Data communication network

• US 20030036819A1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PowerDsine Limited (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pincu, David, Darshan, Yair, Ferentz, Alon, Korcharz, Dror, Lehr, Amir, Atias, Ilan, Barnea, Nadav
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/323 in the physical layer [OSI layer 1]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

This invention discloses a data communications network including at least one hub, a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to the hub, a power distribution subsystem operative to provide at least some power to at least some of the plurality of nodes via at least some of the network connections. The power distribution subsystem includes a node identification functionality providing identification of nodes via at least some of the plurality of network connections in order to enable an appropriate supply of power to individual nodes and a power supply responsive to the node identification functionality and supplying power to the at least some of the plurality of nodes via the at least some of the network connections.

Claims

1. A data communications network comprising:

at least one hub;

a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to said at least one hub;

a power distribution subsystem operative to provide at least some power to at least some of said plurality of nodes via at least some of said network connections, said power distribution subsystem including;

a node identification functionality providing identification of nodes via said at least some of said plurality of network connections in order to enable an appropriate supply of power to individual nodes; and

a power supply responsive to said node identification functionality and supplying power to said at least some of said plurality of nodes via said at least some of said network connections.

2. A data communications network according to claim 1 and also comprising node-specific power allocation functionality, which is operative, responsive to an output from said node identification functionality, to provide power only to nodes identified to be appropriate for receiving power via said at least some of said network connections, thereby to prevent inappropriate supply of power to inappropriate nodes.

3. A data communications network according to claim 1 and also comprising node-specific power allocation functionality, which is operative, responsive to an output from said node identification functionality, to provide power to nodes in accordance with a predetermined priority.

4. A data communications network according to claim 1 and wherein said node identification functionality employs coded communication along said at least one of said network connections.

5. A data communications network according to claim 1 and wherein said node identification functionality employs communication of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node from said at least one node along at least one network connection.

6. A data communications network according to claim 5 and wherein said node identification functionality employs communication of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node from said at least one node along at least one network connection, prior to supply of operating power to said at least one node.

7. A data communications network according to claim 1 and wherein said node identification functionality employs remote measurement of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node along at least one network connection.

8. A data communications network according to claim 1 and wherein said node identification functionality employs remote measurement of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node along at least one network connection, prior to supply of operating power to said at least one node.

9. A data communications network according to claim 4 and wherein said coded communication is initiated by supply of an electrical signal to at least one of said plurality of nodes via at least one of said network connections.

10. A data communications network according to claim 9 and wherein said coded communication is produced by modulation of said electrical signal at a node.

11. A data communications network according to claim 9 and wherein said coded communication is produced as a modulated response to said electrical signal.

12. A data communications network according to claim 9 and wherein said coded communication is achieved by operation of an on-off switch at said node, which produces predetermined modulation of said electrical signal, said modulated electrical signal being transmitted along at least one of said network connections.

13. A data communications network according to claim 1 and wherein said node identification functionality is disabled following operation thereof.

14. A data communications network according to claim 13 and wherein said node identification functionality is periodically enabled following disabling thereof.

15. For use in a data communications network comprising, at least one hub;

a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to said at least one hub and a power distribution subsystem operative to provide at least some power to at least some of said plurality of nodes via at least some of said network connections, a node-resident node identification functionality providing identification of a node via at least some of said plurality of network connections in order to avoid inappropriate supply of power to a node.

16. A node-resident node identification functionality according to claim 15 and comprising:

at least one electrical circuit element which has no function in the node other than as part of said node-resident node identification functionality.

17. A node-resident node identification functionality according to claim 16 and wherein said at least one electrical circuit element comprises a resistor.

18. A node-resident node identification functionality according to claim 16 and wherein said at least one electrical circuit element comprises an electrical switch.

19. A node-resident node identification functionality according to claim 16 and wherein said node-resident node identification functionality is disabled following operation thereof.

20. A node-resident node identification functionality according to claim 16 and wherein said node-resident node identification functionality is periodically enabled following disabling thereof.

21. A data communications network comprising:

at least one hub;

a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to said at least one hub;

a power distribution subsystem operative to provide at least some power to at least some of said plurality of nodes via at least some of said network connections; and

a node identification functionality providing identification of nodes via said at least some of said plurality of network connections which carry power.

22. A data communications network according to claim 21 and wherein said node identification functionality is capable of providing more than two different identification indications.

23. A data communications network according to claim 21 and wherein said node identification functionality is capable of providing at least one identification indication which varies depending on a current status of at least one node.

24. A data communications network according to claim 22 and wherein said node identification functionality is capable of providing at least one identification indication which varies depending on a current status of at least one node.

25. A data communications network comprising:

at least one hub;

a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to said at least one hub;

a power distribution subsystem operative to provide at least some power to at least some of said plurality of nodes via at least some of said network connections, said power distribution subsystem including;

a node identification functionality providing identification of more than two types of nodes via said at least some of said plurality of network connections in order to fulfill more than two different power requirements corresponding to said more than two types of nodes; and

a power supply responsive to said node identification functionality and supplying power to said at least some of said plurality of nodes via said at least some of said network connections.

26. A data communications network comprising:

at least one hub;

a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to said at least one hub;

a power distribution subsystem operative to provide at least some power to at least some of said plurality of nodes via at least some of said network connections, said power distribution subsystem including;

a node identification functionality providing identification of a plurality of types of dynamic node status via said at least some of said plurality-of network connections- in order to fulfill dynamically varying power requirements corresponding to said plurality of types of dynamic node status; and

a power supply responsive to said node identification functionality and supplying power to said at least some of said plurality of nodes via said at least some of said network connections.

27. A data communications network power supply method comprising:

providing at least one hub and a plurality of nodes connected via network connections to said at least one hub;

providing at least some power to at least some of said plurality of nodes via at least some of said network connections, including;

providing identification of nodes via said at least some of said plurality of network connections in order to avoid inappropriate supply of power to individual nodes; and

responsive to said node identification, supplying power to said at least some of said plurality of nodes via said at least some of said network connections.

28. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 27 and also comprising responsive to an output from said node identification functionality, to provide power only to nodes identified to be appropriate for receiving power via said at least some of said network connections, thereby to prevent inappropriate supply of power to inappropriate nodes.

29. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 27 and also comprising node-specific power allocation, responsive to an output from said node identification functionality, to provide power to nodes in accordance with a predetermined priority.

30. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 27 and wherein said node identification functionality employs coded communication along said at least one of said network connections.

31. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 27 and wherein said node identification employs communication of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node from said at least one node along at least one network connection.

32. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 31 and wherein said node identification employs communication of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node from said at least one node along at least one network connection, prior to supply of operating power to said at least one node.

33. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 27 and wherein said node identification employs remote measurement of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node along at least one network connection.

34. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 27 and wherein said node identification employs remote measurement of at least one electrical characteristic of at least one node along at least one network connection, prior to supply of operating power to said at least one node.

35. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 30 and wherein said coded communication is initiated by supply of an electrical signal to at least one of said plurality of nodes via at least one of said network connections.

36. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 35 and wherein said coded communication is produced by modulation of said electrical signal at a node.

37. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 35 and wherein said coded communication is produced as a modulated response to said electrical signal.

38. A data communications network power supply method according to claim 35 and wherein said coded communication is achieved by operation of an on-off switch at said node, which produces predetermined modulation of said electrical signal, said modulated electrical signal being transmitted along at least one of said network connections.

39. A data communications method according to claim 27 and wherein said node identification is disabled following operation thereof.

40. A data communications method according to claim 39 and wherein said node identification is periodically enabled following disabling thereof.