Network equipment and optional tether

• US 9,049,019 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
• Original Assignee: ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
• Inventors: Austermann, John F. III, Cummings, Marshall B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYUN, SOON D
• Application Number:
  US13/615,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0278 Arrangements for impedance matching

Abstract

A piece of data terminal equipment having an Ethernet connector having first and second pairs of contacts used to carry high frequency data communication signals. The piece of data terminal equipment to have at least one path coupled across at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts of the Ethernet connector and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts of the Ethernet connector. The piece of data terminal equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current through the at least one path.

Claims

1. A detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment comprising:

an Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals, at least one path for the purpose of drawing DC current, the at least one path coupled across at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts, the detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current flow through the at least one path via at least one of the contacts of the first and second pairs of contacts of the Ethernet connector.

2. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 further comprising:

an electronic tether physically connected to the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment, the electronic tether comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising at least one pair of pads, at least one pair of pads responsive to at least one electrical condition.

3. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 2 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment comprises a computer.

4. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 2 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises an open circuit condition.

5. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 further comprising:

a second piece of equipment wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

6. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 5 wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment via cabling.

7. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 6 wherein the second piece of equipment comprises a computer.

8. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is a personal computer.

9. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second pairs of contacts is actually carrying BaseT Ethernet communication signals.

10. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is actually drawing current through the at least one path.

11. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one path is integrated into the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment and the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current flow through the at least one path.

12. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprise a frequency and the frequency is low relative to the frequency of the Ethernet communication signals.

13. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 12 wherein the frequency is a fixed frequency.

14. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein data communication assemblies of the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment are in the powered-off state.

15. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current through the at least one path with the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment powered-off.

16. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of current flow through the at least one path result from at least one electrical condition across the at least one path.

17. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 16 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises at least one DC voltage condition.

18. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 17 wherein the at least one DC voltage condition is between 3 and 20 volts.

19. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of current flow through the at least one path result from at least one impedance condition within the at least one path.

20. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 19 wherein the at least one impedance condition comprises at least 15 k ohms.

21. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 further comprising a power supply.

22. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 21 wherein the power supply comprises an isolation power supply.

23. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 further comprises a controller coupled to the at least one path.

24. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 further comprises a voltage controlled switch coupled to the at least one path.

25. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein one or more magnitudes of the current flow through the at least one path represent information about the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

26. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 25 wherein the information to identify the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

27. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 25 wherein the information to distinguish the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment from at least one other piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

28. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one of the different magnitudes of current flow through the at least one path is part of a detection protocol.

29. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one path comprises an energy storage device.

30. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein a predetermined aspect of the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is related to at least one magnitude of the current flow.

31. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 30 wherein the predetermined aspect comprises an electrical aspect.

32. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of current flow through the at least one path comprise a first magnitude followed by a second magnitude.

33. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 32 wherein the first magnitude is less than the second magnitude.

34. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment of claim 1 wherein the detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment is physically connected to a network.

35. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprise two or more different magnitudes of DC current flow.

36. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprise a series of different magnitudes of DC current flow.

37. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein at least one magnitude of DC current flow is used to distinguish the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment from at least one other piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

38. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one path comprises a controller.

39. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is a piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment.

40. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 1 wherein the at least one path to protect the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

41. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 40 wherein the at least one path is actually protecting the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

42. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 40 wherein the at least one path to physically protect the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

43. The detectable piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment according to any one of claims 1-8, 10-14, 16-28, 29-33, 35-38, or 39-42 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is a powered-off piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

44. A responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment, comprising:

an Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry BaseT Ethernet communication signals;

at least one path coupled across at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts, the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to change impedance within the at least one path in response to at least one DC condition across the at least one path.

45. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 further comprising:

an electronic tether physically connected to the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment, the electronic tether comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising at least one pair of pads, at least one pair of pads responsive to at least one electrical condition.

46. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 45 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment comprises a computer.

47. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 45 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises an open circuit condition.

48. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 further comprising:

a second piece of equipment wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

49. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 48 wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment via cabling.

50. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 49 wherein the second piece of equipment comprises a computer.

51. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is a personal computer.

52. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein at least one of the first and second pairs of contacts is actually carrying BaseT Ethernet communication signals.

53. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is actually changing impedance within the at least one path.

54. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one DC condition is actually across the at least one path.

55. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one path is integrated into the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment and the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to change impedance within the at least one path in response to the at least one DC condition across the at least one of contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.

56. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 55 wherein the impedance change comprises two or more impedance changes and the two or more impedance changes comprise a frequency and the frequency is low relative to the frequency of the Ethernet communication signals.

57. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 56 wherein the frequency is a fixed frequency.

58. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein data communication assemblies of the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment are in the powered-off state.

59. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current through the at least one path with the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment powered-off.

60. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 further comprising a power supply.

61. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 60 wherein the power supply comprises an isolation power supply.

62. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 further comprises a controller coupled to the at least one path.

63. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 further comprises a voltage controlled switch coupled to the at least one path.

64. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein information about the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is related to at least one impedance condition within the at least one path.

65. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 64 wherein the information to identify the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

66. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 64 wherein the information to distinguish the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment from at least one other piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

67. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein at least one impedance condition within the at least one path is part of a detection protocol.

68. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one path comprises an energy storage device.

69. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to continuously change impedance within the at least one path.

70. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 the at least one path comprises a variable path.

71. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one path comprises a variable impedance.

72. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment to decrease impedance within the least one path.

73. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 72 wherein the decrease is greater than 5 k ohms.

74. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein a predetermined aspect of the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is related to at least one magnitude of the current flow.

75. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 74 wherein the predetermined aspect comprises an electrical aspect.

76. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one DC condition is at least one DC voltage condition.

77. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 76 wherein the at least one DC voltage condition is between 3 and 20 volts.

78. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment of claim 44 wherein the responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment is physically connected to a network.

79. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the impedance change comprises two or more impedance changes.

80. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the impedance change comprises a series of impedance changes.

81. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein at least one impedance condition to distinguish the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment from at least one other piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

82. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one path comprises a controller.

83. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one path is physically coupled across the at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of the contacts.

84. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is a piece of BaseT Ethernet terminal equipment.

85. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 44 wherein the at least one path to protect the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

86. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 85 wherein the at least one path is actually protecting the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

87. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment of claim 85 wherein the at least one path to physically protect the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

88. The responsive piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment according to any one of claims 44-51, 53-58, 60-67, 68-77, 79-83, or 84-87 wherein the piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment is a powered-off piece of BaseT Ethernet equipment.

89. A detectable piece of powered-off network equipment comprising:

an Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry high frequency data communication signals, at least one path for the purpose of drawing DC current, the at least one path coupled across at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts, the detectable piece of powered-off network equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current flow through the at least one path.

90. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 further comprising:

an electronic tether physically connected to the piece of powered-off network equipment, the electronic tether comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising at least one pair of pads, at least one pair of pads responsive to at least one electrical condition.

91. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 90 wherein the piece of powered-off network equipment comprises a computer.

92. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 90 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises an open circuit condition.

93. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 further comprising:

a second piece of equipment wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of powered-off network equipment.

94. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 93 wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of powered-off network equipment via cabling.

95. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 94 wherein the second piece of equipment comprises a computer.

96. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein at least one of the first and second pairs of contacts is actually drawing current through the at least one path.

97. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the at least one DC condition is actually across the at least one path.

98. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the at least one path is integrated into the piece of network equipment.

99. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the different magnitudes of current flow comprise a frequency and the frequency is low relative to the high frequency communication signals.

100. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 99 wherein the frequency is a fixed frequency.

101. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow through the at least one path result from at least one electrical condition across the at least one path.

102. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 101 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises at least one DC voltage condition.

103. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 102 wherein the at least one DC voltage condition is between 3 and 20 volts.

104. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow through the at least one path result from at least one impedance condition within the at least one path.

105. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 104 wherein the at least one impedance condition comprises at least 15 k ohms.

106. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 further comprising a power supply.

107. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 106 wherein the power supply comprises an isolation power supply.

108. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 further comprises a controller coupled to the at least one path.

109. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 further comprises a voltage controlled switch coupled to the at least one path.

110. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein one or more magnitudes of the current flow through the at least one path represent information about the piece of network equipment.

111. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 110 wherein the information to identify the piece of equipment.

112. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 110 wherein the information to distinguish the piece of network equipment from at least one other piece of network equipment having an Ethernet connector.

113. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein at least one of the different magnitudes of current flow through the at least one path is part of a detection protocol.

114. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the at least one path comprises an energy storage device.

115. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein a predetermined aspect of the piece of network equipment is related to at least one magnitude of the current flow.

116. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 115 wherein the predetermined aspect comprises an electrical aspect.

117. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the different magnitudes of current flow through the at least one path comprise a first magnitude followed by a second magnitude.

118. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 117 wherein the first magnitude is less than the second magnitude.

119. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the detectable piece of powered-off network equipment to draw different magnitudes of DC current flow through the at least one path in response to at least one DC condition across the at least one path.

120. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 119 wherein the at least one DC condition comprises a DC voltage condition between 3 and 20 volts.

121. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the detectable piece of powered-off network equipment is physically connected to a network.

122. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprise two or more different magnitudes of DC current flow.

123. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the different magnitudes of DC current flow comprise a series of different magnitudes of DC current flow.

124. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein at least one magnitude of DC current flow is used to distinguish the piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment from at least one other piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment.

125. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the at least one path comprises a controller.

126. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the piece of powered-off network equipment is a piece of powered-off network terminal equipment.

127. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 89 wherein the at least one path to protect the piece of piece of powered-off network equipment.

128. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 127 wherein the at least one path is actually protecting the piece of powered-off network equipment.

129. The detectable piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 127 wherein the at least one path to physically protect the piece of powered-off network equipment.

130. A responsive piece of powered-off network equipment comprising:

an Ethernet connector comprising first and second pairs of contacts used to carry high frequency data communication signals, at least one path coupled across at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts, the piece of powered-off network equipment to change impedance within the at least one path in response to at least one DC condition across the at least one path.

131. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 further comprising:

an electronic tether physically connected to the piece of powered-off network equipment, the electronic tether comprising an attachment surface, the attachment surface comprising at least one pair of pads, at least one pair of pads responsive to at least one electrical condition.

132. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 131 wherein the piece of powered-off network equipment comprises a computer.

133. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 131 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises an open circuit condition.

134. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 further comprising:

a second piece of equipment wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of powered-off network equipment.

135. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 134 wherein the second piece of equipment is physically connected to the piece of powered-off network equipment via cabling.

136. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 135 wherein the second piece of equipment comprises a computer.

137. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the piece of powered-off equipment is actually changing impedance within the at least one path.

138. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one DC condition is actually across the at least one path.

139. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one path is integrated into the piece of network equipment and the piece of powered-off network data equipment to change impedance within the at least one path in response to the at least one DC condition across the at least one of contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.

140. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the impedance change comprises two or more impedance changes and the two or more impedance changes comprise a frequency and the frequency is low relative to the high frequency data communication signals.

141. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 140 wherein the frequency is a fixed frequency.

142. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 further comprising a power supply.

143. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 142 wherein the power supply comprises an isolation power supply.

144. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 further comprises a controller coupled to the at least one path.

145. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 further comprises a voltage controlled switch coupled to the at least one path.

146. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein information about the piece of powered-off network equipment is related to at least one impedance condition within the at least one path.

147. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 146 wherein the information to identify the piece of network equipment.

148. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 146 wherein the information to distinguish the piece of network equipment from at least one other piece of network equipment having an Ethernet connector.

149. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one path comprises an energy storage device.

150. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the piece of powered-off network equipment to continuously change impedance within the at least one path.

151. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 the at least one path comprises a variable path.

152. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one path comprises a variable impedance.

153. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the piece of powered-off network equipment to decrease impedance within the least one path.

154. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 153 wherein the decrease is greater than 5 k ohms.

155. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein a predetermined aspect of the piece of equipment is related to at least one magnitude of the current flow.

156. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 155 wherein the predetermined aspect comprises an electrical aspect.

157. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one DC condition is at least one DC voltage condition.

158. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 157 wherein the at least one DC voltage condition is between 3 and 20 volts.

159. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the responsive piece of powered-off network equipment is physically connected to a network.

160. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the impedance change comprises two or more impedance changes.

161. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the impedance change comprises a series of impedance changes.

162. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein at least one impedance condition is used to distinguish the piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment from at least one other piece of BaseT Ethernet network equipment.

163. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one path comprises a controller.

164. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one path is physically coupled across the at least one of the contacts of the first pair of contacts and the at least one of the contacts of the second pair of contacts.

165. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the piece of powered-off network equipment is a piece of powered-off network terminal equipment.

166. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein the at least one path to protect the piece of powered-off network equipment.

167. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 166 wherein the at least one path is actually protecting the piece of powered-off network equipment.

168. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 166 wherein the at least one path to physically protect the piece of powered-off network equipment.

169. The responsive piece of powered-off network equipment of claim 130 wherein at least one impedance condition within the at least one path is part of a detection protocol.