High reliability power over ethernet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10135254-B2
Application number	US-201313767861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2013
Priority date	Feb 15, 2012
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A method includes receiving a signal to maintain uninterrupted power to a device over a power over Ethernet line. The power over Ethernet line is configured to carry data and power. Power delivery is maintained for the device regardless of a power disruptive event associated with a power source device. Carrying the power to the device over the power over Ethernet line is interrupted in absence of the receiving the signal. According to one embodiment, the signal is generated in response to a user command or it may be generated from the device automatically. The signal may classify the device as a critical device. The power disruptive event may include initialization of a data path, alteration to a data path associated with the power over Ethernet line, a software update associated with the power source device, reset of power source device, etc.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a signal, at a power source device, wherein the power source is configured to supply power to another device, wherein said signal indicates that uninterrupted power from said power source device to said another device over a line is to be maintained, wherein said line is configured to carry data and power, wherein said signal is received prior to a power disruptive event, and wherein said signal is generated in response to a user command;
maintaining power to said another device over said line during said power disruptive event associated with said power source device, wherein said power to said another device over said line is interrupted in absence of said receiving said signal; and
transmitting handshaking signals via said line coupling said another device to said power source device, wherein said received signal overwrites a handshaking scheme between said power source device and said another device, wherein said another device and said power source device remain agnostic to said power disruptive event.

2. The method as described by claim 1 , wherein said power disruptive event comprises initialization of said data path and alteration to said data path associated with said line, and wherein said signal classifies said another device as a critical device, such that said signal is transmitted from said another device to said power source device.

3. The method as described by claim 1 , wherein said power disruptive event further comprises at least one of: a power source device initialization, a power source device data path initialization, a power source device software update, a power source device configuration, a power source device re-configuration, and a power source device reset.

4. The method as described by claim 2 , wherein said line is power over Ethernet.

5. The method as described by claim 1 , wherein said power disruptive event is an event that occurs on said power source device, wherein said power disruptive event is not an event that occurs outside of said power source.

6. A device comprising:
a controller;
a port configured to couple said device to another device via a power over Ethernet line, wherein said power over Ethernet line is configured to carry data and power between said device and said another device; and
a memory component operable to store configuration information associated with said another device,
a switch coupled to said port, wherein said switch is operable to receive a disabling signal from said controller to disable carrying power of said power over Ethernet line to said another device in response to a power disruptive event, wherein said switch is operable to overwrite said disabling signal from said controller in response to an updated information;
wherein said configuration information comprises power requirements associated with said another device,
wherein said updated information is generated in response to receiving a signal, at the device, wherein the device is configure to supply power to said another device, wherein said signal indicates that uninterrupted power from said device to said another device over said power over Ethernet line is to be maintained regardless of said power disruptive event associated with said device, wherein said signal is received prior to said power disruptive event, wherein said signal is generated in response to a user command, wherein said signal classifies said another device as a critical device, and wherein said signal is transmitted from said another device to said device over said power over Ethernet line;
wherein carrying said power from said device to said another device over said power over Ethernet line is interrupted in absence of said receiving said signal; and
wherein handshaking signals are transmitted via said Ethernet line coupling said another device to said power source device, wherein said received signal overwrites a handshaking scheme between said power source device and said another device, wherein said another device and said power source device remain agnostic to said power disruptive event.

7. The device as described by claim 6 , wherein said power disruptive event comprises initialization of a data path and alteration to a data path associated with said power over Ethernet line.

8. The device as described by claim 6 , wherein said power disruptive event further comprises at least one of: a power source device initialization, a power source device data path initialization, a power source device software update, a power source device configuration, a power source device re-configuration, and a power source device reset.

9. The device as described by claim 6 , wherein said power disruptive event is an event that occurs on said power source device, wherein said power disruptive event is not an event that occurs outside of said power source.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer executable instructions that cause the device to perform a method comprising:
receiving a signal, at a power source device, wherein the power source device is configured to supply power to another external device, wherein said signal indicates that uninterrupted power from said power source device to said another external device over a power over Ethernet line is to be maintained, wherein said power over Ethernet line is configured to carry data and power, wherein said signal is received at said power source device prior to a power disruptive event associated with said power source device, wherein said signal is generated in response to a user command; and
maintaining power to said another external device over said power over Ethernet line regardless of said power disruptive event, wherein carrying said power from said power source device to said another external device over said power over Ethernet line is interrupted in absence of said receiving said signal;
wherein said power disruptive event comprises at least one of: a power source device initialization, a power source device data path initialization, a power source device software update, a power source device configuration, a power source device re-configuration, and a power source device reset; and
wherein handshaking signals are transmitted via said Ethernet line coupling said another external device to said power source device, wherein said received signal overwrites a handshaking scheme between said power source device and said another external device, wherein said another external device and said power source device remain agnostic to said power disruptive event.

11. The computer readable storage medium as described by claim 10 , wherein said method further comprises:
generating a configuration information associated with said device, wherein said configuration information comprises power requirements associated with said device; and
generating an updated information associated with said device in response to receiving said signal to maintain uninterrupted power to said device over said power over Ethernet line regardless of said power disruptive event, wherein said updated information maintains uninterrupted power to said device.

12. The computer readable storage medium as described by claim 10 further comprising:
overwriting a disabling signal from a controller to disable carrying power on said power over Ethernet line to said device, wherein said overwriting is in response to said signal to maintain uninterrupted power to said device.

13. The computer readable storage medium as described by claim 10 , wherein said signal classifies said device as a critical device.

14. The computer readable s

Assignees

• Allied Telesis Holdings Kk

Inventors

• Stellick Daniel

Classifications

• H02J4/00 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) · CPC title

• H04L12/10 Primary

  Current supply arrangements · CPC title