Communications: electrical – Systems – Selsyn type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-04-17
Hofsass, Jeffery A. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Systems
Selsyn type
C340S315000, C340S315000, C340S315000, C379S386000, C379S400000, C379S032010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06218930
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention broadly relates to the powering of 10/100 Ethernet compatible equipment. The invention more particularly relates to apparatus and methods for automatically determining if remote equipment is capable of remote power feed and if it is determined that the remote equipment is able to accept power remotely then to provide power in a reliable non-intrusive way.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of telecommunications equipment is remotely powered today. Telephones and Network Repeater devices are examples of remotely powered equipment. Obviously there are many advantages to remotely powering equipment, however this technique has not migrated to data communications equipment for several reasons. Data communications equipment has traditionally required high power levels to operate which has made it prohibitive to implement. The widely distributed nature as well as the use of shared media used in data networks has also made remote power impractical.
The desire to add remotely powered devices to a data network is being pushed by the convergence of voice and data technologies. The advent of IP Telephony, Voice over IP and Voice over Packet technologies has brought traditional telephony requirements into the data environment. It is not desirable to have a phone powered by a local wall transformer. It is desirable to have a centrally powered system that can be protected during a power outage.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide methods and apparatus for reliably determining if a remote piece of equipment is capable of accepting remote power.
It is another object of this invention to provide methods and apparatus for delivering remote power to remote equipment over 10/100 switched Ethernet segments and maintain compliance with IEEE 802.3 standards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accord with the objects of the invention an apparatus for remotely powering access equipment over a 10/100 switched Ethernet network comprises: automatic detection of remote equipment being connected to the network; determining whether the remote equipment is capable of accepting remote power in a non-intrusive manner; delivering the power to remote equipment over the same wire pairs that deliver the data signals; automatic detection of remote equipment being removed from the network.
The complete apparatus comprises a data node adapted for data switching, an access device adapted for data transmission, at least one data signaling pair connected between the data node and the access device and arranged to transmit data therebetween, a main power source connected to supply power to the data node, a secondary power source arranged to supply power from the data node via the data signaling pair to the access device, sensing means for delivering a low level current from said main power source to the access device over the data signaling pair and sensing a resulting voltage level thereon, and control means responsive to said voltage level and adapted to control power supplied by the secondary power source to said access device in response to a preselected condition of the voltage level.
The method includes the steps of delivering a low level current from the main power source to the access device over the data signaling pair, sensing a voltage level on the data signaling pair in response to the low level current, and controlling power supplied by the secondary power source to the access device in response to a preselected condition of the voltage level.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5144544 (1992-09-01), Jenneve et al.
patent: 5289359 (1994-02-01), Ziermann
patent: 5406260 (1995-04-01), Cummings et al.
patent: 5461671 (1995-10-01), Sakuragi et al.
patent: 5483574 (1996-01-01), Yuyama
patent: 5608792 (1997-03-01), Laidler
Deptula Joseph A.
Katzenberg Boris
Crutcher William C.
Hofsass Jeffery A.
Merlot Communications
Nguyen Tai T.
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