Providing detailed information on powered device in system for supplying power over communication link

1 . A powered device (PD) configured for receiving power over a communication link, comprising:

a power supply interface controller for implementing a power supply protocol performed to receive power from a power supply device over the communication link,

the power supply interface controller being configured for acquiring multiple pieces of PD information representing multiple characteristics of the PD.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information to the power supply device over the communication link.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information to the power supply device during an initialization procedure performed when the PD is being connected to the power supply device.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information to the power supply device during a power-on procedure performed before the power supply device provides power to the PD.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information to the power supply device after the power supply device provides power to the PD.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information to the power supply device in a single data packet containing the multiple pieces of PD information.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information in a sequence of data packets, each of which represents a separate characteristic of the PD.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for receiving power from the power supply device over a physical layer of a communication network including the communication link, and for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information over a link layer of the communication network.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information to the power supply device using a Link Layer Discovery Protocol.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for receiving power from an Ethernet link.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is further configured for storing the multiple pieces of PD information.

12 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the power supply interface is further configured for updating stored PD information during operation of the PD.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is configured for acquiring information on average power consumption of the PD.

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is configured for acquiring information on peak power consumption of the PD.

15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is configured for acquiring information on duty cycle of peak power consumption of the PD.

16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is configured for acquiring information on a priority of providing power to the PD.

17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is configured for acquiring information on a connection line for delivery of power to the PD.

18 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is configured for acquiring information on current consumption.

19 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the power supply interface controller is configured for programming the multiple pieces of PD information into a PD memory during manufacturing of the PD.

20 . A system for powering a PD over a communication link, comprising:

a power supply device coupled to the communication link for providing power to the PD;

the power supply device being configured for performing a PD initialization procedure to initialize providing power to the PD;

the power supply device being further configured for receiving during the PD initialization procedure, multiple pieces of PD information representing multiple characteristics of the PD.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving the multiple pieces of PD information during a classification procedure performed to determine maximum power level required by the PD.

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving a PD information packet having multiple fields, each of which represents a characteristic of the PD.

23 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device contains a power management mechanism for managing power allocation to multiple PDs.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the power management mechanism is responsive to the multiple pieces of PD information.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein based on the multiple pieces of PD information, the power management mechanism determines whether the PD have an alternative power supply.

26 . The system of claim 24 , wherein based on the multiple pieces of PD information, the power management mechanism determines how much power the PD receives.

27 . The system of claim 24 , wherein based on the multiple pieces of PD information, the power management mechanism determines whether power to the PD should be reduced during a predetermined condition.

28 . The system of claim 24 , wherein based on the multiple pieces of PD information, the power management mechanism determines whether the PD be powered during a predetermined condition.

29 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for supplying power to the PD over an Ethernet link.

30 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for providing power to the PD over a physical layer of a communication network including the communication link, and for receiving the multiple pieces of PD information over a link layer of the communication network above the physical layer.

31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving the multiple pieces of PD information using a Link Layer Discovery Protocol.

32 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for providing power to the PD and receiving the multiple pieces of PD information over a physical layer of a communication network

33 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving information on a minimum power level needed by the PD to perform predefined tasks required to prevent the PD from being damaged.

34 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving information from the PD as to whether operation of the PD is critical for an emergency condition.

35 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving from the PD a table of power consumption levels to estimate power consumption of the PD for a predetermined time period.

36 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving information on physical layer connection of the PD to determine how much power is being lost due to the physical layer connection.

37 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the power supply device is configured for receiving information from the PD on-the-fly.

38 . A local area network comprising:

at least a pair of network nodes,

a network hub, and

communication cabling for connecting the network nodes to the network hub to provide data communications,

the network hub having a power supply device for providing power to a PD over the communication cabling,

at least one network node being configured to store multiple pieces of PD information representing multiple characteristics of the PD.

39 . The network of claim 38 , wherein the network node is configured for transferring the multiple pieces of PD information to the power supply device when the PD is being connected to the power supply device.

40 . The network of claim 38 , the power supply device configured for receiving a PD information packet representing the multiple pieces of PD information.

41 . The network of claim 38 , wherein the power supply device is configured for supplying power to the PD over a physical layer of the network, and for receiving the multiple pieces of PD information over a link layer of the network.

42 . The network of claim 38 , wherein the power supply device is configured for supplying power to the PD and for receiving the multiple pieces of PD information over a physical layer of the network

43 . The network of claim 38 , wherein the network hub and the network nodes are configured in an Ethernet network.

44 . A method of power management of multiple powered devices provided with power over a data communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining over the data communication network, multiple pieces of information representing multiple characteristics of the powered devices, and

based on the obtained information, allocating power provided over the data communication network to the powered devices.