Measurement of cable quality by power over ethernet

1. A method of determining impedance between a power sourcing equipment and a powered device, the method comprising:

supplying power to the powered device from the power sourcing equipment over a communication cabling at a first current limited level, I lim1 ;

measuring, at a plurality of times in relation to the beginning of said supplying power, a voltage associated with the output of the power sourcing equipment;

determining a minimum voltage, V min1 , of said measured plurality of voltages;

determining an associated time, t min , of said determined V min1 in relation to said beginning of said supplying power at said I lim1 ;

removing, subsequent to said supplying power at said I lim1 , said supplied power from the powered device;

subsequent to said removing, supplying power to the powered device from the power sourcing equipment over the communication cabling at a second current limited level, I lim2 , said I lim2 being different than said I lim1 ;

measuring, at said determined associated time t min in relation to the beginning of said supplying power at said I lim2 , a voltage associated with the output of the power sourcing equipment, V min2 ; and

determining an impedance responsive to said V min1 , V min2 , I lim1 and I lim2 .

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said determining an impedance comprises:

calculating the impedance as the result of (V min1 −V min2 )/(I lim1 −I lim2 ).

3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a variable current limiter operative to provide said I lim1 and said I lim2 .

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising detecting a powered device over the communication cabling, said detecting being prior to said supplying power to the powered device at said I lim1 .

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising classifying the detected powered device over the communication cabling, said classifying being prior to said supplying power to the powered device at said I lim1 .

6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising allocating power to said powered device responsive to said determined impedance.

7. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising allocating power to said powered device, said allocating power being a function of a power requested by said powered device less power lost in the communication cabling, said power lost in the communication cabling being calculated responsive to said determined impedance.

8. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising classifying the detected powered device over the communication cabling, wherein said power requested is a function of said classifying.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, said plurality of times are within a predetermined time from the beginning of said supplying power at said I lim1 .

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said measuring at a plurality of times begins after a transient phase period.

11. A power sourcing equipment operative to determine an impedance between the power sourcing equipment and a powered device, the power sourcing equipment comprising:

a voltage measuring means;

a control circuitry responsive to said voltage measuring means; and

at least one current limiter responsive to said control circuitry,

said control circuitry operative to:

supply power to a powered device over a communication cabling at a first current limited level, I lim1 , said I lim1 being responsive to said at least one current limiter;

measure, via said voltage measuring means, at a plurality of times in relation to the beginning of said power being supplied at said I lim1 , a voltage associated with the output of the power sourcing equipment;

determine a minimum voltage, V min1 , of said measured plurality of voltages;

determine an associated time, t min , of said determined V min1 in relation to said beginning of said power being supplied at said I lim1 ;

remove, subsequent to said power being supplied at said I lim1 , said supplied power from the powered device;

subsequent to said removal of power, supply power to the powered device over the communication cabling at a second current limited level, I lim2 , said I lim2 being different than said I lim1 , said I lim2 being responsive to said at least one current limiter;

measure, via said voltage measuring means, at said determined associated time t min in relation to the beginning of said power being supplied at said I lim2 , a voltage associated with the output of the power sourcing equipment, V min2 ; and

determine an impedance responsive to said V min1 , V min2 , I lim1 and I lim2 .

12. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , wherein said impedance is determined by said control circuitry operative to calculate the impedance as the result of (V min1 −V min2 )/(I lim1 −I lim2 ).

13. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one current limiter comprises a variable current limiter operative to provide said I lim1 and said I lim2 .

14. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , further comprising a detection functionality responsive to said control circuitry, said detection functionality being operative to detect the powered device prior to said power being supplied to the powered device at said I lim1 .

15. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , further comprising a classification functionality responsive to said control circuitry, said classification functionality being operative to classify the powered device according to power demand.

16. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , wherein said control circuitry is further operative to allocate power to said powered device responsive to said determined impedance.

17. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , wherein said control circuitry is further operative to allocate power to said powered device, said allocation of power being a function of a power requested by said powered device less power lost in the communication cabling, said power lost in the communication cabling being calculated responsive to said determined impedance.

18. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 17 , further comprising a classifying functionality operative to classify the powered device according to power demand, wherein said power requested is a function of said classification.

19. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , wherein, said plurality of times are within a predetermined time period from the beginning of said power being supplied at said I lim1 .

20. A power sourcing equipment according to claim 11 , wherein said measuring at a plurality of times begins after a transient phase period.