Method and apparatus for dynamic termination of unused wired connection

• US 8,098,681 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Carrafiello, Michael W., Bisceglia, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Samuel, DeWanda
• Application Number:
  US10/352,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20040146061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,275 Days
• Field of Search: 370/112, 370/318, 370/463, 370/521, 700/286, 455/127.1
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00

Abstract

A system and method provide dynamic termination of the unused wired connections in a communications interface of a communications device. An interconnected controller, switch, and termination circuit are provided to connect at least one unused wired connection of the communications interface to ground in response to a pre-determined event. Dynamic termination of one or more unused wired connections of the communications interface can occur while still allowing power delivery, via the interface, to the communications device to maintain operation of the communications device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dynamic termination, comprising:

a controller;

a switch for receiving a control signal from said controller; and

a termination circuit, interconnected to said switch, and for interconnection to ground and to at least one unused wired connection in a communications interface, wherein said controller, in response to a pre-determined event, sends a control signal to said switch to connect said at least one unused wired connection to ground using the termination circuit, wherein said pre-determined event is a voltage threshold being satisfied by an input voltage to said communications interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said voltage threshold is approximately 30 volts.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communications interface is a local area network communications interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communications interface allows power and data to be delivered to a communications device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said communications interface comprises an element of one of a computing device, camera, telephone and wireless communications device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control signal is a digital signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one unused wired connection is an unused pin in said communications interface.

8. A method for terminating unused terminals of a communication interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a communications interface for connecting a device to a network;

sensing if a voltage is transmitted from the network to the device through the communications interlace; and

if so, activating a switch to selectively connect at least one unused terminal of the communications interface to ground.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said step of sensing includes:

comparing a voltage transmitted through the communication interface to a first predetermined threshold.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined threshold is approximately 30 volts.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the voltage transmitted through the communication interface to a second predetermined threshold; and

if the voltage exceeds the second predetermined threshold, disconnecting the at least one unused terminal of the communication interface from ground.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second predetermined threshold is approximately 36 volts.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

comparing the voltage transmitted through the communication interface to a second predetermined threshold; and

if the voltage exceeds the second predetermined threshold, disconnecting the at least one unused terminal of the communication interface from ground.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second predetermined threshold is approximately 36 volts.

15. A communications interface for connecting a device having a power supply to a network, the communications interface comprising:

an input port having a first plurality of connectors for receiving power and data and a second plurality of connectors;

a first switch for connecting the first plurality of connectors to the power supply; and

a controller for connecting the second plurality of connectors to ground after power is received at the first plurality of connectors.

16. The communications interface of claim 15 including a second switch, wherein the controller controls the second switch to connect the second plurality of connectors to ground in response to power being received at the first plurality of connectors.

17. The communications interface of claim 15 wherein the controller connects the second plurality of connectors to ground in response to the first switch connecting the first plurality of connectors to the power supply.

18. The communications interface of claim 15 wherein the controller connects the second plurality of connectors to ground when the power at the input port rises from a first level to a second level.

19. The communications interface of claim 15 wherein said controller connects the second plurality of connectors to ground in response to the receipt of both a first signal and a second signal, the first signal indicating that the first plurality of connectors is connected to the power supply and the second signal indicating that an additional condition has occurred.

20. The communications interface of claim 15 wherein said second plurality of connectors comprise connectors not used by the device.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the first plurality of terminals is connected to a power supply of the device and including connecting the first plurality of terminals to the power supply when the sensed voltage exceeds the predetermined threshold.

21. A method for terminating unused terminals of a communication interface, the method comprising:

providing a communications interface for connecting a device to a network, the communications interface including a first plurality of terminals for receiving power and data and a second plurality of terminals;

sensing a voltage at the communications interface; and

if the sensed voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold, connecting the second plurality of terminals to ground.