to the inline power device by the PSE, detect a power consumption level associated with the inline power device, the power consumption level associated with an amount of power utilized by the inline power device during operation, and detect an available power level for use by a downstream coupled PD based upon a difference between the power level and the power consumption level; a second port configured as a PSE port for coupling available power and data with a port of a downstream coupled PD; and a PSE manager unit configured for receiving inline power requests from a downstream coupled PD and responsive to the summation unit for providing up to the available power level to the downstream coupled PD. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 18, 19, 20)
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9. A method for providing inline power, comprising:
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coupling a first port configured as a powered device (PD) port of a powered device-power sourcing equipment (PD-PSE) combination device to a PSE-configured port of a first external device; coupling a second port configured as a PSE port of the PD-PSE combination device to a PD-configured port of a second external device; selectively requesting, by way of a negotiation through the PD port and beginning with a maximum value, power at the first port from the first external device; receiving a negotiated power level from the first external device via the first port in response to the power negotiation with the first external device, the negotiated power level representing a total amount of power provided by the first external device; detecting a power consumption level associated with the PD-PSE combination device, the power consumption level associated with an amount of power utilized by the PD-PSE combination device during operation; detecting an available power level for use by the downstream coupled second external based upon a difference between the negotiated power level and the power consumption level; consuming power up to the power consumption level, by the PD-PSE combination device, provided by the first external device; and providing available power up to the available power level, received from the first external device by the PD-PSE combination device, to the second external device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 16)
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14. An apparatus for providing inline power, comprising:
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means for coupling a first port configured as a powered device (PD) port of a powered device-power sourcing equipment (PD-PSE) combination device to a PSE-configured port of a first external device; means for coupling a second port configured as a PSE port of the PD-PSE combination device to a PD-configured port of a second external device; means for selectively requesting, by way of a negotiation through the PD port and beginning with a maximum value, power at the first port from the first external device; means for receiving a negotiated power level from the first external device via the first port in response to the power negotiation with the first external device, the negotiated power level representing a total amount of power provided by the first external device; means for detecting a power consumption level associated with the PD-PSE combination device, the power consumption level associated with an amount of power utilized by the PD-PSE combination device during operation; means for detecting an available power level for use by the downstream coupled second external based upon a difference between the negotiated power level and the power consumption level; means for consuming power up to the power consumption level, by the PD-PSE combination device, provided by the first external device; and means for providing available power up to the available power level, received from the first external device by the PD-PSE combination device, to the second external device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification