Power management for power over ethernet (PoE) system based on network communication transmission rate

• US 8,793,511 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Bishara, Nafea
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prifti, Aurel
• Application Number:
  US12/722,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 361/87, 361/55, 361/187, 713/300, 713/320, 713/340, 713/322, 347/14, 363/49, 370/419, 370/318, 370/295, 455/522, 709/230, 307/29
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

A power sourcing equipment (PSE), a powered device (PD), and an approach for managing PoE power delivered from a PSE to a PD are described. Based on communication between the PD and the PSE, the PSE reduces the power made available to the PD in response to the PD entering an operational mode with reduced power requirements. Further, based on communication between the PD and the PSE, the PSE increases the power made available to the PD in response to the PD entering an operational mode with increased power requirements.

Claims

1. A power service equipment, comprising:

a Power over Ethernet (POE) manager configured to monitor a status of a powered device that receives PoE power from the power service equipment, the PoE manager comprising

an interface module configured to receive data transmitted from the powered device, and

a power level module configured to determine a power requirement for the powered device based, at least in part, on data received from the powered device, wherein the power level module determines a reduced power requirement for the powered device in response to the interface module receiving data from the powered device indicating that the powered device has entered an idle state characterized by a reduced network communication transmission rate;

a data store configured to store data related to power requirements of the powered device and periodically update the stored data using a link layer discovery protocol; and

a PoE power source configured to adjust an amount of PoE power delivered to the powered device based on the determined power requirement.

2. The power service equipment of claim 1, wherein in response to the interface module receiving data from the powered device indicating that the powered device has entered a busy state characterized by an increased network communication transmission rate, the power level module determines an increased power requirement for the powered device.

3. The power service equipment of claim 1, further comprising:

a supply control module configured to control the PoE power source to adjust the PoE power allocated to the powered device based on the determined power requirement.

4. The power service equipment of claim 1, further comprising:

a detection module configured to (i) detect connection of the powered device to a PoE port of the power service equipment and (ii) determine an initial power level provided to the powered device prior to the power service equipment receiving data transmitted from the powered device.

5. The power service equipment of claim 1, wherein the interface module is configured to process link layer discovery protocol messages received from the powered device.

6. A powered device, comprising:

a power converter configured to (i) receive PoE power from a power service equipment and (ii) use the received power to power the powered device based on an initial power level received from the power service equipment; and

a PoE manager configured to monitor a status of the powered device, the PoE manager comprising

a controller configured to receive a status update indicating a change in operational status of the powered device;

an interface module configured to generate data based at least in part on the received status update indicating the change in operational status of the powered device, wherein the data is to be transmitted to the power service equipment from which the powered device receives power; and

a power level module configured to determine a reduced power requirement for the powered device in response to the interface module receiving data from the powered device indicating that the powered device has entered an idle state characterized by a reduced network communication transmission rate; and

a data store configured to store data related to power requirements of the powered device and periodically update the stored data using a link layer discovery protocol.

7. The powered device of claim 6, wherein the power level module is configured to determine a power requirement for the powered device based, at least in part, on the received status update indicating the change in operational status of the powered device.

8. The powered device of claim 6, herein the power level module is configured to determine a reduced power requirement for the powered device in response to a status update indicating a reduced power requirement for the powered device.

9. The powered device of claim 6, herein the power level module is configured to determine an increased power requirement for the powered device in response to a status update indicating an increased power requirement for the powered device.

10. The powered device of claim 6, wherein the interface module is configured to generate link layer discovery protocol messages for transmission to the power service equipment from which the powered device receives power.

11. A method for managing Power over Ethernet (PoE) power provided to a powered device by a power service equipment, the method comprising:

monitoring a status of the powered device based on data transmitted from the powered device;

determining a power requirement for the powered device based, at least in part, on the data received from the powered device;

determining a reduced power requirement for the powered device in response to receiving data indicating that the powered device has entered an idle state characterized by a reduced network communication transmission rate;

adjusting an amount of PoE power delivered to the powered device based on the determined power requirement;

storing data related to power requirements of the powered device; and

periodically updating the stored data using a link layer discovery protocol.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein response to receiving data indicating that the powered device has entered a busy state characterized by an increased network communication transmission rate, the power service equipment determines an increased power requirement for the powered device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting connection the powered device to a PoE port on the power service equipment and providing an initial power level to the detected powered device prior to the power service equipment receiving data transmitted from the powered device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving data related to power requirements of the powered device in a link layer discovery protocol compatible message transmitted from the powered device.