Intermediary device for extracting power supplied over a data connection

Abstract

Technologies exist that allow for power to be supplied over a data connection, e.g., Power over Ethernet (PoE). Power sourcing equipment (PSE) supplies power to a powered device (PD) over the data connection. There may be applications in which it is desired or necessary to insert an intermediary device on a data connection between the PSE and the PD. An intermediary device is disclosed that can be inserted between a PSE and a PD. The intermediary device attempts to power itself using power supplied by the PSE over the data connection, rather than using an auxiliary power supply. In some embodiments, the intermediary device acts like a PD and requests from the PSE enough power for both itself and the actual PD. The intermediary device then also acts as a PSE to deliver unused power over the data connection to the actual PD.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method performed by an intermediary device (ID) connected to power sourcing equipment (PSE) over a data connection, the method comprising:
 determining an amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE over the data connection;   determining the amount of power requested by a powered device (PD) connected to the ID;   comparing the amount of power requested by the PD to the amount of power allocated by the PSE, and determining that the amount of power requested by the PD is equal to or greater than the amount of power allocated by the PSE;   consuming a particular amount of power supplied by the PSE over the data connection, the particular amount of power comprising both the amount of power consumed by the ID to operate the ID and the amount of power consumed to power the PD;   monitoring the particular amount of power consumed to determine whether the particular amount of power consumed exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the threshold is based on the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the threshold is equal to the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein in response to the particular amount of power consumed exceeding the threshold: the ID modifies its operation to reduce the amount of power consumed by the ID to operate the ID. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising transmitting a message over the data connection via the PSE to a computing device on a network, the message comprising information indicating that the ID has modified its operation. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein in response to the particular amount of power consumed exceeding the threshold: the ID discontinues powering the PD or grants less power to the PD than the amount of power requested by the PD. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising transmitting a message over the data connection via the PSE to a computing device on the network, the message comprising information indicating that the ID has discontinued powering the PD or that the ID has granted less power to the PD than the amount of power requested by the PD. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein in response to the particular amount of power consumed exceeding the threshold:
 transmitting a message to a computing device over the data connection via the PSE, the message comprising information indicating that the particular amount of power consumed has exceeded the threshold;   receiving a reply from the computing device over the data connection via the PSE, the reply instructing the ID to perform at least one of the following actions: modify the operation of the ID to reduce the amount of power consumed by the ID to operate the ID; discontinue powering the PD; grant less power to the PD than the amount of power requested by the PD; supply less power to the PD than the amount of power currently being used to power the PD.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE is determined by the ID based on multi-event classification in the physical layer and/or based on a power grant received in a Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) message. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the amount of power requested by the PD is determined by the ID based on the amount of classification current drawn by the PD and/or based on a power request received from the PD in a LLDP message. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE is determined to be Class 4 power under a Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard, and wherein the amount of power requested by the PD is also determined to be Class 4 power under the PoE standard. 
     
     
         38 . An intermediary device (ID) configured to be connected between power sourcing equipment (PSE) and a powered device (PD), the ID comprising:
 a PSE interface to interface with the PSE over a first data connection;   a PD interface to interface with the PD over a second data connection;   a processor to:
 determine an amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE over the first data connection; 
 determine the amount of power requested by the PD over the second data connection; 
 compare the amount of power requested by the PD to the amount of power allocated by the PSE; 
 upon determining that the amount of power requested by the PD is equal to or greater than the amount of power allocated by the PSE, cause the ID to consume a particular amount of power supplied by the PSE over the first data connection, wherein the particular amount of power comprises both the amount of power consumed by the ID to operate the ID and the amount of power consumed to power the PD; 
 monitor the particular amount of power consumed to determine whether the particular amount of power consumed exceeds a threshold. 
   
     
     
         39 . The ID of  claim 38 , wherein the threshold is based on the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE. 
     
     
         40 . The ID of  claim 39 , wherein the threshold is equal to the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE. 
     
     
         41 . The ID of  claim 38 , wherein in response to the particular amount of power consumed exceeding the threshold: the processor is to instruct the ID to modify its operation to reduce the amount of power consumed by the ID to operate the ID. 
     
     
         42 . The ID of  claim 41 , wherein the processor is to instruct the ID to transmit a message over the first data connection via the PSE to a computing device on a network, the message comprising information indicating that the ID has modified its operation. 
     
     
         43 . The ID of  claim 38 , wherein in response to the particular amount of power consumed exceeding the threshold: the processor is to instruct the ID to discontinue powering the PD or grant less power to the PD than the amount of power requested by the PD. 
     
     
         44 . The ID of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is to instruct the ID to transmit a message over the data connection via the PSE to a computing device on the network, the message comprising information indicating that the ID has discontinued powering the PD or that the ID has granted less power to the PD than the amount of power requested by the PD. 
     
     
         45 . The ID of  claim 38 , wherein in response to the particular amount of power consumed exceeding the threshold, the processor is to:
 instruct the ID to transmit a message to a computing device over the first data connection via the PSE, the message comprising information indicating that the particular amount of power consumed has exceeded the threshold;   receive a reply from the computing device over the data connection via the PSE, the reply instructing the ID to perform at least one of the following actions: modify the operation of the ID to reduce the amount of power consumed by the ID to operate the ID; discontinue powering the PD; grant less power to the PD than the amount of power requested by the PD; supply less power to the PD than the amount of power currently being used to power the PD.   
     
     
         46 . The ID of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is to determine the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE based on multi-event classification in the physical layer and/or based on a power grant received in a Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) message. 
     
     
         47 . The ID of  claim 38 , wherein the processor is to determine the amount of power requested by the PD based on the amount of classification current drawn by the PD and/or based on a power request received from the PD in a LLDP message. 
     
     
         48 . The ID of  claim 38 , wherein the amount of power allocated to the ID by the PSE can be determined to be Class 4 power under a Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard, and wherein the amount of power requested by the PD can also be determined to be Class 4 power under the PoE standard. 
     
     
         49 .- 174 . (canceled)