Intelligent power management of an intermediate network device switching circuitry and poe delivery

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a management agent which has access to power output control circuitry of a digital electronic communication switch, a power meter, a load sharing means, and the ability to manage the power of switching circuits in the switch. The power meter enables the management agent to identify the power consumed by the switching circuits that are enabled and operational. This information, coupled with (1) knowledge of the power allocated to each port via PoE, and (2) policy information (which specifies power allocation preferences) is used in a two-pass power management method.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A power management agent for use with a network switch, the network switch having a plurality of switching circuits and at least one port, the power management agent comprising:
 internal power identification means for identifying an amount of power available from an internal power supply of the switch;   internal power provision means for providing power to the at least one port using power from the internal power supply if the amount of power available is at least as great as the aggregate amount of power required to be provided to the at least one port; and   external power provision means comprising:   means for requesting power from at least one device connected to the at least one port if the amount of power available is less than the aggregate amount of power required to be provided to the at least one port;   means for receiving power from the at least one device if the amount of power available is less than the aggregate amount of power required to be provided to the at least one port; and   means for providing power to the at least one port using power from the internal power supply and the received power if the amount of power available is less than the aggregate amount of power required to be provided to the at least one port.   
     
     
         22 . A system comprising:
 a network switch;   a first device connected to the switch over a network connection at a port of the network switch;   wherein the network switch comprises:   means for providing power via PoE to the first device while no data is being sent to or received from the first device over the network connection.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the means for providing power comprises means for providing power to the first device over a network cable; and
 wherein the switch comprises means for transmitting data to the first device over the network cable.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the network cable comprises an Ethernet cable. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first device comprises means for performing a DC-DC conversion of the provided power, and means for providing the converted power to a second device connected to the first device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first device comprises means for performing an AC-DC conversion of the provided power, and means for providing the converted power to a second device connected to the first device. 
     
     
         27 . A network switch comprising:
 a port comprising means for coupling the port to a first device over a network connection; and   means for providing power via PoE to the first device while no data is being sent to or received from the first device over the network connection.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the means for providing power comprises means for providing power to the first device over a network cable; and
 wherein the switch comprises means for transmitting data to the first device over the network cable.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the network cable comprises an Ethernet cable. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first device comprises means for performing a DC-DC conversion of the provided power, and means for providing the converted power to a second device connected to the first device. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the first device comprises means for performing an AC-DC conversion of the provided power, and means for providing the converted power to a second device connected to the first device. 
     
     
         32 . A device comprising:
 a port comprising means for coupling the port to a network switch over a network connection; and   means for receiving power via PoE from the network switch over the network connection while no data is being sent to or received from the device over the network connection.   
     
     
         33 . A network cable comprising:
 means for connecting the cable to a device;   means for transmitting data to and receiving data from the device according to a network protocol over a network connection; and   means for requesting power over the network connection on behalf of the device.   
     
     
         34 . The network cable of  claim 33 , wherein the network protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol and wherein the network connection comprises an Ethernet connection. 
     
     
         35 . The network cable of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 means for receiving power over the network connection in response to the request; and   means for providing the received power to the device through the means for connecting the cable to the device.   
     
     
         36 . The network cable of  claim 33 , wherein the means for connecting comprises the means for requesting power. 
     
     
         37 . The network cable of  claim 33 , wherein the means for requesting comprises means for requesting power according to IEEE specification 802.3af or 802.3at.