IP Library Granted Patent US 10,281,968
Granted Patent B2
US 10,281,968 · App. 15/337,496 · Granted May 7, 2019

Detection of non-powered device (non-PD) on a power-over-ethernet port based on the data link state information

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,281,968
App. No.
15/337,496
Granted
May 7, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for accurately identifying devices coupled to ports of power sourcing equipment (PSE) of a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system as either powered devices (PDs) or non-powered devices (non-PDs). A device coupled to a PSE port can be identified as a non-PD in response to determining a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port. Another embodiment includes determining that a device has been coupled to the port, determining that a data link to the device has been established on the port, removing power from the port, and then determining whether the data link established on the port still exists.

Claims (68)

1. A method for operating a port of power sourcing equipment (PSE) in a power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:

determining whether a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port;

determining that a non-powered device is coupled to the port in response to determining a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port;

preventing power from being supplied on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port; and

not enabling the detection of powered devices on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and supplying power on the port in response to determining a data link is not established on the port.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a message on the data port from the non-powered device, wherein the message indicates the PSE should provide backup power to the non-powered device;

supplying power on the port based on receiving the message; and

enabling the detection of powered devices on the port based on receiving the message.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting that the non-powered device is unplugged from the port;

determining that the data link on the port is inactive after detecting the non-powered device is unplugged from the port; and

supplying power on the port based on determining the data link on the port is inactive; and

enabling the detection of powered devices on the port based on determining the data link on the port is inactive.

5. A method for operating a port of power sourcing equipment (PSE) in a power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:

determining whether a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port;

determining whether the port is in link aggregation with one or more sibling ports;

determining that a non-powered device is coupled to the port in response to determining a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port, and determining that the port is not in link aggregation;

preventing power from being supplied on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port; and

not enabling the detection of powered devices on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, upon determining that the port is in link aggregation with one or more sibling ports, determining whether any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein if none of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device, then preventing power from being supplied on the port, and not enabling the detection of powered devices on the port.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein if any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device, then enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and supplying power on the port.

9. A method for operating a port of power sourcing equipment (PSE) in a power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:

determining that a device has been coupled to the port;

determining that a data link to the device has been established on the port;

removing power from the port, and then determining whether the data link established on the port still exists while power is removed from the port; and

returning power to the port in response to determining that the data link established on the port does not exist while power is removed from the port.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising not returning power to the port in response to determining the data link established on the port still exists while power is removed from the port.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising enabling the detection of powered devices on the port in response to determining the data link on the port does not still exist.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein if the data link on the port still exists, then determining whether the port is in link aggregation with one or more sibling ports.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein if the port is in link aggregation with one or more sibling ports, then determining whether any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein if none of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device, then declaring the device a non-powered device.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein if any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device, then enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and supplying power on the port.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising performing the following prior to determining that a device has been coupled to the port:

supplying power on the port;

enabling periodic detection of powered devices on the port; and then

determining that no device is coupled to the port.

17. Power sourcing equipment (PSE) for a power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:

a port;

means for determining whether a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port;

means for determining that a non-powered device is coupled to the port in response to determining a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port;

means for preventing power from being supplied on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port; and

means for not enabling the detection of powered devices on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port.

18. The PSE of claim 17 further comprising means for enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and supplying power on the port in response to determining a data link is not established on the port.

19. Power sourcing equipment (PSE) for a power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:

a port;

means for determining whether a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port;

means for determining whether the port is in link aggregation with one or more sibling ports; and

means for determining that a non-powered device is coupled to the port in response to determining a data link is established on the port before enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and before supplying power on the port, and determining that the port is not in link aggregation;

means for preventing power from being supplied on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port; and

means for not enabling the detection of powered devices on the port based on determining that the non-powered device is coupled to the port.

20. The PSE of claim 19 , further comprising means for determining whether any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device.

21. The PSE of claim 20 , further comprising means for means for preventing power from being supplied on the port, and not enabling the detection of powered devices on the port upon determining none of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device.

22. The PSE of claim 20 , further comprising means for enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and supplying power on the port upon determining any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device.

23. Power sourcing equipment (PSE) in a power over Ethernet (PoE) system, comprising:

a port;

means for determining that a device has been coupled to the port;

means for determining that a data link to the device has been established on the port;

means for removing power from the port, and then determining whether the data link established on the port still exists while power is removed from the port; and

means for returning power to the port in response to determining that the data link established on the port does not exist while power is removed from the port.

24. The PSE of claim 23 , further comprising means for not returning power to the port in response to determining the data link established on the port still exists while power is removed from the port.

25. The PSE of claim 23 , further comprising means for enabling the detection of powered devices on the port in response to determining the data link on the port does not still exist.

26. The PSE of claim 23 , further comprising means for determining whether the port is in link aggregation with one or more sibling ports if the data link on the port still exists.

27. The PSE of claim 26 , further comprising means for determining whether any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device if the port is in link aggregation with one or more sibling ports.

28. The PSE of claim 27 , further comprising means for declaring the device a non-powered device if none of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device.

29. The PSE of claim 27 , further comprising means for enabling the detection of powered devices on the port and supplying power on the port if any of the one or more sibling ports is coupled to a powered device.

Assignments (11)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075476/0814 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 049905/0504 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RUCKUS WIRELESS, LLC (F/K/A RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 071477/0255 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 066399/0561 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049820/0495 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049892/0396 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; ARRIS TECHNOLOGY, INC.; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.; ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049905/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2018
From: BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS LLC F/K/A BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC; FOUNDRY NETWORKS LLC F/K/A FOUNDRY NETWORKS INC.
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 045600/0755 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 13, 2017
From: BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
To: BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 044861/0618 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2016
From: HANSALIA, RAKESH; REDDY, BUDDA SARATH CHANDRA
To: BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC
Reel/Frame 040575/0373 →