Security for a power over ethernet installation

摘要

Aspects of the present invention monitor an electrical circuit in a power over Ethernet (“PoE”) installation to detect potential security breaches and implement a security response upon detecting the security event. The security event may be a disruption to the electrical circuit lasting more than a threshold duration (e.g., 250 ms, 0.5 second, 1 second). The disruption can be an open circuit caused by cutting or unplugging the Ethernet cable. In one aspect, the security response can be discontinuing further communications over the PoE connection.

主权项

1. A method for providing security to a communications system that comprises a power servicing device coupled by an Ethernet cable to a powered device, the method comprising:
monitoring a power over Ethernet connection through which electricity is supplied from the power servicing device to the powered device; determining that an electrical connection formed by the power over Ethernet circuit is disrupted for more than a threshold duration; and in response to said determining, automatically blocking further digital communications from occurring over the power over Ethernet connection between the power servicing device and the powered device,
wherein digital communications over the power over Ethernet connection remain blocked for a threshold waiting period and then are unblocked after the threshold waiting period passes.