Enabling/disabling power-over-ethernet software subsystem in response to power supply status
First Claim
1. A method of implementing an Ethernet switch, comprising:
- applying a first supply voltage to one or more interface modules, wherein the first supply voltage is selected to operate digital circuitry on the one or more interface modules;
powering the one or more interface modules with the first supply voltage;
thenapplying a second supply voltage to the one or more interface modules, wherein the second supply voltage is greater than the first supply voltage, and wherein the second supply voltage is selected to support a power over Ethernet (PoE) function;
powering one or more power over Ethernet (PoE) modules connected to the one or more interface modules with the second supply voltage;
detecting the presence of the second supply voltage within the Ethernet switch; and
detecting the presence of the one or more PoE modules in response to detecting the presence of the second supply voltage within the Ethernet switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Ethernet switch includes 12-Volt and 48-Volt power sourcing modules, system software, Ethernet interface modules and optional power over Ethernet (PoE) modules. The Ethernet interface modules are motherboards that include the circuitry required to implement a non-PoE system. The PoE modules are daughter boards that include the circuitry required to supply powered devices in a PoE subsystem. A PoE module may be connected to a corresponding Ethernet interface module. During start up, all of the Ethernet interface modules are first powered up in response to the 12-Volt power sourcing module. If the system software subsequently determines that the 48-Volt power sourcing module is operational, then (and only then) the system software attempts to detect the presence of any PoE modules. Upon detecting one or more PoE modules, the PoE modules are initialized and configured, thereby enabling PoE operation.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of implementing an Ethernet switch, comprising:
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applying a first supply voltage to one or more interface modules, wherein the first supply voltage is selected to operate digital circuitry on the one or more interface modules; powering the one or more interface modules with the first supply voltage;
thenapplying a second supply voltage to the one or more interface modules, wherein the second supply voltage is greater than the first supply voltage, and wherein the second supply voltage is selected to support a power over Ethernet (PoE) function; powering one or more power over Ethernet (PoE) modules connected to the one or more interface modules with the second supply voltage; detecting the presence of the second supply voltage within the Ethernet switch; and detecting the presence of the one or more PoE modules in response to detecting the presence of the second supply voltage within the Ethernet switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An Ethernet switch comprising:
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an Ethernet interface module that includes digital circuitry; a first power supply module configured to provide a first power supply voltage to the Ethernet interface module, thereby powering the digital circuitry of the Ethernet interface module; a power over Ethernet (PoE) module connected to the Ethernet interface module, wherein the PoE module includes digital circuitry; and a second power supply module configured to provide a second power supply voltage, greater than the first power supply voltage, to the PoE module, thereby powering the digital circuitry of the PoE module, wherein the second power supply voltage is selected to support one or more power over Ethernet (PoE) connections to the Ethernet interface module; and system software configured to detect the second power supply voltage provided by the second power supply module and enable the PoE module only after the second power supply voltage is detected. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing an Ethernet switch including an interface module that includes at least one power over Ethernet (PoE) port, and a PoE module that couples to the interface module and controls power to the PoE port; applying a first voltage from a first power supply to digital circuits of the interface module; applying a second voltage from a second power supply to digital circuits of the PoE module, the second power supply being a different power supply than the first power supply and the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; and enabling the PoE module only after the second power supply voltage is detected. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An Ethernet switch comprising:
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an interface module that includes at least one Power over Ethernet (PoE) port and a PoE module that couples to the interface module and controls power to the PoE port; and system software that detects the PoE module only after a first voltage is provided to the interface module and a second voltage, different than the first voltage, is provided to the PoE module. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of implementing an Ethernet switch, comprising:
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applying a first supply voltage to an interface module, wherein the interface module initially operates entirely in response to the first supply voltage;
thendetecting the presence of a second supply voltage within the Ethernet switch, wherein the second supply voltage powers a power over Ethernet (PoE) module connected to the interface module; and
thendetecting the presence of the PoE module. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of implementing an Ethernet switch, comprising:
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generating a first event with system software within the Ethernet switch in response to detecting the presence of a supply voltage within the Ethernet switch, wherein the supply voltage powers a power over Ethernet (PoE) module within the Ethernet switch; and enabling PoE software within the Ethernet switch to execute an initialization code in response to the first event, wherein the initialization code detects the PoE module within the Ethernet switch. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification