This invention discloses a local area network including a hub, a plurality of nodes, communication cabling connecting the plurality of nodes to the hub for providing data communication, and a power supply distributor operative to provide at least some operating power to at least some of the pluralit
This invention discloses a local area network including a hub, a plurality of nodes, communication cabling connecting the plurality of nodes to the hub for providing data communication, and a power supply distributor operative to provide at least some operating power to at least some of the plurality of nodes via the communication cabling.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A LAN switch serving a plurality of local area network nodes which are connected via communication cabling to the LAN switch, the LAN switch comprising: a power management and control unit operative to interrogate at least one node of the connected plurality of local ar
The invention claimed is: 1. A LAN switch serving a plurality of local area network nodes which are connected via communication cabling to the LAN switch, the LAN switch comprising: a power management and control unit operative to interrogate at least one node of the connected plurality of local area network nodes to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether characteristics of said at least one node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling; coupler circuitry coupling power into said communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and current limiting circuitry controlling current delivered by said coupler circuitry into said communication cabling, said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a first current limit level threshold which is not to be exceeded and a second current limit level threshold which is not to be exceeded for more than a predetermined period of time, said coupler circuitry being responsive to said power management and control unit to provide at least some power to said at least one node of the connected plurality of local area network nodes via said communication cabling. 2. A LAN switch according to claim 1, wherein said current limiting circuitry is connected to said coupler circuitry via filter circuitry. 3. A LAN switch according to claim 1, wherein said power management and control unit is responsive to said determined characteristics to operate said coupler circuitry to provide said at least some power. 4. A LAN switch according to claim 1, wherein said power management and control unit is further operable to control power supplied to said at least one node. 5. A LAN switch according to claim 1, wherein said power management and control unit is further operable to monitor power supplied to said at least one node. 6. A LAN switch according to claim 1, wherein said interrogation of said at least one node includes measuring the voltage associated with said communication cabling connected to said at least one node. 7. A local area network according to claim 6, wherein said at least one node for which said measured voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold is classified as an external voltage fed node. 8. A local area network comprising: a plurality of local area network nodes; a LAN switch; and communication cabling connecting said plurality of local area network nodes to said LAN switch for providing data communication; said LAN switch comprising: a power management and control unit operative to interrogate at least one node to which it is intended to transmit power over said communication cabling in order to determine whether characteristics of said at least one node allow it to receive power over said communication cabling; coupler circuitry coupling power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication; and current limiting circuitry controlling current delivered by said coupler circuitry into said communication cabling, said current limiting circuitry being operative to provide a first current limit level threshold which is not to be exceeded, and a second current limit level which is not to be exceeded for more than a predetermined period of time, whereby said LAN switch is operative to provide at least some power to said at least one node for which said determined characteristics allow it to receive power over said communication cabling. 9. A local area network according to claim 8, wherein said current limiting circuitry is connected to said coupler circuitry via filter circuitry. 10. A local area network according to claim 8, wherein said interrogation of said at least one node includes measuring the voltage associated with said communication cabling connected to said at least one node. 11. A local area network according to claim 10, wherein said at least one node for which said measured voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold is classified as an external voltage fed node. 12. A method whereby a LAN switch provides power to at least one of a plurality of local area network nodes, the local area network nodes being connected to the LAN switch for data communication via communication cabling, the method comprising: interrogating at least one node of the connected plurality of nodes to which it is intended to transmit power over the communication cabling in order to determine whether characteristics of said at least one node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling; coupling power into the communication cabling substantially without interfering with data communication thereby providing at least some power via said communication cabling to said at least one node in accordance with said determined characteristics; and controlling current delivered by said coupling power into the communication cabling, including providing a first current limit level threshold which is not to be exceeded, and providing a second current limit level threshold which is not to be exceeded for more than a predetermined period of time. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said coupling is accomplished only in the event that said determined characteristics of said at least one node allow it to receive power over the communication cabling. 14. A method according to claim 12, also comprising connecting current limiting circuitry performing said current controlling to coupler circuitry performing said power coupling via filter circuitry. 15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said interrogating comprises: measuring the voltage associated with said communication cabling connected to said at least one node. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said interrogating further comprises: classifying a node for which said measured voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold as an external voltage fed node. 17. A method for providing power over data communication cabling comprising: providing a plurality of local area network nodes, a LAN switch, and communication cabling; connecting said plurality of local area network nodes to said switch via said communication cabling thereby enabling data communication between said LAN switch and said plurality of local area network nodes; interrogating at least one of said plurality of nodes to which it is intended to transmit power over said communication cabling in order to determine whether characteristics of said at least one of said plurality of nodes allow it to receive power over said communication cabling; and in the event that said determined characteristics of said at least one of said plurality of nodes allow it to receive power over said communication cabling, coupling power from said LAN switch into said communication cabling substantially without interfering with said data communication; and controlling current delivered by said coupling into said communication cabling, including providing a first current limit level threshold which is not to be exceeded and a second current limit level threshold which is not exceeded for more than a predetermined period of time, whereby said LAN switch is operative to provide at least some power to said at least one of said plurality of nodes via said communication cabling. 18. A method according to claim 17, also comprising providing programmable current limiting circuitry, said programmable current limiting circuitry performing said current controlling. 19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said interrogating comprises: measuring the voltage associated with said communication cabling connected to said at least one node. 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said interrogating further comprises: classifying a node for which said measured voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold as an external voltage fed node.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (36)
Jeffrey P. Hughes ; Alan J. Schlenz, AC port device for cable television tap.
Felker Michael (Rio Rancho NM) Viverito Angelo (Albuquerque NM), Apparatus and method for storing performance parameters of local area network system members.
Abraham Karoly C. (506 S. 41st St. ; Apartment 3E Philadelphia PA 19104), Communications apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving multiple modulated signals over electrical lines.
Weikel Scott J. (Raleigh NC) York ; Jr. Theodore H. (Raleigh NC) Yates Carl E. (Chester NJ), Electric utility communication system with field installation terminal and load management terminal with remotely assign.
Merwin Jeffrey D. (Buffalo Grove IL) Gunderson Philip D. (Arlington Heights IL) Stephens Dennis L. (Niles IL) Purdy Steven J. (Lake Zurich IL), Energy monitoring and control system using reverse transmission on AC line.
McCullough Robert K. (8236 E. 71st St. ; Suite 356 Tulsa OK 74133), Method for powering remote visual displays and allowing for data exchange over the same wire pair.
Johnson Richard A. (Murrysville Boro PA) Anderson Arthur A. (Irwin PA) Boomgaard Dirk J. (Monroeville Borough PA), Power line carrier communication system.
Cromer, Daryl Carvis; Ellison, Brandon Jon; Kern, Eric Richard, Reducing power consumed by a computer system during a hibernation or an off state by remotely waking up the computer system.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.