Powered device classification in a wired data telecommunications network
First Claim
1. A method for classifying a powered device (PD) coupled to power sourcing equipment (PSE) to receive inline power from the PSE in a wired data telecommunications network having at least two pairs of conductors coupling the PD and the PSE, the method comprising:
- discovering that the PD is adapted to receive inline power from the PSE;
conducting a plurality of classification cycles, each comprising;
applying a classification voltage to the conductors;
measuring the current in the conductors while the classification voltage is applied;
determining a class responsive to the measured current; and
storing in nonvolatile memory at the PD a representation that a classification procedure is underway, the nonvolatile memory adapted to store information for a period of time in the absence of inline power voltage exceeding a reset logic level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a wired data telecommunication network power sourcing equipment (PSE) coupled to a powered device (PD) carries out an inline power discovery process to verify that the PD is adapted to receive inline power, then a plurality of classification cycles are carried out to convey a series of inline power classes back to the PSE. The series of inline power classes may all be the same, in which case the PD is legacy equipment and is adapted to receive the power level corresponding to that class. If they are not all the same, information is thus conveyed to the PSE which may, for example, correspond to a specific power level to be applied or to other information.
75 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method for classifying a powered device (PD) coupled to power sourcing equipment (PSE) to receive inline power from the PSE in a wired data telecommunications network having at least two pairs of conductors coupling the PD and the PSE, the method comprising:
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discovering that the PD is adapted to receive inline power from the PSE; conducting a plurality of classification cycles, each comprising; applying a classification voltage to the conductors; measuring the current in the conductors while the classification voltage is applied; determining a class responsive to the measured current; and storing in nonvolatile memory at the PD a representation that a classification procedure is underway, the nonvolatile memory adapted to store information for a period of time in the absence of inline power voltage exceeding a reset logic level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for classifying a powered device (PD) coupled to power sourcing equipment (PSE) to receive inline power from the PSE in a wired data telecommunications network having at least two pairs of conductors coupling the PD and the PSE, the apparatus comprising:
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means for discovering that the PD is adapted to receive inline power from the PSE; means for conducting a plurality of classification cycles, each comprising; applying a classification voltage to the conductors; measuring the current in the conductors while the classification voltage is applied; determining a class responsive to the measured current; and means for storing in nonvolatile memory at the PD a representation that a classification procedure is underway, the nonvolatile memory adapted to store information for a period of time in the absence of inline power voltage exceeding a reset logic level. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A system for classifying a powered device (PD) coupled to power sourcing equipment (PSE) to receive inline power from the PSE in a wired data telecommunications network having at least two pairs of conductors coupling the PD and the PSE, the system comprising:
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circuitry for discovering that the PD is adapted to receive inline power from the PSE; circuitry for conducting a plurality of classification cycles, each comprising; applying a classification voltage to the conductors; measuring the current in the conductors while the classification voltage is applied; determining a class responsive to the measured current; circuitry for using a look up table indexed by measured current value to determine a class responsive to the measured current value; and circuitry for storing in nonvolatile memory at the PD a representation that a classification procedure is underway, the nonvolatile memory adapted to store information for a period of time in the absence of inline power voltage exceeding a reset logic level. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for classifying a powered device (PD) coupled to power sourcing equipment (PSE) to receive inline power from the PSE in a wired data telecommunications network having at least two pairs of conductors coupling the PD and the PSE, the method comprising:
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discovering that the PD is adapted to receive inline power from the PSE; conducting a plurality of classification cycles, each comprising; applying a classification voltage to the conductors; measuring the current in the conductors while the classification voltage is applied;
determining a class responsive to the measured current; andstoring in nonvolatile memory at the PD a representation that a classification procedure is underway, the nonvolatile memory adapted to store information for a period of time in the absence of inline power voltage exceeding a reset logic level.
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62. Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) adapted to classify a coupled powered device (PD) so that it can receive inline power from the PSE in a wired data telecommunications network having at least two pairs of conductors coupling the PD and the PSE, the PSE comprising:
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circuitry for discovering that a coupled PD is adapted to receive inline power from the PSE; circuitry for conducting a plurality of classification procedures, each procedure comprising; applying a classification voltage to the conductors; measuring the current in the conductors while the voltage is applied; determining an inline power class responsive to the measured current; and storing in nonvolatile memory at the PD a representation that a classification procedure is underway, the nonvolatile memory adapted to store information for a period of time in the absence of inline power voltage exceeding a reset logic level; and circuitry for providing a level of inline power responsive to the plurality of inline power classes determined. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64)
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Specification