Method and System for a Connection System Operable to Sink and Source Supply Power

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for a connection system operable to sink and source supply power are provided. In this regard, one or more circuits within a connector that resides in a networking enabled device may be operable to determine whether the networking enabled device is to operate as a powered device or as a power supplying device. Based on a result of the determination, the one or more circuits may be operable to couple power pins of the connector to either a first power rail of the networking enabled device or a second power rail of the networking enabled device. The determination of whether the networking enabled device is to operate as a powered device or as a power supplying device may be based on a voltage on a sense pin of the connector and/or based on mechanical characteristics of the connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A networking enabled device, comprising:
 a connector configured to couple the networking enabled device to another networking enabled device, and to control a direction of power transfer between the networking enabled device and the another networking enabled device, based on a voltage state of a pin coupled to the connector; and   a power subsystem, coupled to the connector, configured to control power transfer between the connector, a local power source, and a network subsystem.   
     
     
         2 . The networking enabled device of  claim 1 , wherein the network subsystem is coupled to the networking enabled device. 
     
     
         3 . The networking enabled device of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage state varies between a first voltage and a second voltage based on a hardware configuration of a cable connecting the networking enabled device to the another networking enabled device. 
     
     
         4 . The networking enabled device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a source power rail and a sink power rail coupled between the connector and the power subsystem.   
     
     
         5 . The networking enabled device of  claim 4 , wherein the connector further comprises:
 a power routing module configured to couple the source power rail or the sink power rail from the power subsystem to the another networking enabled device based on the voltage state of the pin.   
     
     
         6 . The networking enabled device of  claim 4 , wherein the power subsystem is further configured to provide power to a network subsystem, and wherein the power subsystem further comprises:
 a switching element configured to supplement power received on the sink power rail with local power source power when power requirements of the network subsystem exceed power delivered by the sink power rail.   
     
     
         7 . The networking enabled device of  claim 4 , wherein the local power source is a battery, wherein the power subsystem is further configured to provide power to a network subsystem, and wherein the power subsystem further comprises:
 a switching element configured to charge the battery with power received on the sink power rail when power requirements of the network subsystem are less than power delivered by the sink power rail.   
     
     
         8 . In a first networking enabled device, a method comprising:
 identifying whether a second networking enabled device, coupled to the first networking enabled device, is a power sourcing or a power sinking device; and   if the second networking enabled device is a power sourcing device:
 determining the power requirements of the first networking enabled device; 
 determining whether the second networking enabled device meets the power requirements; 
 drawing power from a battery, if the second networking enabled device does not meet the power requirements; and 
 charging the battery, if the second networking enabled device exceeds the power requirements. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the identifying through the determining whether the second networking enabled device meets the power requirements are performed utilizing an Ethernet protocol. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the identifying further comprises:
 identifying the power sourcing or the power sinking device utilizing a hardware connection between the first networking enabled device and the second networking enabled device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 if the second networking enabled device is a power sinking device:
 determining power requirements of the second networking enabled device; and 
 sourcing power to the second networking enabled device based on the power requirements of the second networking enabled device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the determining power requirements of the second networking enabled device is performed utilizing an Ethernet protocol.