Active local area network connector with line interogation

1. An active local area network connector assembly comprising:

an active connector housing for use with local area network (LAN) equipment;

first electrical contacts mounted in said housing and arranged for detachable connection with corresponding electrical contacts of at least one plugs, said first electrical contacts comprising at least one data pair for transmitting power and data between said local area network equipment and at least one LAN node;

second electrical contacts arranged for connection with said local area network equipment, said second electrical contacts carrying electrical power for said at least one LAN node; and

active power circuitry coupled to at least one of said at least one data pair and at least one of said second electrical contacts, said active power circuitry comprising voltage measuring circuitry, said voltage measuring circuitry being employable for line interrogation.

2. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , wherein said voltage measuring circuitry comprises at least one voltage sensing resistor.

3. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , wherein said active power circuitry is operative to control said electrical power for said at least one LAN node responsive to said line interrogation.

4. An active local area network connector according to claim 3 , wherein said active power circuitry comprises at least one of the following types of circuitry operative to control said electrical power:

application specific integrated circuitry (ASIC);

FET circuitry;

current sensing circuitry;

current limiting circuitry; and

AC disconnecting circuitry.

5. An active local area network connector according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one LAN node comprises multiple LAN nodes and wherein said active power circuitry is operative to simultaneously control power for said multiple LAN nodes.

6. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , further comprising third electrical contacts arranged for connection with electrical contacts of said local area network equipment, said third electrical contacts carrying data for said at least one data pair and being in data communication with said at least one data pair.

7. An active local area network connector according to claim 6 , wherein said active power circuitry combines said power carried by said second electrical contacts with said data carried by said third electrical contacts for connection to said at least one data pair thereby transmitting power and data over said at least one data pair without substantially interfering with said data.

8. An active connector according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one socket arranged for selectably retaining said at least one plugs in electrical contact with said first plurality of first electrical contacts.

9. An active local area connector according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one RJ-45 socket arranged for selectably retaining at least one RJ-45 plug in electrical contact with said first electrical contacts, said at least one plugs being said RJ-45 plug.

10. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one RJ-21 socket arranged for selectably retaining at least one RJ-21 plug in electrical contact with said first plurality of first electrical contacts, said at least one plugs being said RJ-21 plug.

11. An active local area connector according to claim 1 , wherein said first electrical contacts are one of RJ-45 compatible and RJ-21 compatible.

12. An active local area connector according to claim 1 , wherein the active local area network connector is Ethernet compatible.

13. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , wherein said local area network equipment comprises a switch with integral power over LAN functionality.

14. An active local area network connector according to claim 13 , wherein said power over LAN functionality is according to IEEE 802.3af.

15. An active local area network connector according to claim 14 , wherein the active local area network connector complies with the IEEE 802.3 standard.

16. An active local area network connector according to claim 14 , wherein said Ethernet compatible active local area network connector supports one of the following:

a 10baseT communication protocol;

a 100baseT communication protocol; and

a 1000baseT communication protocol.

17. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , wherein said local area network equipment comprises a midspan device with integral power over LAN functionality.

18. An active local area network connector according to claim 17 , wherein said power over LAN functionality is according to IEEE 802.3af.

19. An active local area network connector according to claim 18 , wherein said Ethernet compatible active local area network connector supports one of the following:

a 10baseT communication protocol;

a 100baseT communication protocol; and

a 1000baseT communication protocol.

20. Au active local area network connector according to claim 1 , wherein said first electrical contacts comprise a plurality of data pairs.

21. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , wherein said active connector housing and said active power circuitry form the connector housing assembly.

22. An active local area network connector according to claim 1 , wherein said active power circuitry is disposed on a circuit board, said circuit board and said active connector housing form the connector housing assembly.

23. An active RJ-45 compatible connector assembly comprising:

an RJ-45 compatible connector housing for use with local area network (LAN) equipment;

first electrical contacts mounted in said RJ-45 compatible connector housing and arranged for detachable connection with corresponding electrical contacts of at least one plugs, said first electrical contacts comprising at least one data pair for transmitting power and data between said local area network equipment and at least one LAN node;

second electrical contacts for connection with said local area network equipment, said second electrical contacts carrying electrical power for said at least one LAIN node; and

active power circuitry coupled to at least one of said at least one data pair and at least one of said second electrical contacts, said active power circuitry comprising voltage measuring circuitry, said voltage measuring circuitry being employable for line interrogation.

24. An active RJ-45 compatible connector housing assembly according to claim 23 , wherein said active power circuitry is disposed on a circuit board.

25. An active RJ-45 compatible connector assembly comprising: an RJ-45 compatible connector housing for use with local area network (LAN) equipment;

first electrical contacts mounted in said RJ-45 compatible connector housing and arranged for detachable connection with corresponding electrical contacts of at least one plugs, said first electrical contacts comprising a first data pair for transmitting power between said local area network equipment and at least one LAN node and a second data pair for transmitting data between said local area network equipment and said at least one LAN node;

second electrical contacts for connection with said local area network equipment, said second electrical contacts carrying electrical power for said at least one LAN node for connection via said first data pair;

third electrical contacts for connection with said local area network equipment, said third electrical contacts carrying data for said at least one LAN node for connection via said second data pair; and

active power circuitry coupled to at least one of said first data pair and at least one of said second electrical contacts, said active power circuitry comprising voltage measuring circuitry, said voltage measuring circuitry being employable for line interrogation.

26. An active RJ-45 compatible connector housing assembly in accordance with claim 25 , wherein said first data pair and said second data pair constitute a single data pair.

27. An active RJ-45 compatible connector housing assembly comprising:

an RJ-45 compatible connector housing for use with local area network (LAN) equipment;

first electrical contacts mounted in said RJ-45 compatible connector housing and arranged for detachable connection with corresponding electrical contacts of at least one RJ-45 compatible plug, said first electrical contacts comprising at least one data pair for transmitting power and data between said local area network equipment and at least one LAN node;

second electrical contacts arranged for connection with electrical contacts of said local area network equipment, said second electrical contacts carrying data for said at least one LAN node for connection via said at least one data pair; and

active power circuitry coupled to said at least one data pair, said active power circuitry comprising voltage measuring circuitry, said voltage measuring circuitry being employable for line interrogation.

28. An active local area network connector assembly comprising:

an active connector housing for use with local area network (LAN) equipment;

first electrical contacts mounted in said housing and arranged for detachable connection with corresponding electrical contacts of at least one plugs, said first electrical contacts comprising at least one data pair for transmitting data between said local area network equipment and at least one LAN node;

second electrical contacts for connection with said local area network equipment, said second electrical contacts carrying electrical power for said at least one LAN node; and

active power circuitry coupled to said at least one data pair and at least one of said second electrical contacts, said active power circuitry being operative for combining said electrical power far said at least one LAN node to said at least one data pair.