Dynamic current limits
First Claim
1. A method, performed in a network power sourcing apparatus having a power supply with a fixed power capacity, the network power sourcing apparatus providing power to a plurality of powered network devices at a provision voltage, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the network power sourcing apparatus, an electronic request to power a network device of the plurality of powered network devices with a requested amount of power;
calculating, at the network power sourcing apparatus, a worst-case current draw of the network device in the event of a pre-defined maximum voltage slew rate, wherein the pre-defined maximum voltage slew rate is a value pre-programmed into the power sourcing apparatus to represent a largest-anticipated possible voltage slew rate;
allocating and providing power, from the power supply to the network device when a remaining power capacity is greater than or equal to the provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the network device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate; and
denying power from the power supply to the network device when the remaining power capacity is less than the provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate;
wherein the remaining power capacity is defined to be the fixed power capacity of the network power sourcing apparatus minus any power that has already been allocated to other powered network devices of the plurality of powered network devices.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for allocating and providing power to network devices. The method includes (i) receiving an electronic request to power a network device with a requested amount of power, (ii) establishing a worst-case current draw of the device in the event of a pre-defined maximum voltage slew rate, and (iii) selectively (a) allocating and providing power to the device when a remaining power capacity is greater than or equal to a provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate, and (b) denying power to the device when the remaining power capacity is less than the provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate. Apparatus are also provided for performing the method.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, performed in a network power sourcing apparatus having a power supply with a fixed power capacity, the network power sourcing apparatus providing power to a plurality of powered network devices at a provision voltage, the method comprising:
-
receiving, at the network power sourcing apparatus, an electronic request to power a network device of the plurality of powered network devices with a requested amount of power; calculating, at the network power sourcing apparatus, a worst-case current draw of the network device in the event of a pre-defined maximum voltage slew rate, wherein the pre-defined maximum voltage slew rate is a value pre-programmed into the power sourcing apparatus to represent a largest-anticipated possible voltage slew rate; allocating and providing power, from the power supply to the network device when a remaining power capacity is greater than or equal to the provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the network device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate; and denying power from the power supply to the network device when the remaining power capacity is less than the provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate; wherein the remaining power capacity is defined to be the fixed power capacity of the network power sourcing apparatus minus any power that has already been allocated to other powered network devices of the plurality of powered network devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An apparatus comprising:
-
a power supply having a fixed power capacity, the power supply configured to provide power to a plurality of powered devices at a provision voltage, and a remaining power capacity; a network interface; and a controller coupled to the network interface, the controller being configured to; receive, over the network interface, a request to power a device of the plurality of powered devices over the network interface with a requested amount of power; calculate a worst-case current draw of the device in the event of a pre-defined maximum voltage slew rate, wherein the pre-defined maximum voltage slew rate is a value pre-programmed into the apparatus to represent a largest-anticipated possible voltage slew rate; allocate and provide power to the device from the power supply over the network interface when the remaining power capacity is greater than or equal to the provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate; and deny power to the device when the remaining power capacity is less than the provision voltage multiplied by the worst-case current draw of the device in the event of the maximum voltage slew rate; wherein the remaining power capacity is defined to be the fixed power capacity of the power supply minus any power that has already been allocated to other powered network devices of the plurality of powered network devices. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification