Cisco Technology, Inc.

Chris Bullock

Koussalya Balasubramanian

Craig Zimmerman

Chuong Nguyen

An interface device receives at least one access command with at least one corresponding slave address on a bus. The interface device reads a configuration register, and responsive to the reading of the configuration register, the interface device selects one of a plurality of interface architecture configurations. The interface architecture configurations allow the interface device to operate as either a single physical interface entity or as multiple virtual interface entities. The interface device processes the access command according to the selected interface architecture configuration.

Dynamic interface model

Adding a separate communication link between an intelligent midspan Power Source Equipment (PSE) device and a network device (or between the midspan PSE device and a powered device (PD)) enables data communication from the network device to the intelligent midspan PSE device. The communication link provides a communication channel that the intelligent midspan PSE device may use to perform additional functions such as reallocating power, budgeting power, enabling or disabling Power over Ethernet (PoE) for a particular PD, prioritizing PoE management, and the like.

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Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Chris Bullock