Auto-Negotiation and Advanced Classification for Power Over Ethernet (POE) Systems
Systems and methods are provided for an auto-negotiation mode of operation that allows power source equipment (PSE) and a powered device (PD) to negotiate power transfer and/or data communication without the use of conventional classification pulses. The auto-negotiation mode of operation provides for a universal negotiation of information between the PSE and PD regardless of the specific capabilities of each. The information can be used to configure the power to be applied to the communication link and/or data communication over the communication link.
1 . A Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:
a communication port; and
a power source equipment (PSE) controller coupled to the communication port, wherein the PSE controller is configured to:
determine whether a device coupled to the communication port qualifies as a powered device,
send an impulse to the device, wherein the impulse is configured to cause the device to respond with information characterizing the device,
receive a response from the device, and
determine, based on the response, profile information for the device.
2 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
determine, based on the profile information, how to configure power to be applied to the device over the communication port.
3 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the impulse is configured to cause the device to respond with the information characterizing the device for a plurality of variations of possible auto-negotiation for PoE applications.
4 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
generate an amount of power to power the device without causing damage to the device.
5 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
determine, based on the response, a supported PoE standard of the device.
6 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the communication port is coupled to a plurality of communication links, and wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
determine, based on the response, whether the device is capable of operating in a two-pair or a four-pair configuration for transferring power; and
determine, based on the response, which communication links should be used for transferring power or communicating data to the device.
7 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
determine, based on the response, a coding scheme for data communication that is supported by the device.
8 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
determine, based on the response, a data rate for data communication that is supported by the device.
9 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
determine, based on the response, noise sensitivity information of the device.
10 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PSE controller is further configured to:
determine, based on the response, an operational environment of the device.
11 . A Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:
a communication port; and
a powered device (PD) controller coupled to the communication port, wherein the PD controller is configured to:
receive an impulse from a power source equipment (PSE) controller, wherein the impulse is configured to cause the PD controller to respond with information characterizing the PD controller for a plurality of variations of possible auto-negotiation for PoE applications, and
generate, based on the impulse, a response to the PSE controller, wherein the response contains profile information for the PD controller.
12 . The PoE system of claim 11 , wherein the profile information instructs the PSE controller how to configure power to be applied to the PD controller over the communication port.
13 . The PoE system of claim 1 , wherein the PD controller is further configured to:
receive an amount of power from the PSE controller to power the PD controller without causing damage to the PD controller.
14 . The PoE system of claim 11 , wherein the profile information contains information regarding a supported PoE standard of the PD controller.
15 . The PoE system of claim 11 , wherein the communication port is coupled to a plurality of communication links, and wherein the profile information contains information regarding:
whether the PD controller is capable of operating in a two-pair or a four-pair configuration for transferring power, and
which communication links should be used for transferring power or communicating data to the PD controller.
16 . The PoE system of claim 11 , wherein the profile information contains information regarding:
a coding scheme for data communication that is supported by the PD controller.
17 . The PoE system of claim 11 , wherein the profile information contains information regarding:
a data rate for data communication that is supported by the PD controller,
noise sensitivity information of the PD controller; and
an operational environment of the PD controller.
18 . A method for auto-negotiation in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, the method comprising:
determining whether a device qualifies as a powered device;
sending an impulse to the device, wherein the impulse is configured to cause the device to respond with information characterizing the device for a plurality of variations of possible auto-negotiation for PoE applications;
receiving a response from the device;
determining, based on the response, profile information for the device; and
determining, based on the profile information, how to configure power to be applied to the device.
19 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
determining, based on the response, a supported PoE standard of the device.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
determining, based on the response, whether the device is capable of operating in a two-pair or a four-pair configuration for transferring power,
determining, based on the response, a communication link to be used for transferring power or communicating data to the device;
determining, based on the response, a coding scheme for data communication that is supported by the device;
determining, based on the response, a data rate for data communication that is supported by the device;
determining, based on the response, noise sensitivity information of the device; and
determining, based on the response, an operational environment of the device.