System and method for detecting a device requiring power

• US 8,949,049 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rakshani, Vafa, Yousefi, Nariman
• Primary Examiner(s): SUGLO, JANET L
• Application Number:
  US11/459,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20060258290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,115 Days
• Field of Search: 702/60, 379/307, 379/413, 379/93.01, 713/300, 307/126
• US Class Current: 702/60
• 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: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0001 using modification of a parameter of the network power signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/242 by comparing a transmitted test signal with a locally generated replica
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/02 Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A system and technique for detecting a device that requires power is implemented with a power detection station. The power detection system includes a detector having an output and a return which are coupled together by the device when the device requires power. The detector includes a word generator for generating test pulses for transmission to the device via the detector output, and a comparator for comparing the detector output with the detector return. The power detection station has a wide variety of applications, including by way of example, a switch or hub.

Claims

1. A transmission system, comprising:

a first device comprising a transmission line interface;

a two-way transmission line comprising first and second conductors coupled to the transmission line interface; and

a second device coupled to the two-way transmission line, the second device operable to selectively couple the first and second conductors of the two-way transmission line together when the second device requires power.

2. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first device is operable to output first and second pulses to the second device through the two-way transmission line, each of the first and second pulses having a pulse width different from one another.

3. The transmission system of claim 2, wherein the pulse width of the second pulse is programmable.

4. The transmission system of claim 2, wherein the first device is operable to determine that the second device requires power when the first device detects the first pulse from the two-way transmission line but not the second pulse.

5. The transmission system of claim 4, wherein the first device further comprises a power source selectively couplable to the second device through the two-way transmission line when the first device determines that the second device requires power.

6. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first device is operable to output a signal to the second device through the two-way transmission line, and the first device is operable to determine that the second device requires power when the first device detects the signal from the second device through the two-way transmission line.

7. The transmission system of claim 6, wherein the first device is operable to determine that the second device requires power only if the first device detects the signal from the second device through the two-way transmission line within a predetermined time after the first device outputs the signal.

8. The transmission system of claim 7, wherein the first device further comprises a power source selectively couplable to the second device through the two-way transmission line when the first device determines that the second device requires power.

9. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first device is operable to output a pseudo random word comprising a plurality of pulses.

10. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first device is operable to output an identifier comprising a plurality of pulses.

11. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a power source selectively couplable to the second device through the two-way transmission line.

12. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises an IP telephone.

13. The transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a third device coupled to the two-way transmission line and not requiring power.

14. The transmission system of claim 13, wherein the second device comprises an IP telephone and the third device comprises a computer.

15. The transmission system of claim 13, wherein the first device comprises a power source selectively couplable to the second device through the two-way transmission line.

16. The transmission system of claim 15, wherein the first device is operable to provide two-way communication between the second device and the third device when the power source is selectively coupled to the second device.

17. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a switch.

18. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the transmission line interface comprises at least one port and wherein the two-way transmission line is coupled to one of the at least one port.

19. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the second device'"'"'s selective coupling of the first and second conductors causes any signal present on the first conductor to be transmitted back to the first device via the second conductor.

20. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the second device is operable to selectively couple the first and second conductors of the two-way transmission line directly together when the second device requires power.

21. A device configured to communicate with a second device via a two-way transmission line comprising first and second conductors, the device comprising:

an interface operable to receive data from, and transmit data to, the two way transmission line; and

coupling means operable to selectively couple the first and second conductors of the two-way transmission line together when the device requires power.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the device comprises an IP telephone.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the selective coupling of the first and second conductors causes any signal received on the first conductor to be transmitted back via the second conductor.

24. The transmission system of claim 21, wherein the coupling means is operable to selectively couple the first and second conductors of the two-way transmission line directly together when the device requires power.