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Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus including a power supply which is adapted to receive power

Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus including a power supply which is adapted to receive power from an unregulated source and to provide therefrom regulated power. The apparatus further includes power distribution and control circuitry, which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN, to receive the regulated power and to generate therefrom respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices. The apparatus is housed in a chassis which retains the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module.

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The invention claimed is: 1. Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus comprising: a power supply w

The invention claimed is: 1. Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus comprising: a power supply which is adapted to receive power from an unregulated source and to provide therefrom regulated power; power distribution and control circuitry, which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN, to receive the regulated power and to generate therefrom respective current limited output voltages for supply to the powered devices, and to monitor the current drawn by each of the powered devices, said current limited output voltages exhibiting a maximum current and a highest current which may drawn in normal working, said maximum current being greater than said highest normal current, said power distribution and control circuitry being adapted to allow the current drawn by each of the powered devices to exceed said highest normal current only for a predetermined time period so long as said current being drawn does not exceed said maximum current; and a chassis which retains the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a switching hub within which the single module is disposed, and wherein the power supply provides further regulated power to power the switching hub. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, and comprising one or more further single modules each of which is disposed within the switching hub and is substantially similar to the single module. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switching hub comprises dimensions enabling the switching hub to be disposed within an industry-standard rack. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the LAN cabling comprises at least one cable which is coupled to a respective powered device comprised in the powered devices, and wherein the at least one cable comprises a twisted-data-pair of conductors which provide data communication to the respective powered device, and wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to provide powered-device regulated power over the twisted-data-pair to the respective powered device. 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the LAN cabling comprises at least one cable which is coupled to a respective powered device comprised in the powered devices, and wherein the at least one cable comprises a twisted-spare-pair of conductors which are adapted to provide data communication to the respective powered device, and wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to provide powered-device regulated power over the twisted-spare-pair to the respective powered device. 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to provide powered-device regulated power, derived from the respective output voltages, to at least one powered device comprised in the powered devices, and to adjust a level of the powered-device regulated power allocated to the at least one powered device responsive to an overall level of total powered-device regulated power provided by the power distribution and control circuitry to the powered devices. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is adapted to receive the power as alternating current (AC) power or as direct current (DC) power. 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a redundant power supply (RPS) which is adapted to supply redundant regulated power, and wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to receive at least one of the regulated power and the redundant regulated power. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, and comprising a controller having a memory wherein is stored at least one parameter of the RPS, and wherein the controller is adapted to measure a parameter of the regulated power and to operate the apparatus in an RPS mode, wherein at least one of the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry receive power from the RPS, and to control at least one of the respective output voltages responsive to the at least one RPS parameter and the measured parameter. 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication devices communicate over the LAN according to an IEEE standard 802.3af. 12. Apparatus fore supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus comprising: circuitry, which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN and to generate respective output voltages for supplying power to the powered devices over the LAN cabling, wherein the circuitry comprises a first application specific integrated circuit (ASIC); and a controller which monitors and controls the circuitry and which together with the circuitry monitors and controls the output voltages and the power supplied to the powered devices, and which is implemented as a second ASIC. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first ASIC is mounted on a first single in-line package (SIP) and wherein the second ASIC is mounted on a second SIP. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, and comprising: a board to which the first SIP and the second SIP are mounted so as to form a single module; and a switching hub which is adapted to receive the single module. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the board functions as a daughter board which is adapted to be mounted on a mother board comprised in the switching hub. 16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the switching hub comprises dimensions enabling the switching hub to be disposed within an industry-standard rack, and wherein the dimensions comprise a height no greater than 45 mm and a width no greater than 430 mm. 17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the switching hub comprises a chassis having a back plane with connectors which are adapted to receive respective individual cards, and wherein the board is adapted to mount on at least one of the individual cards. 18. A method for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the method comprising: receiving power from an unregulated source in a power supply; generating in the power supply regulated power from the unregulated source; identifying the powered devices on the LAN in power distribution and control circuitry; receiving the regulated power in the power distribution and control circuitry; generating in the power distribution and control circuitry, responsive to the regulated power, respective current limited output voltages for supply to the powered devices; monitoring said current limited output voltages to maintain a maximum current and a highest current which may be drawn in normal working, said maximum current being greater than said highest normal current; in the event that said current limited output exceeds said highest normal current but is less than said maximum current, allowing said excess current for only a predetermined time; and housing the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module. 19. A method according to claim 18, and comprising providing a switching hub within which the single module is disposed, and wherein the power supply provides a further regulated power level to power the switching hub. 20. A method according to claim 19, and comprising providing one or more further single modules each of which is substantially similar to the single module, and disposing each further single module within the switching hub. 21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the switching hub comprises dimensions enabling the switching hub to be disposed within an industry-standard rack. 22. A method according to claim 18, wherein the LAN cabling comprises at least one cable which is coupled to a respective powered device comprised in the powered devices, and wherein the at least one cable comprises a twisted-data-pair of conductors which provide data communication to the respective powered device, and wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to provide powered-device regulated power over the twisted-data-pair to the respective powered device. 23. A method according to claim 18, wherein the LAN cabling comprises at least one cable which is coupled to a respective powered device comprised in the powered devices, and wherein the at least one cable comprises a twisted-spare-pair of conductors which are adapted to provide data communication to the respective powered device, and wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to provide powered-device regulated power over the twisted-spare-pair to the respective powered device. 24. A method according to claim 18, wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to provide powered-device regulated power, derived from the respective output voltages, to at least one powered device comprised in the powered devices, and to adjust a level of the powered-device regulated power allocated to the at least one powered device responsive to an overall level of total powered-device regulated power provided by the power distribution and control circuitry to the powered devices. 25. A method according to claim 18, wherein receiving the power in the power supply comprises receiving alternating current (AC) power or direct current (DC) power. 26. A method according to claim 18, and comprising providing a redundant power supply (RPS) which is adapted to supply redundant regulated power, and wherein the power distribution and control circuitry is adapted to receive at least one of the regulated power and the redundant regulated power. 27. A method according to claim 26, and comprising providing a controller having a memory wherein is stored at least one parameter of the RPS, and wherein the controller is adapted to measure a parameter of the regulated power and to operate the apparatus in an RPS mode wherein at least one of the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry receive power from the RPS, and to control at least one of the respective output voltages responsive to the at least one RPS parameter and the measured parameter. 28. A method according to claim 18, wherein the communication devices communicate over the LAN according to an IEEE standard 802.3af. 29. A method for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the method comprising: providing circuitry as a first application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN; generating in the circuitry respective output voltages for supplying power to the powered devices over the LAN cabling; providing a controller as a second ASIC, and which monitors and controls the circuitry; and operating the controller and the circuitry so as to monitor and control the output voltages and the power supplied to the powered devices. 30. A method according to claim 29, and comprising mounting the first ASIC on a first single in-line package (SIP) and mounting the second ASIC on a second SIP. 31. A method according to claim 30, and comprising: mounting the first SIP and the second SIP on a board so as to form a single module: and providing a switching hub which is adapted to receive the single module. 32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the board functions as a daughter board which is adapted to be mounted on a mother board comprised in the switching hub. 33. A method according to claim 31, wherein the switching hub comprises dimensions enabling the switching hub to be disposed within an industry-standard rack, and wherein the dimensions comprise a height no greater than 45 mm and a width no greater than 430 mm. 34. A method according to claim 31, wherein the switching hub comprises a chassis having a back plane with connectors which are adapted to receive respective individual cards, and wherein the board is adapted to mount on at least one of the individual cards. 35. Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus comprising: a power supply which is adapted to receive power from an unregulated source and to provide therefrom regulated power; power distribution and control circuitry, which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN, to receive the regulated power and to generate therefrom respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices; a chassis which retains the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module; and a switching hub within which the single module is disposed, and wherein the power supply provides further regulated power to power the switching hub, said switching hub comprising dimensions enabling the switching hub to be disposed within an industry-standard rack, said dimensions comprising a height no greater than 45 mm and a width no greater than 430 mm. 36. Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus comprising: a power supply which is adapted to receive power from an unregulated source and to provide therefrom regulated power; power distribution and control circuitry, which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN, to receive the regulated power and to generate therefrom respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices; a chassis which retains the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module; and a switching hub within which the single module is disposed, and wherein the power supply provides further regulated power to power the switching hub, the single module comprising dimensions enabling the single module to replace a switching hub power supply disposed in the switching hub and adapted to only power the switching hub. 37. Apparatus for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the apparatus comprising: a power supply which is adapted to receive power from an unregulated source and to provide therefrom regulated power; power distribution and control circuitry, which is adapted to identify the powered devices on the LAN, to receive the regulated power and to generate therefrom respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices; a chassis which retains the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module; a switching hub external to the single module; and a first cable comprised in the LAN cabling, the first cable being adapted to convey data between the switching hub and the single module, and wherein the power and control circuitry is adapted to convey the respective output voltages and the data to at least one of the powered devices via a second cable comprised in the LAN cabling, so that the single module acts as a mid-span device. 38. A method for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the method comprising: receiving power from an unregulated source in a power supply; generating in the power supply regulated power from the unregulated source; identifying the powered devices on the LAN in power distribution and control circuitry; receiving the regulated power in the power distribution and control circuitry; generating in the power distribution and control circuitry, responsive to the regulated power, respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices; and housing the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module; and providing a switching hub within which the single module is disposed, and wherein the power supply provides a further regulated power level to power the switching hub, wherein the switching hub comprises dimensions enabling the switching hub to be disposed within an industry-standard rack, said dimensions comprising a height no greater than 45 mm and a width no greater than 430 mm. 39. A method for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the method comprising: receiving power from an unregulated source in a power supply; generating in the power supply regulated power from the unregulated source; identifying the powered devices on the LAN in power distribution and control circuitry; receiving the regulated power in the power distribution and control circuitry; generating in the power distribution and control circuitry, responsive to the regulated power, respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices; and housing the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module; and providing a switching hub within which the single module is disposed, wherein the power supply provides a further regulated power level to power the switching hub and wherein the module comprises dimensions enabling the module to replace a switching hub power supply disposed in the switching hub and adapted to only power the switching hub. 40. A method for supplying power to communication devices operating within a Local Area Network (LAN) over LAN cabling, the communication devices including one or more powered devices adapted to receive power over the LAN cabling, the method comprising: receiving power from an unregulated source in a power supply; generating in the power supply regulated power from the unregulated source; identifying the powered devices on the LAN in power distribution and control circuitry; receiving the regulated power in the power distribution and control circuitry; generating in the power distribution and control circuitry, responsive to the regulated power, respective output voltages for supply to the powered devices; and housing the power supply and the power distribution and control circuitry as a single module; and providing a switching hub external to the module, and a first cable comprised in the LAN cabling, the first cable being adapted to convey data between the switching hub and the module, and wherein the power and control circuitry is adapted to convey the respective output voltages and the data to at least one of the powered devices via a second cable comprised in the LAN cabling, so that the module acts as a mid-span device.