Cisco Technology, Inc.

Roger Antoine Karam

John F Wakerly

Luca Cafiero

Wael William Diab

Frederick Roland Schindler

Karl S Nakamura

Meilissa R Lum

Chad M Jones

Premkumar Jonnala

Maurilio Tazio De Nicolo

Sergio D Camerlo

Robert H Thomas

Wheling Cheng

James Molenda

Kan-Chiu Seto

Michael R Smith

Hugh Barrass

Jeffrey Ym Wang

Phillip Remaker

Robert Pryor Beliles, Jr

Shriram Velaga

Meilissa Rui Ming Lum

Palaniappan Karuppan

Meilissa Lum

Robert Thomas

Provided herein are systems, methods and devices for performing droop compensation. In particular, systems, methods and devices for performing droop compensation by modifying transmit and/or receive characteristics of a magnetic device based on changing conditions are described. For example, a plurality of operating parameters or characteristics can be measured, a droop compensation capability of a link partner can be determined and transmit and/or receive characteristics of the magnetic device can be modified based on the measured operating parameters or characteristics and the determined droop compensation capability.

Methods and devices for performing dynamic droop compensation

In a wired data telecommunication network power sourcing equipment (PSE) coupled to a powered device (PD) carries out an inline power discovery process to verify that the PD is adapted to receive inline power, then a plurality of classification cycles are carried out to convey a series of inline power classes back to the PSE. The series of inline power classes may all be the same, in which case the PD is legacy equipment and is adapted to receive the power level corresponding to that class. If they are not all the same, information is thus conveyed to the PSE which may, for example, correspond to a specific power level to be applied or to other information.

Powered device classification in a wired data telecommunications network

A method provided in one example includes inserting a first common-mode signal into a first communication channel from a communication node, monitoring differential-mode noise in at least one communication channel due to the first common-mode signal, determining whether the differential-mode noise is acceptable, and generating a user notification if the differential-mode noise is not acceptable. In further embodiments, the at least one communication channel comprises one or more communication channels adjacent the first communication channel, and the method further includes determining whether the differential-mode noise due to the first common-mode signal is acceptable on the adjacent channels. In further embodiments, the method comprises sending a port identifier through the first communication channel before initiating the insertion. In more specific embodiments, the first common-mode signal comprises a signature that distinguishes the differential-mode from data on the at least one adjacent communication channel.

Computer system communication channel diagnostics

A power-sourcing equipment (PSE) has a powered communications interface to which a powered device (PD) is coupled. The PD presents a valid PD signature indicating that the PD is attached and capable of receiving normal operating power from the PSE. Per a power-withholding policy, the PSE operates in a power-withholding state to withhold the normal operating power notwithstanding the valid PD signature, and monitors for a signal via the powered communications interface indicating that the normal operating power should be delivered to the PD. The signal may be an alternative signature generated by a user-activated switch for example. In response to receiving the signal in the power-withholding state, the PSE enters a power-providing state in which it provides the normal operating power to the PD notwithstanding the power-withholding policy. An intermediate device (dongle) may be employed to generate the signal.

System employing signaling at a powered communications interface to modify or override a power-withholding policy at a power-sourcing equipment

A system conducts a plurality of cycles on the powered device. Each cycle has a detection phase and a classification phase. A classification voltage is applied to the conductors during each cycle. The system measures a current in the conductors while the classification voltage is applied. The system determines a final class responsive to a plurality of measured currents. The final class utilized to determine an amount of inline power to deliver to the powered device.

Methods and apparatus providing advanced classification for power over ethernet

Redundancy of data and/or inline power in a wired data telecommunications network from a pair of network devices via a selection device is provided by communicating redundant signals with each of the pair of network devices and coupling ports of the first network device and corresponding ports of the second network device to paired inputs of the selection device. The selection device operates: 1) under the control of the pair of network devices, one acting as master and one as slave, the master selecting (for each port or for all ports) one of the two paired inputs and causing the selection device to communicate data and/or inline power via a third port of the selection device to a third network device receiving data connectivity and/or inline power from the selection device; or 2) to route two redundant signals to a third network device which then selects one for use.

Redundant power and data in a wired data telecommunications network

Wired data telecommunications networks can make advantageous use of a communications capability between and among more than two network devices. Such capabilities may be utilized in providing redundancy of data and/or inline power capabilities from a pair of network devices to a third network device receiving the redundant capability. Impedance modulated communications are provided in a wired data telecommunications network among at least a first, second and third network device coupled together via a Y device. The Y device couples the three network devices (higher order Y devices could couple more than three devices) allowing monitoring of communications and inline power provision so that one of the network devices may act in response to monitored conditions by communicating via impedance modulated communications with one or both of the other network devices.

Multi-station physical layer communication over TP cable

Redundancy of data and/or Inline Power in a wired data telecommunications network from a first network device and a second network device configured as power sourcing equipment (PSE) devices and coupled together and to a third network device (such as a PD) via a Y device is provided by providing redundant signaling to/from each of the pair of network devices, and coupling a port of each of the network devices to the Y device and from there to a third port where a third network device such as a PD may be coupled. Because the Y device is essentially passive, communications paths between the PSE devices and the PD are provided for negotiating master/slave status and other status and related information among the respective network devices. Dynamic impedance matching is provided to handle situations where not all devices are plugged in and as a communications technique among the devices.

Power and data redundancy in a single wiring closet

A multiple-position modular connector (jack, plug or both) includes a rigid insulating body and a set of spaced-apart coaxial conductors carried by the body. Each coaxial conductor has a mating end at a mating portion of the body providing electrical connection between the inner signal conductor and a corresponding conductor of a mating modular connector. A conductive structure extends between the outer shield conductors of the coaxial conductors and a reference contact at an outer surface of the body to provide a high-frequency ground for the outer shield conductors. In another aspect, a modular connector includes a printed circuit board carried by an insulative body and employing some combination of well-matched conductive paths and filtering circuitry such as common-mode coils or 'chokes'. Electrical traces of the printed circuit board may include ground/reference traces interspersed among signal traces to provide shielding and uniform electrical characteristics to the signal traces. Filtering circuitry when present is disposed on the PC board along the signal traces and acts to reduce the level of common-mode signal components reaching the mating contacts from the cable.

Multiple-position modular connector employing shielded or filtered signal conductors for reducing electrical noise

Methods and apparatus for determining that all conductors of an Ethernet connection are connected to the same powered device (PD). In one disclosed embodiment, it is first determined that a signal conductor pair of the Ethernet connection is coupled to a valid PD according to a discovery process, and the unused conductor pair of the Ethernet connection is also coupled to a valid PD. However, it is not yet determined whether they are both coupled to the same PD. This disclosure provides for injecting a polluting signal into one of the conductor pairs, and performing the discovery process on the other conductor pair. If the discovery process fails on the other conductor pair as a result of the polluting signal, then it is determined that both of the conductor pairs are indeed coupled to same PD.

Detection algorithm for delivering inline power down four pairs of an Ethernet cable to a single powered device

Communications over a wired data telecommunications network between and among power sourcing equipment (PSE), powered devices (PDs), and the like, take place over the wired medium by modulating an inline power signal. Any suitable communications protocol may be used and any suitable modulation scheme can be used. Examples of information to be communicated include: changing power requirements or capabilities (higher or lower) and acknowledgements thereof (permitting finer power class gradation than available under existing standards); sensor data; wireless data converted to wired data; status signaling, and the like. Such communications may be used for a number of purposes including supporting redundant provision of services over a network.

Inline power-based common mode communications in a wired data telecommunications network

Systems and method for providing redundancy of communications and/or inline power to a powered Ethernet device are disclosed. A redundancy device is configured to receive in-line data and/or power from a plurality of Ethernet relay uplinks and to monitor communications between the relay uplinks. One of the relay uplinks is established as an active state uplink and passes data and/or power to the power device. Responsive to a switchover communication from a redundant uplink, the redundancy device establishes the redundant uplink as the active uplink, thereby passing data and/or power from the redundant uplink to the power device. The relay uplinks may use packet-based communication to sense when there is a failure in a link, and replace a failed device with a redundant device.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Roger Antoine Karam